#zoace

Zoro let his eyes drift shut again with a faint exhale, the corner of his mouth twitched. Something in his gut twisted at the thought of Luffy’s family showing up so suddenly.

Zoro hadn't been surprised that Luffy had a brother. That wasn’t the part that bothered him. What really bothered him was how casually the fact had come out, as if it were nothing worth mentioning to his own crew… not even to Zoro…

He pushed the sour thought down, shoving it deep into the pit of his stomach. What did it matter? Luffy didn’t owe him every piece of his past, he knew that, but it didn’t make the situation sit easier.

“Yeah.” Zoro finally muttered, tilting his head back against the rail. “The cook likes to show off whenever he can. I think he craves the attention.” 

A smug grin pulled at his mouth, knowing damn well that if curly-brow had heard him, there would be smoke pouring from ears.

Ace’s laugh rang out across the deck, footsteps closed the distance until the sound of boots stopped right beside him. 

Zoro cracked his eye open again, and found the older brother’s grin hovering above him. He had the same easy confidence, that same mischievous spark in his eyes that Luffy carried whenever he was about to get on Zoro’s nerves.

“I see everyone’s gotten used to eating around Luffy.” Ace mused, one hand braced casually on the railing, his other resting on his hip. “Well… everyone but you.”

Zoro’s brow ticked upward, his eyes narrowed. The words didn’t sound like idle teasing. They felt pointed, like Ace had read a part of Zoro that he didn't want to be known. Irritation began to stir hot in his chest.

“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?!” He pushed off the floor, standing to his full height, but he still came up a bit shorter from the commander.

Ace lifted his palms in mock surrender, the light of his smile never dimming. 

“Easy. I’m not saying you can’t defend your own food. Just… I noticed you let Luffy swipe a couple things off your plate without a fight.” 

Zoro’s shoulders stiffened before he forced himself to relax again. He knew damn well he treated Luffy differently, softer than he had any right to. Nami had called him out more than once, and he’d brushed it off every time.

Luffy was the captain. He was the first mate. That was it. That was all.

At least… that’s what he told himself whenever his unrequited longing twisted too tightly in his gut.

Stomach twisting into those familiar knots, Zoro turned back to the rail and tried his best to look nonchalant. He leaned on his elbows, fixing his eyes on the endless horizon where Alabasta’s dunes melted into shadow. It was easier to stare at the dark silent landscape than to meet Ace’s boring gaze.

“I didn’t let him.” Zoro muttered flatly. “He just got lucky.”

A low chuckle rolled out beside him, as if Zoro’s denial only entertained him more. 

“Uh-huh…” Ace drawled, amused. “You don’t have to deny it. I think it’s sweet. Honestly, it’s good to know someone like you is keeping an eye on my little brother.”

Zoro reluctantly dragged his gaze back to Ace, brow ticking upward.

“Someone like me?”

“You know… A strong, intimidating swordsman; the type who could probably cut down anyone that looked at him wrong, but underneath all that? A big softy.” He punctuated the jab with a playful nudge of his elbow against Zoro’s arm.

Zoro opened his mouth to bite back when Ace’s gaze flicked lower, trailing appreciatively before settling back on his face.The grin that split Ace’s face was full of mischief, and for a moment Zoro could almost see Luffy in them… except they carried an intent that Luffy’s never did.

“Plus…” Ace added, voice dipping sly, “You’re pretty nice to look at, too.”

For one horrifying instant, Zoro forgot how to breathe. Heat flared up his neck, searing his ears and face until he was sure he’d turned scarlet. He knew he had, because Luffy never missed a chance to laugh at that exact shade when he felt his face burn, calling the color “cute” until Zoro wanted to bury himself in the ground.

Zoro ground his teeth, tearing his eyes back to the horizon with a scowl, but the knot in his stomach only twisted tighter. Was it the words? The brazenness of them? Or just the fact that Ace was looking at him in a way no one had since he joined the crew?

He wasn’t sure he deserved an answer. 

Hoping that sheer willpower alone could cool the fire in his face, Zoro clicked his tongue in forced irritation to brush off Ace’s advance.

"Tch. Do you always stare at strangers like that?" Zoro questioned with a half-hearted glare.

Ace inched a little closer, close enough that Zoro became acutely aware of the heat rolling off the fire user. That grin never faltered… if anything, it sharpened. A hungry glint sparked in his eye that made Zoro’s skin prickle.

“Only the interesting ones.” Ace replied smoothly.

Zoro’s mouth went dry. Silence stretched between them as Ace stared expectantly at Zoro, waiting for the other to respond. 

Zoro couldn’t remember the last time anyone had flirted with him this openly. Hell, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d even cared enough to notice.

Back before Luffy, it had been easy. Find a bar and a warm body would come to shake the stress off of another day. Quick. Empty. Forgettable. No attachments. No distractions.

However, ever since that idiot had cut him down from that execution post, everything had shifted. His compass had realigned and fixed itself on Luffy, on the crew, on a dream he could finally see a path toward. Hookups lost their appeal the moment he set foot on that ship. He hadn’t looked back. He didn’t want to. He told himself he didn’t have room for partners, not when he’d already committed himself to their journey. To his captain… To Luffy…

Yet, here was Ace. Strong, dangerous, unflinchingly confident. Attractive in a way Zoro couldn’t ignore, no matter how hard he tried. What was even worse was that Ace kept looking at him in that alluring way, making it so damn obvious he wanted Zoro's attention… He looked at him in a way that he secretly, selfishly longed to see in-

Zoro cut the thought off with a sharp inhale, forcing it down like a bad drink. No good could come from chasing that line of thought.

He forced his focus on the faint clatter of dishes being washed by Sanji, accompanied by the sound of idle chatter from the crew, their voices still buzzing lazily from the kitchen. The familiar noise was so normal and steadying when nothing about this moment with Ace felt steady at all.

