Chapter Text
Thriller Bark, a few days ago…
Zoro tried so hard to rise and keep fighting. But he just... Couldn’t. No matter how badly he wanted to. His body refused to listen to him, stuck in survival mode to save itself from the death he would undoubtedly suffer if he got up again.
He was out of time.
He was out of luck.
And he was out of options.
“The only way you’ll back down.." The pirate hunter coughed and wheezed brutally, shoulders heaving with every deep, quick breath he took. “Is if we give you Luffy’s head?”
“That is the only compromise I am willing to offer.”
A small part of him had always guessed that it would come to this. Where they’d face an enemy far greater than they were capable of defeating. How couldn’t they?
They had taken down two warlords, destroyed countless navy battleships, injured thousands of marines, burned the flag of the world government, crushed their most elite fighting force to take back their archaeologist, and destroyed their judicial island.
They were at war with the most powerful authoritarian force in the world. No matter how justified their actions, they had become a serious threat. There was almost a guarantee that at some point.. One of them would not make it out alive.
Zoro continued to hack and pant, his unwavering gaze pinned on Kuma the Tyrant.
How he’d hoped this day wouldn't come so soon.. but he’d known it was coming for a while now. So he had started practicing meditation more often. Meditation helped him to master control of his body. It helped him sort out his emotions when they overwhelmed him.
But.. Primarily, it was preparation for death.
And he was ready now.
Faced with the choice to hand over his captain’s head or offer his as a replacement, he would never, ever choose himself.
Luffy was too special. There was this hypnotizing quality to him that inspired fierce loyalty from those he considered his friends. Garnered respect from some who called themselves his enemy.
That very quality was the reason he’d vowed to join his captain’s crew in the first place, all those weeks back on the marine base.
Shells Town, months ago…
The boy with pink hair had just told him that goofy-looking teenager in a straw hat had made himself an enemy of the marines because of him. He’d been so furious after learning that the pirate hunter was going to be executed before the end of his sentence that he’d knocked the marine captain’s son unconscious.
‘But.. Why?’ Why would he do something like that for a complete stranger? That kid didn’t owe him a damn thing. All he knew about Zoro was his infamy for swordsmanship. How was that possibly enough information for the pirate to judge him worthy of risking his life?
“I hope you’ll help him,” the other boy paused briefly, “Luffy’s the only person here who can save you. And.. You’re the only one here who can save him.”
Zoro didn’t respond.
Luffy.
That must be Straw Hat’s name.
Luffy...
And he was the only person capable of getting him out of this mess? That would mean the pirate was just as strong as he was. Maybe even stronger. But how could that be when he looked so scrawny? ‘And innocent..’
The sound of Captain Axe-Hand Morgan shouting broke him from his thoughts.
‘Well shit.’ Zoro’s head whipped in his direction and he saw a small company of soldiers marching with him into the crucifixion yard.
“For committing the crime of treason, I sentence you both to die where you stand.”
The marines pointed their shotguns at them, and he bit the inside of his cheek till he tasted iron. ‘Fuck. Fuck, fuck, f u c k.’
Somehow, Morgan was still monologuing.
“...What is this?! Some kind of poorly executed coup you planned with the Straw Hat?!”
“I fight alone,” the pirate hunter shouted back, trying to draw the moment out as long as possible, “Like a real man. Not a tyrant coward who hides behind a wall of cronies.”
“Don’t you dare underestimate me, Roronoa Zoro!” The captain roared. “You may be a strong fighter, but under my authority you’re a rat we take out with the trash. Take aim!”
‘No.. He couldn’t afford to die here – not yet! Not yet.' His heart was beating faster than a wild horse could run. It drowned the rest of the world out.
CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK.
All of the guns preparing to shoot sounded like they were underwater. Zoro stared down the barrel of one of them, cold sweat slicking his skin in a way it never had before.
He was going to die.
He was going to die – tied up like an animal.
This wasn’t supposed to happen, this wasn’t a part of his plan! He wasn’t the greatest swordsman in the world yet!! He’d made a promise!!! He couldn’t break it – he couldn’t.
If he disappeared without etching his name into the immortal scrolls of history... Then she would disappear with him.
