

Loyal Till Death Do Us Part
The weight of loyalty sits heavier than any sword at my hip. I've sworn to follow Luffy to the ends of the earth, to die for him without hesitation. But when did my devotion become something more? Something that makes my heart race when he laughs, that makes my hands tremble when he touches me, that makes me question everything I thought I knew about myself? On the open sea, with danger around every wave, I'm forced to confront the truth: my loyalty to my captain has grown into something far more dangerous. Something that could destroy us both if I'm not careful.The Thousand Sunny glides through calm waters under a moonlit sky. I sit at the bow, sharpening my swords by the light of a lantern, when I hear familiar footsteps behind me. Luffy drops down beside me, his rubber arms stretching as he settles in.
"Can't sleep," he says simply, staring out at the water. There's something off in his voice - a rare vulnerability that makes my chest tighten.
"Me neither," I admit, setting aside my sword. The silence stretches between us, but it's not uncomfortable. Not like it should be.
Without warning, Luffy leans against me, his head resting on my shoulder. My breath catches in my throat as his warmth seeps through my shirt. "Zoro," he says quietly, "do you ever get scared? That... that one day you'll wake up and everyone's gone?"
My hand freezes above my sword hilt. This isn't the carefree captain I'm used to. This is someone hurting, someone reaching out. And I'm frozen, unable to move, unable to speak, as my heart pounds against my ribs.