“You're pretty straightforward.” Zoro finally settled on replying flatly, hoping to cut the tension instead of feed it.

Ace hefted himself up to sit on the railing. The fire-brat was already taller than Zoro, but perched above him like that, he loomed another head higher. Zoro had to tilt his chin to meet his eyes. Somehow, it made the space between them feel far more intimate.

Ace raised a hand to rest on Zoro's shoulder then let it trail up the side of his neck. Warm fingers ghosted over his pulse.

“I don’t like to waste words.” Ace said, eyes searching Zoro’s for the slightest flinch, the smallest crack of rejection. Finding none, his thumb grazed along the swordsman’s bottom lip, a deliberate brush that sent a ripple of heat down Zoro’s spine. “Life’s too short to leave things unsaid. We miss too many chances that way. I’m not staying long, and I’m not looking for anything serious… but you’re a good-looking guy and, if you’re into it, I’d like to get to know you a little more intimately before I take off tomorrow.”

Nothing serious…

The words rang in Zoro’s head louder than they should have. 

Nothing serious. Easy. Temporary. No strings. The kind of offer he’d have taken without hesitation before the Straw Hats just to scratch the itch he’d been burying for months then move on.

Zoro’s eyes drifted to the closed kitchen doors. The crew was busy. They wouldn’t come out for a while, and Ace… Zoro was confident enough to trust that Ace would be discreet.

The thought twisted in his stomach, it was tempting. Too tempting.

“You talk too much.” Zoro muttered, leaning in closer to see what Ace would do. 

Ace’s lips curved into a smile, his breath warm against Zoro’s skin. 

“Cute…” he breathed, before closing the distance.

The kiss wasn’t what Zoro expected. He was surprised by how gentle Ace kissed. He half expected the other to be more commanding, but the kiss was quite innocent. Neither of them deepened it. Neither pushed forward. It felt like they were circling each other, testing the air, reading the other’s silence. So they stayed like that a moment longer. Just their lips pressed against each other, savoring the closeness, and nothing more.

Ace was the one to break the kiss, half lidded eyes searching Zoro, trying to read him. 

Zoro kept his expression neutral. The kiss was pleasant, enough to scratch that primal itch he had been suppressing, but that was all. There were no sparks, no rush, no exhilarating heat like he’d known in the past. Maybe because this wasn’t some nameless face in a tavern. Maybe because this was his captain's - Luffy's – brother.

Ace seemed to notice that Zoro wasn't as eager as he had hoped. The commander tilted his head to the side. For the first time since meeting him, he didn't seem so sure of himself. As if he was questioning his next move.

"Wanna try a little more?" Ace questioned, leaving it up to Zoro on whether they should continue or not.

"Uh..." Zoro’s throat felt dry. He stared at Ace, conflicted. Although he enjoyed kissing Ace, his body wanted the distraction, but there was a voice in the back of his mind that said he shouldn't. 

Zoro's eyes drifted to Ace's lips. 

Maybe he was overthinking it. This didn’t have to mean anything. There was nothing wrong with wanting a bit of fun…

Nothing serious.

"...Sure." Zoro finally answered, his voice coming out rougher than he meant it to be.

For some reason, the response made Ace chuckle. He let his index finger drag down Zoro's lips, pressing a bit more firmly when it reached his chin, coaxing his mouth to part open.

"Alright, just follow me."

The second kiss was nothing like the first. This time Ace was more demanding and let his tongue slip past Zoro's lips, brushing it against the roof of his mouth in a way that pulled a deep, unbidden groan from his throat. That sound only spurred Ace further. His hand slid into Zoro’s hair, fingers tangling and gripping hard, pulling him closer until there was no space left between them.

Zoro's eyes slipped shut as let himself fall into the kiss.

This… this was what Zoro remembered. The heat. The intensity. The demanding roughness that set his pulse thrumming in his throat. He matched Ace’s dominance, tongue pressing back against his, savoring the taste of him. 

Everything melted away. The sound of the waves, the salty breeze, even the sounds from the kitchen had died down completely. 

The whole world dulled into silence.

"RAAAAAAAAH!!!!"

A furious shout ripped through the still air, breaking Zoro from his trance. His eyes flew open just as Ace let out a choked noise, the man’s face twisting into shock as a long rubbery arm snapped him back by his throat.

The commander was yanked off the railing and onto the deck with a loud 'thump'! Ace coughed, his hair falling messily over his face as he snapped his attention towards the aggressor.

"LUFFY!" Ace scrambled to his feet to face his brother, steam radiating off him from his anger. He caught the rubber arm before it could snap back and yanked it taut, dragging the Straw Hat captain towards him. Once he was in reach, Ace grabbed a fist full of Luffy's robe. "WHAT THE HELL?!"

Luffy’s face was a storm of rage, his chest heaved, his eyes blazed with anger. 

Zoro staggered back, feeling as though the air was punched from his lungs. The last time he’d seen that rage turned on an ally had been Whiskey Peak, when Luffy came crashing at Zoro without hesitation… convinced he was a traitor.

"HE'S MY CREW MATE YOU GREEDY BROTHER!" Luffy raged, spit flying from his teeth from the intensity of his volume. "YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF YOUR OWN! YOU CAN'T HAVE MINE!"

Zoro’s heart clenched at the words. Just his crewmate. That stung…

Ace’s fire flared hot enough to sting the air, dancing across his shoulders and arms before he clenched his fists to extinguish them.

"I’m not taking him, you idiot!" Ace snapped, shoving Luffy back. "It’s just a kiss!"

That response only seemed to fuel Luffy's anger. The captain’s eyes darkened further, fury sparking hotter than his brother’s flames.

Luffy didn't even seem to think before he lunged at Ace again, this time using his teeth to bite down on his arm.

"AGH! You little shit!" Ace swore, violently shaking his arm back and forth in an effort to fling his brother off. "I'll kick your ass!"

Luffy unlatched from Ace, an angry circular bite mark left on the skin, and bared his teeth to reply.

"Not if I kick yours first!" 

Luffy slammed his forehead into Ace’s and the two collapsed into a furious tangle of limbs. Punches, grapples, bursts of flame and rubber strikes blurred together.

Zoro could only stand there dumbfounded. Hours ago, the two had been grinning ear to ear celebrating their reunion. Now they were at each other's throats! 

Zoro felt like he had triggered this, and (just like Whiskey Peak) he felt like he had broken Luffy’s trust without meaning to. It didn’t make sense!

By now, the rest of the crew had joined the deck to see what the ruckus was about.

Chopper raced forward, tiny arms flailing, voice shrill with panic about needless injuries. Nami and Vivi charged after him to help while Usopp lingered at the doorway above shaking his head disapprovingly. Sanji was the last to come out, cigarette dangling forgotten from his lips.

"What the hell are they fighting about?" Sanji questioned when he reached the bottom of the stairs.

Zoro’s jaw locked tight. Heat burned his face, climbing all the way to his ears. 

"How the hell should I know?" Zoro snapped. He shouldered past Sanji, ignoring the flood of insults the cook hurled after him.

He didn’t care. He just needed space. He needed distance from Ace, from Luffy, from everything. The sound of Zoro’s boots hit loudly against the stairs as he headed below deck, jaw tight, refusing to look back.

Once he was in the sleeping quarters, Zoro slammed the door shut and leaned against it, willing the tension to leave his muscles but the shouts that still bled through the ceiling above continued to keep him on edge. Each crash of a body against the deck shook the beams. Each vibration rattled his heart that was already beating too rapidly in his chest. 

Zoro pressed his head back against the door and wished it would all stop.

Finally, Nami’s muffled voice rang out, barking orders. There were a few more thumps, then stillness. The ship settled into its usual rhythm until all Zoro could hear was the soft groan of wood and the roll of the sea.

Zoro pushed himself away from the door with a rough exhale and dropped onto the nearest couch. The fabric was softer than he deserved, catching his head as he let himself sink into it. 

The steady sway of the Merry should’ve been enough to coax him toward rest, but instead it only rocked his guilt loose, letting it spill through his veins and turn his blood cold. He needed to shut it all out. To close his eyes, sink back into the dark, and pretend none of it had happened… but behind his eyelids, he still saw Luffy’s face twisted in anger.

Zoro’s jaw clenched until his teeth ached. He rolled onto his side, shifting as though a new angle could force the memory away, but it clung to him, as if it was burned into his mind. How could Luffy even think he would leave? A kiss wasn’t enough to tear him away. A cheap distraction couldn’t undo everything he’d already given: his blood, his pride, his vow. Hadn’t he already proved where he stood? Hadn’t he already put his life in Luffy’s hands a hundred times over?

The thought twisted like a blade slicing through him. 

The door creaked open and a flash of familiar orange hair peered in.

“Why are you hiding?” Nami asked, blunt as always.

Zoro sat up to shoot her a warning glare.

“I don’t hide.” He muttered, the lie burned his throat. He crossed his arms over his chest. “And nothing happened worth hiding from.”

Nami leaned against the doorframe, arms folded, pursing her lips skeptically.

“Riiiight. ‘Nothing happened’,” Nami accused, using her fingers as air quotes, “and that’s why you bolted the second things got ugly. How about you stop sulking and tell me why Luffy seems so convinced that you were ready to jump ship and join the Whitebeard Pirates.”

The words twisted the blade of guilt deeper. Heat rushed into Zoro’s blood, forcing him to shoot up from the couch like it had burned him.

“I’m not going to leave the crew!” Zoro snapped before he could stop himself.

Nami didn’t even flinch. She just rolled her eyes like he was being dramatic. The navigator stepped away from the doorframe and glided inside with an infuriating calm that always made him feel like he’d already lost the argument.

“I know you aren’t,” She said like it was the most obvious truth in the world (yet somehow it wasn’t obvious to Luffy). She moved closer, lowering herself onto the couch beside him. “But we both know that Luffy doesn’t usually doubt people without a reason. So what the hell happened?”

Zoro sat back down and pressed himself deep into the cushions. He folded his arms defensively over his chest, eyes locked on the ceiling. If he glared hard enough, maybe it would split open and swallow him whole. 

Silence stretched, but Nami waited. She didn’t press any further. She just sat there watching him with a stern look on her face.

With a rough exhale, Zoro finally broke the silence, “Ace kissed me.”

From the corner of his eye, he caught her blink. 

“That’s it?” She asked, a single eyebrow raised unsurprised 

Zoro’s scowl deepened. His gaze burned hotter at the ceiling.

“And I kissed him back. That’s it.” Zoro answered in a flat voice, but his stomach twisted all the same. He finally met her gaze. “Luffy walked out right as it happened. Lost his damn mind.”

Nami tilted her head, lips pressing into a thin line that almost hid her smirk. “Well… Vivi and I did notice Ace watching you all day. Guess he decided to try his luck.”

Zoro felt his entire body tense in surprise. 

“You knew he was interested?!”

“Of course I knew,” she said casually shrugging. “It was obvious.” Then, with a sharper edge and meaningful glare, “What’s not obvious is why you didn’t shut it down the second it happened. Especially with your current feelings toward our captain.”

Heat flared in Zoro’s chest, irritation sparking at her scolding tone.

“Luffy isn’t interested in me that way. Ace is.” The words came out harsher than he meant, but he didn’t stop. “I didn’t think it was wrong to want a bit of fun every now and then. But apparently I’m mistaken if Luffy thinks a kiss is enough for me to abandon everyone.”

Nami leaned forward, jabbing a finger into his chest hard enough to make him flinch. 

“You’re such an idiot.” Nami jabbed him again to emphasize her insult. Zoro's jaw locked, but he didn’t shove her hand away. “This isn’t about leaving the crew. Luffy has never doubted your loyalty.” 

Zoro scoffed, Whiskey Peak still gnawed at the back of his mind, proof that statement wasn’t entirely true. 

Nami ignored the sound and pressed on. “You’re not just a crew mate or a swordsman to him, Zoro. You matter to him in other ways, whether you’re willing to see it or not.”

Zoro felt his throat tighten. The words hit deeper than he wanted to admit.

“If Luffy trusts me, then he should know I would never walk out on the crew.” Zoro forced his voice even, burying the ache.

Nami pulled her hand back and leaned against the couch with a sigh. 

“You think that kiss with Ace was meaningless. But Luffy doesn’t.” Her voice slowed, like she was trying to hammer it into his thick skull. “To him, it meant losing you in a way he’s not ready to admit yet. That’s why he’s angry.”

Zoro stared at her unsettled, his chest tight. For one fleeting second, hope stirred inside him… then he crushed it before it could grow, forcing the memory of Luffy’s glare to rise instead. 

Nami was wrong. She had to be.

Nami stood, smoothing wrinkles out of her skirt.

“Talk to Luffy about it. Maybe it’ll make you feel better.” She walked to the door but paused with her hand on the frame, glancing back at him with a sly half-smile. “And maybe next time, don’t be such a blockhead when someone’s feelings are practically shouting in your face.”

Luffy wouldn’t stop glaring at him.

The door shut behind her, leaving Zoro alone in the quiet. He let his head fall. Back, staring at the shadows above him. Her words echoed, digging under his skin no matter how much he wanted to ignore them.

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

Zoro thought that after a night’s rest, Luffy would have forgotten the whole incident and would go back to his normal goofy self. However, every time Zoro glanced up, there was the captain… eyes locked on him, brows drawn low, lips pressed in a stubborn line of displeasure. The stare never wavered, almost like Zoro had turned into some sort of puzzle Luffy couldn’t solve.

Zoro knew that Luffy must be trying to figure out a way to discipline him. He must be waiting for the right moment to bring down some bizarre lecture about “loyalty”.

These stares have been going on all day! In the sleeping quarters, in the galley during breakfast, and now on deck. The worst part of this was that Luffy never said a damn word. He just watched.

He wasn’t the only one who noticed. Nami and Vivi would whisper behind their hands more often than usual, Usopp tried snapping his fingers in front of the captain’s unflinching stare, and Chopper kept insisting that Luffy might need a check up. The only time Luffy broke free from the glare, was when Sanji placed breakfast on the table.

Zoro could probably live with this if it weren’t for Ace. Every time the fire wielder took notice of Luffy’s glare, he would laugh. Not a loud laugh, just a low knowing chuckle that dug under Zoro’s skin. Like he knew some inside joke Zoro wasn’t privy to.

It pissed Zoro off more than he cared to admit; enough that he cursed himself for ever letting Ace close.

It was just a KISS! A kiss that they both agreed was supposed to be nothing. Now it felt like Ace had set fire to a keg of gunpowder and was happily leaning back to enjoy the sparks before the inevitable explosion.

Zoro’s hand itched for Wado’s hilt. He could already picture himself slicing that smug grin clean off of the freckled idiot’s face. Instead, he chose to head toward the stern of the Merry, searching for a place free of Luffy’s damn stare.

“You're sulking more than Luffy is.”

An amused voice called out over the sound of the sea.

Speak of the devil…

Zoro’s eye twitched as he turned, finding the said “freckled idiot” lounging beneath the tangerine trees like he owned the place. Ace was too relaxed, too at home, and his grin was calm in a way that only made Zoro’s teeth grind harder.

“Haven’t you caused enough trouble?” Zoro snapped.

Ace lazily lifted the brim of his hat with a single finger. His eyes glinting with the kind of mischief that said he knew exactly which buttons to press.

“Absolutely not.” Ace replied without missing a beat, grin widening. “You’re way too entertaining when you’re wound up like this.”

Zoro bared his teeth, every nerve in him ready to snap.

“If you’re looking to continue what happened last night, forget it. I’m not interested anymore.”

Ace barked a laugh, sitting forward with an infuriating brightness in his eyes that reminded Zoro of Luffy. 

“See, here’s the thing… I don’t think you were all that interested in the first place.”

The words hit too close to the truth, making Zoro stiffen, but before he could retort, Ace added in a sing-song voice, “And I happened to have a little chat with your navigator…”

That damn witch! 

Zoro’s scowl deepened, and he must’ve made some kind of murderous face because Ace instantly started laughing again.

“Relax!” Ace said between chuckles. “I think it’s sweet that you’ve got a crush on Luffy.”

“I do not!” Zoro snapped, the denial tumbling out too fast. He felt like a child clumsily rejecting a schoolyard taunt.

Ace tilted his head, his grin softening in a way that looked less mocking and more knowing. 

“You’re a terrible liar, y’know that?”

Zoro clicked his tongue and turned away, refusing to feed him any more satisfaction. He braced his elbows on the railing, eyes fixed on the black line where the Merry’s wake split the sea. Waves parted and folded in on themselves, endlessly repeating their simple rhythm. 

It was better to stare at the soothing waves rather than respond to Ace. He didn’t want to dignify another person’s meddling with another glare. However, it was pretty damn exhausting denying the ache and longing he felt pressing against his chest.

Footsteps creaked on the deck. Ace was drawing closer.

“Why don’t you talk to Luffy about how you feel?” Ace’s voice was lighter now, like he earnestly wanted Zoro to confront Luffy, just like Nami.

That irritated Zoro even more.

He was tired of everyone poking at him, tired of Nami’s knowing looks, Ace’s smug grin, Vivi’s quiet stares… but he was also tired of the knot in his chest every time Luffy looked at him. 

“I think Luffy is too pissed off to talk to me about anything.” Zoro admitted. “He hasn't stopped glaring at me since last night.”

Ace leaned against the rail beside him, their shoulders not touching but close enough for Zoro to feel the heat rolling off him.

"That’s not a glare.” Ace reassured Zoro. “I'm pretty sure my brother’s only got two expressions: hungry or confused. Right now, Luffy is thinking so hard it makes his face look stupid.”

Zoro snorted despite himself.

“His face always looks stupid.” Zoro muttered like an insult, but the comment was far from it. Those ridiculous expressions were half the reason Luffy had managed to wedge himself so deep under Zoro’s skin. “That’s what makes this so annoying. Sometimes he’s easy to read, like in battle, we always seem to be on the same page. Other times… I can’t get a read on him at all. I just want to know what he’s thinking.”

“He’s probably thinking about you.” Ace casually shrugged. “Or about what I said to him last night, which…” Ace shot him a sidelong glance, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth, “Also involved you.”

That immediately dragged Zoro’s eyes back to Ace. 

“What?!” Zoro exclaimed. “What the hell did you tell him?!”

“I didn't say anything outright. Whatever you and Luffy have going on is for you two to figure out. I just… nudged him a little.” Ace replied. “I promise I was subtle about it.”

“Luffy doesn't do ‘subtle’.” Zoro deadpanned.

“Yeah, no shit.” Ace barked a laugh. “That’s why he’s been staring holes in you ever since last night. He’s still clueless, but honestly…?” His grin softened fondly. “You two are so obvious, I can’t believe I didn’t notice before I tried making a move.”

He tipped his head back with an exaggerated sigh, hand over his heart in a melodramatic display. “Tragic, really. Shame we couldn’t continue. Buuut-” Ace leaned in close, smirk crooked, and whispered, “I’m not about to do anything that’d hurt my little brother.”

Zoro’s hand flexed against his thigh, itching for his swords. He didn’t know if the urge was to end the conversation or to cut Ace’s smug grin clean off. 

“Keep running your mouth and I’ll shove my sword so far up your ass you’ll be spitting steel.”

“Oooh! Kinky, I like it.” Ace chuckled, utterly unfazed, and had the audacity to sling an arm across Zoro’s shoulders, like he was enjoying every second of watching Zoro squirm.

Zoro stiffened instantly. His first instinct was to break the hold, throw Ace overboard, and enjoy the quiet that followed. However, the sea would kill him and Luffy would never forgive that… so instead, Zoro ground his teeth and let his anger simmer in his chest.

“I thought you were leaving today.” Zoro ground out, trying to wrestle the conversation somewhere else before his temper snapped.

“I am.” Ace said smoothly, still leaning into him. “But I wanted to stick around long enough to help Luffy with one more thing.”

Zoro’s eyes narrowed, suspicion tugging at him. What the hell could the idiot possibly mean by that? Help Luffy with what? He turned his head to ask but Ace’s attention had shifted.

Zoro followed it, pulse lurching.

Luffy stood at the top of the stairs, still as stone. That blank, unblinking “glare” of his was sharper than ever, but this time it wasn’t aimed at Zoro. It was aimed at Ace, or rather… at Ace’s arm wrapped too comfortably around Zoro’s shoulders.

“Ace, you’re such a liar!” Luffy snapped, fists balled tight at his sides. His voice cracked, rough and cutting in a way Zoro hadn’t heard before. “You said you wouldn’t try to take Zoro!”

"What makes you think I am?" Ace grinned gleefully, like he'd been waiting for this.

Zoro barely had time to blink before Luffy closed the distance, stomping right up to Ace, his face twisted in a scowl.

"You keep teasing him and laughing with him and touching him, and that's stuff I do with him!" Luffy snapped, his voice almost sounded like it was trembling behind his anger. "You can't have my crewmate! Zoro is MINE!"

Zoro’s chest clenched so tight he thought it might split open. His pride screamed at him to yell back, to insist he didn’t belong to anyone. He was his own man, captain or not! 

However, the truth crushed that lie before he could spit it out.

He was Luffy’s. He had been from the moment he tied his swords to that reckless idiot’s dream. 

Zoro swallowed hard, forcing his expression to remain a mask of stone. All the while, his heart thundered like a deafening drum in his ears.

Damn it… didn’t Luffy know what words like that did to him?

“I can’t help it. He’s fun to tease.” Ace replied when Zoro stayed silent. He leaned in, chin brazenly dropped to rest on Zoro’s shoulder, tugging him closer as if daring Luffy to react. “The Grand Line’s a big place. What’ll you do when others want to tease or kiss him?”

Luffy's pupils dilated, his whole body trembling with barely contained fury.

“STOP SAYING CONFUSING THINGS LIKE THAT! IT’S REALLY STARTING TO PISS ME OFF!” Luffy roared. His eyes snapped to Zoro, gaze pinning him in place.

Before Zoro could so much as blink, a rubbery arm shot out and hooked around his middle.

The world tilted violently.

Zoro found himself hauled up (swords and all) like a sack of rice, and slung over Luffy’s shoulder with humiliating ease.

“LUFFY!” Zoro shouted and thrashed in protest, but Luffy didn’t even look at him. His glare remained on Ace, who was grinning widely.

“I don't trust you around Zoro anymore!” Luffy snapped. His arm clamped around Zoro tighter, possessive, as if he expected Ace to pry the swordsman from him. With that, Luffy turned on his heel and stomped down to the lower deck.

Ace leaned back against the rail, laughing so hard it echoed.

Mortification burned through Zoro. He struggled and kicked and shouted to free himself from his captain’s hold, but Luffy ignored every curse. 

The rest of the crew on deck, didn’t even spare them a glance. On the Merry, this sort of nonsense was practically routine.

Zoro couldn’t see much past the ridiculous view of Luffy’s back, but he knew where they were headed the second the air grew cooler and the scent of wood thickened around them.

The storage room.

The door slammed behind them with a rattling ‘thud’ and was followed by a sharp click of the lock.

Zoro was still slung over Luffy’s shoulder like dead weight, his heart hammering against his ribs.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Only their ragged breaths filled the silence.

When he felt the captain’s grip slacken, Zoro was the first to move. 

“What the hell?!” Zoro shoved free of Luffy's hold. He landed hard on the floor in a graceless heap, then shot his captain a glare sharp enough to cut.

In the dim lantern light, Luffy’s face looked different. All of his usual brightness was swallowed by harsh shadows and his fists trembled at his sides.

“Ace has been corning you since yesterday!” Luffy seethed. 

Zoro's brow twitched at the absurd term Luffy used.

"You mean 'cornering'."

"Whatever!" Luffy dismissed the correction with an angry wave of his hand. “I have to make sure I protect my crew! I won’t let him take Zoro away!”

A bitter taste of hurt crawled up Zoro's throat.

“You think that I’d leave with him?!” Zoro bit back. “You think one stupid kiss is enough for me to throw away my crew? To throw away you and everything we have been through?!” His chest heaved like he was suffocating, fury straining against the ache inside. “Does my loyalty mean nothing to you?!”

Luffy flinched as though Zoro had actually struck him. His wide eyes wavered, glassy, and it was almost enough to make Zoro want to bite his words back… almost.

“Zoro’s loyalty means everything to me!” Luffy insisted, tears brimming his eyes. He grabbed Zoro’s arm, holding on like he was afraid he’d slip away. “That’s why I can’t lose you!”

The desperation in Luffy’s voice twisted Zoro’s insides, but the swordsman only stared at him, brow furrowing with confusion, anger still sparking at the edges.

“That doesn’t make sense!” Zoro snapped back, frustration spilling out again. “You acknowledge my loyalty, but you still think I’d leave? Which is it, Luffy?!”

“It’s both!” 

“It can’t be both!”

“But it IS!!!” Luffy shouted back, his voice shaking with the force of it.

“HOW?!” Zoro’s voice rose, sharper, angrier.

“Because-” Luffy’s voice broke, trembling as much as his shoulders. He looked right at Zoro, the fire dimming from his eyes. “Because it already felt like I lost you!”

The room went dead silent.

Zoro stared, shocked into stillness. His captain (the man who laughed in the face of death, who grinned through storms, who never wavered) looked impossibly small. His hat brim dipped low, casting his eyes in shadow, but Zoro could still see the trembling of his lip and the way he bit down to keep it still.

His chest clenched so tightly it hurt.

“How can you say that…” Zoro rasped, much softer this time, “when I never left?”

Luffy didn’t answer right away. He only stood there, silent, thoughtful, as if trying to wrestle inwardly to find the words. 

Zoro stayed quiet too, waiting for Luffy to explain.

When Luffy finally moved, it wasn’t to speak but to place a hand flat against Zoro’s chest, directly over the scar Mihawk had carved into him. The touch was feather light, hesitant, yet it burned straight through his skin.

“Zoro swore himself to me.” Luffy said quietly. All the anger that had burned so fiercely in him before was gone now, stripped away, leaving only uncertainty in its place. His eyes locked on the scar, voice trembling. “He promised to be the very best… for the King of the Pirates.”

Zoro felt his throat tighten, the oath echoing back in his own mind. He remembered that day… he remembered laying there, bloodied and broken, sword pointed towards the dazzling beautiful sun above him. He was prepared to live, to fight, to die, all for their dream. For Luffy.

Luffy’s hand lingered against him, curling slightly as if trying to hold on. His voice grew softer, so innocent in its honesty.

“When I saw you with Ace… it felt like you weren’t mine anymore.” His eyes flicked up, and for once, there was no wall of oblivious cheer to shield him. “It felt… hard to breathe.  Like I was hollow inside, even though I just ate a bunch of Sanji’s food.”

The confession left Zoro stunned. The words were clumsy, confusing… so Luffy, but the meaning was not lost on Zoro. The others were right. Shit. Luffy might actually…

“I didn’t like that feeling.” Luffy pushed on, voice rougher now, like he was angry at the emotion itself. “I wanted it to stop. So I thought if I stopped you and Ace, then the feeling would stop.”

“...Did it?” Zoro asked cautiously.

Luffy frowned.

“No.” He let out a sharp exhale, a furious crease settling into his brow. “I don’t know how to explain it, but it got worse. Now it feels like… like I’m all twisted up inside, and I can’t make it stop no matter what I do.”

Zoro lifted a hand, rough calloused fingers cupping Luffy’s cheek. With his other hand, he slid the straw hat free, setting it aside so nothing shielded Luffy's face. He needed to see him fully, without barriers.

“You’re an idiot, Captain.” Zoro spoke softly without any real malice. His thumb brushed across Luffy’s skin. “You don’t even know what you’re feeling.”

Luffy’s eyes narrowed, they held the same glare he had all day, but this close, Zoro could see the truth… There was no anger in it. No betrayal. Just confusion and a desperate need Luffy couldn't seem to understand.

“Then tell me.” Luffy demanded, stepping forward until his chest pressed against Zoro’s, his breath warm against his lips, filling Zoro’s lungs like fire. “Tell me what I’m feeling.”

The hairs at the back of Zoro’s neck stood on end. He could feel every tremor of his captain’s breath, could taste the heat of him lingering in the narrow space between them. It would take nothing, nothing at all, to lean in and claim the lips he had longed for since the day that damn straw hat idiot barged into his life. His body screamed to close the distance, but his mind held him back. It wasn’t his place. Not yet. Luffy didn’t understand what burned inside him, and Zoro wouldn’t steal it before he did.

Still… if he couldn’t tell Luffy what he was feeling, maybe he could lay bare his own.

“You feel hurt…” Zoro said at last, the ache in his chest bled into every word. “And you feel betrayed, because it seems like the one you put all your trust in… doesn’t return that trust anymore.”

Luffy leaned into Zoro’s hand, his frown deepening as though Zoro’s words fit too neatly into the shape of the hollowness inside him.

“I do feel that way…” he admitted. His dark eyes searched Zoro’s face, bewildered. “But… how does Zoro know that?”

Zoro let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders sagged under the weight of it.

“Because that’s how I feel every time you question my loyalty to you.”

Luffy’s eyes went wide, alarm flashing across his features. 

“I… I didn’t realize I hurt Zoro so badly…” 

Zoro felt the ache in his chest twist deeper, but he held his ground, hand still cradling Luffy’s face. The captain was finally seeing the wound his actions had carved open.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt Zoro.” Luffy’s said earnestly. “I meant what I said. Zoro’s loyalty means everything to me, because I know it’s not something easy to earn.”

His fists gripped tighter into Zoro’s shirt as though that would convey the urgency of his apology.

“I promise I won’t do it again.” Luffy pressed on, eyes unwavering. “So please don’t feel hurt anymore. I don’t want Zoro feeling any of my pain.”

Zoro bit the inside of his cheek, trying to steady himself against the swell of pain, relief, and peace that came with Luffy’s understanding.

“... I won't, captain.” 

Without thinking, Zoro leaned down, brushing his lips against Luffy’s forehead. The contact was fleeting, but must have been more intimate than he realized when he felt Luffy inhale sharply against him.

Zoro quickly pulled back, and noticed that Luffy's cheeks were dusted pink.

“Sorry. I didn't mean-”

The apology died on his tongue as Luffy yanked him down by the shirt, lips crashing against his own.

Zoro felt shock ripple through him the moment their lips met. 

Luffy’s kiss was hungry, as if he had longed to taste Zoro for some time now. At first, he couldn't breathe, but then the shock melted and he felt a thrill warm his blood.

Zoro parted his lips and Luffy surged forward, deepening the kiss. A shudder tore through his body when Luffy’s arm hooked around his neck, clinging to him as though afraid he might disappear. He tightened his own grip as he sensed that they were falling and he was utterly helpless to stop it until he felt his lower back collide with the barrels of booze behind him.

The collision at his lower back knocked the air from his lungs, but he barely noticed. Luffy was on him in an instant, pressing flush against his body, lean strength burning hotter than the midday sun. The heat seeped into his skin, settled into his bones, and he couldn’t stop the moan that escaped past his lips.

Yes. Yes. There was no mistaking it now. This wasn’t confusion. This wasn’t misplaced anger. Luffy wanted him… hadwanted him. Zoro could feel it in the urgency of his lips, the way he kissed like a man starved, the way every touch carried a desperate claim.

Zoro gave in, body folding back to lay across the barrels, every ounce of resistance shattering. Luffy followed, climbing atop him, refusing to break their kiss. The hollow ache that had gnawed at Zoro for so long vanished, replaced by a fire that finally, finally had somewhere to burn.

Zoro’s hand slid to the back of Luffy’s head, tangling in his hair to keep him there. 

Every shift of Luffy’s body pressed him down harder against the barrels, the hard curve of wood biting into his back. Yet Zoro welcomed it. The ache only anchored him in reality, proof this wasn’t some half-delirious dream brought on by booze. This was real. 

Luffy shifted, straddling him now. His hand fisted in Zoro’s shirt, dragging him up into the kiss with a desperation that made Zoro’s pulse thunder. The swordsman’s arms instinctively moved down to wrap around him, one gripping Luffy’s waist, the other spanning his back, feeling as much as he could.

Luffy groaned into his mouth. The sound was unlike anything Zoro had ever heard from him, that it set fire to his veins. The noise dragged an answering growl from deep in Zoro’s chest as his control frayed. He kissed back harder, teeth grazing Luffy’s lip before sucking it into his mouth, swallowing another sharp gasp.

When Luffy finally tore his mouth free to breathe, he didn’t retreat. He hovered, their foreheads pressed together, their chests heaving as if they had both just survived a battle. His grip on Zoro’s shirt never loosened, as though letting go might undo everything.

Zoro’s lips tingled, swollen from the ferocity of the kiss. His entire body trembled with the effort it took not to flip them, not to let the full extent of his desire consume them both right there. 

“Idiot…” His eyes half-lidded as he gazed up at Luffy. “You don’t even know what you’ve started.”

Luffy’s laugh bubbled up, bright and reckless, the sound vibrating against Zoro’s chest. He watched, breathless, as the grin spread wide across his captain’s face. Then Luffy leaned down, pressing a scatter of feather-light kisses along his cheek, the corner of his mouth, and his jawline.

“But I do know.” Luffy said, his lips brushing skin with every word. “Now I want to be the only one who gets to do this with Zoro.”

The words slipped straight past Zoro’s defenses, hitting him square in the chest. Joy flooded through him so fast it almost hurt. Still, he wasn’t about to let Luffy see that… not when he was smirking like that.

“If I agree to that, will you shut up and kiss me already?”

“Shishishi. Zoro’s so bossy.” Luffy teased, his lips brushed against his jaw before sliding down to his neck. The kiss sent a shiver darting down Zoro’s spine.

“You’re insufferable.” Zoro muttered, threading his fingers back into Luffy’s messy black hair.

“And Zoro’s mine.” Luffy replied without hesitation.

Before Zoro could retort, Luffy’s mouth greedily crashed against his again. All thought dissolved. 

The ship felt different by the time the crew gathered to see Ace off. The late morning activities with Luffy had left a permanent mark on Zoro's soul, forever changing him, but no one else seemed to notice. Or maybe they were just polite enough not to mention why their captain looked brighter than usual, or why his and Luffy's steps were not quite steady, or why both of their clothes were disheveled.

They were done talking.

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

Ace’s ship bobbed in the distance, sails swelling with the breeze.

The crew lined the rail to see him off. Luffy stood front and center, hat tipped back, grin wide enough to split the horizon. Zoro hung a step behind him, arms crossed, watching both brothers closely.

“Guess this is where we part ways.” Ace scratched the back of his neck, his gaze sweeping over the Merry’s deck. For the briefest moment, his eyes lingered on Zoro (studying him) before flicking away.

“Shishishi! You should’ve stayed longer!” Luffy complained, his grin never dimming. “Sanji could've made more meat for us!”

“Another time, Luffy. I’ve got things I need to take care of.” Ace chuckled, but Zoro noticed the way his smile didn’t reach his eyes. Whatever lay ahead weighed heavy on him. Zoro hoped that his time aboard the Merry had offered him some measure of relief, however brief.

“It was great getting to know you.” Vivi said warmly. “I’m sure our paths will cross again.”

Ace lit up at her words. His smile softened, more real, as though she’d reminded him of something.

“I’m sure we will, and I almost forgot. Here.” Ace reached into his pocket, pulling free a slip of paper and flicked it toward Luffy, who caught it with quick hands. “I wanted you to have that.”

“Huh?” Luffy blinked.

Zoro followed Luffy’s line of sight, narrowing his eyes at the small, unassuming scrap Luffy now held in his palm.

“Hang on to it. Always.” Ace instructed.

“It’s just a piece of paper.” Luffy frowned, turning it over as if expecting words to appear.

“Yeah.” Ace said, grin tugging wider. “But that piece of paper will bring us together again.”

Luffy squinted harder at it, as if sheer willpower could force the secret to reveal itself.

“Don't you want it?” Ace asked.

“I want it!” Luffy exclaimed immediately, clutching it against his chest as if it were treasure.

Ace laughed carefree once more, shaking his head at Luffy's antics. 

“A kid brother like you makes a brother worry.” Ace turned his gaze to Zoro, his eyes turned softer. His voice lowered, carrying a meaning meant for Zoro alone. “Take care of him, okay?”

Zoro didn’t break eye contact. He didn’t need to be asked. He’d follow his captain into the fiercest seas, through fire, steel, all the way to the ends of the Grand Line and whatever waited beyond… but Ace needed to hear it.

So Zoro gave a single, sharp nod.

Ace’s lips curved in satisfaction.

“By the way…" Luffy suddenly stepped forward, sliding right into Ace’s line of sight and cutting off his view of Zoro. “I claimed Zoro in the supply room.” Luffy announced with a wide and utterly unbothered grin. “So you can’t flirt with him anymore.”

Zoro felt his heart stop. His lungs followed suit. The words lodged in his throat and all that came out was a strangled sound as the heat flooded his face.

“LUFFY!”

“What? Why are you mad?” Luffy blinked at him, tilting his head with infuriating innocence. “I just said I claimed you. I didn't tell him we had sex.”

Zoro nearly choked on his own tongue. His mind was a blur of white-hot mortification, and before he could form a single curse to properly express it, Ace threw his head back and howled with laughter. The man doubled over, clutching his stomach while chaos erupted behind them from the rest of the crew.

Behind them, Sanji and Usopp were both raising their voices.

“The supply room?!” Usopp’s voice cracked so hard it was nearly a shriek. “Where I keep my tools?!”

“THAT’S WHERE WE KEEP THE EXTRA DRY FOOD AND BOOZE, YOU ABSOLUTE MORONS!” Sanji’s leg snapped forward in a vicious kick, aimed straight for both their skulls. “DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW UNSANITARY THAT IS?!”

Zoro ducked on instinct, dragging Luffy with him before the cook’s wrath took their heads clean off. 

Chopper grabbed a hold of Sanji's pant leg, forcing the cook to stop his flailing kicks.

“WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD DO THAT IN THERE?!”

Meanwhile, Nami and Vivi had gone very, very quiet. They refused to meet anyone’s eyes, their guilty expressions betraying far more than their silence.

Zoro’s gaze narrowed. Judging by their guilty expressions, he had a suspicion that he and Luffy weren’t the only culprits that deserved this lecture.

“Okay, Luffy, you made your point.” Ace wiped at a tear trailing down his cheek, still grinning like the devil himself. “He’s all yours.”

With a crackle of fire, Ace vaulted back to his ship. Flames licked across his shoulders, and his laughter echoed across the waves long after his feet had left their deck.

“See you on the high seas, Luffy!” Ace’s voice rang out.

“Yeah!” Luffy waved like his brother was already half a world away, his grin unshaken, his spirit shining.

Behind them, Sanji’s furious tirade raged on while Nami and Vivi pretended harder than ever to be deaf to it, choosing to wave goodbye to Ace instead.

Zoro dragged a hand over his face, groaning into his palm. It wasn’t enough to scrub away the embarrassment or the heat that still clung to his skin. He let the noise of his crew mates fade to the background and looked at the idiot captain beside him.

Luffy’s smile was blinding. He stood there, chest puffed out as if he hadn’t just thrown Zoro into the center of chaos, as if claiming him in front of his brother and the whole damn crew was a natural thing to do.

Zoro felt the fight bleed out of him. How could he stay mad? Luffy wanted the whole world to know about them. The captain was eager to shout it to the seas that Zoro was his first mate, his swordsman, his partner… his.