“FIRE!!!”
Time seemed to slow as he listened to the sharp explosion of bullets leaving their chambers and whistling through the air. He turned his head and closed his eyes. ‘Maybe.. He would get to see Kuina again...’
He waited for the first bullet to rip through his body, but it never came. Zoro cracked one eye open, and his heart soared straight into his throat. ‘Was that-?!’
Straw Hat Luffy landed directly in front of him and threw his fists out to the side - using his own body as a shield.
“What?!” The swordsman shouted, utterly dumbfounded. He could barely believe what he was seeing. Instead of riddling Straw Hat’s flesh with bloody holes like they should have, the bullets stretched his skin until they lost their momentum.
“SEEE YAAA!!” Luffy snickered and sent them soaring right back at the marines. “That won’t work on me, told ya I was strong!!”
“You saved me?” He rasped, his mouth slack and eyes wide from how shocked, grateful, and impressed he was. “Who the hell are you?!”
The rubber boy looked over his shoulder, and Zoro felt the strangest sense of calm mixed with intense admiration wash over him when their eyes met. It reminded him of the way he used to feel every time he saw Kuina. ‘Which was really fucking weird.’
“My name’s Monkey D. Luffy,” the pirate said, grinning merrily and sticking one of his thumbs up, “And I’m gonna be King of the pirates.”
’What did he just say??’ Zoro stared at Luffy like he’d sprouted another head.
“You are gonna be King of the pirates? Yeah right. Do you even know what that means?!”
He tilted his head as if confused by the question. “King of the pirates means.. King of the pirates. What’re you talking about?”
“Yeah, when he first told me I couldn’t believe it, but it he’s serious,” the kid with pink hair piped up, “He’s searching for the One-Piece, and he’s willing to die trying to conquer the Grand Line.”
His eyes grew wider than they already were, a gasp catching in his throat – and all this rubber idiot did was laugh. ‘King of the fucking pirates?! The One Piece?? No goddamn way.’
“Here’s what I promised you.” Luffy said earnestly, surprising Zoro by holding his swords out to him. “There’s three, I couldn’t tell which was yours so I took all of ‘em.”
“They all belong to me,” he muttered back, itching to get his hands on them, “I use the three sword style, sentoryu.”
Straw Hat Luffy hummed then shook the scabbards he was holding. “Take them already!” His features lifted into another dazzling grin. “But if you fight with me now you’ll officially be a pirate. So.. It’s that – or you get killed like an animal execution style.”
The feeling was back.. stronger this time.
It was serenity, it was hope, it was.. Devotion.
A sly grin to balance the purity of Luffy’s smile stretched across Zoro’s face.
“It doesn’t matter what I want, if I don’t pick your side I’ll just end up dead. So what the hell, why not.”
His captain yelled victoriously, throwing his arms in the air. “HAH- HAAAAH!!! So, you’re finally gonna join my crew? This is the best thing ever, all RIGHT!”
He was bouncing up and down like he’d forgotten there was a group of men standing twenty feet away trying to kill them. It was infuriating but charming too, in a way, that he would be this thrilled about him joining. ‘Damn, stupid kid..’
Roronoa Zoro, ‘Pirate Hunter’ to those he’d slain, demon of the East Blue, vowed that he would follow this strange boy named Monkey D. Luffy to the end of the sea and beyond.
From that moment forward, he would forever and always be bound to the future King of the pirates.
Thriller Bark, a few days ago...
It was just.. Time to repay the debt he owed. That was all.
The swordsman panted raggedly, readying himself for the decision he was about to make. He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a couple deep, steadying breaths.
Luffy was the man who would become King of the pirates. And as his first mate, he couldn’t let his captain’s story end here. So he would end his own, and trust that his comrades would tell it with honor.
He’d have to apologize to Kuina when he met her on the other side of the veil for breaking their promise. ‘But..'
“You want a head?” Zoro rasped in the firmest tone he could muster up. “Then I’ll give you a head.” He slammed his hands onto the stone he was sitting on and rounded his shoulders into a bow.
‘There were just some dreams worth sacrificing.’
“However, I can’t give you my captains-”
‘If it would protect the people he loved.’
“You’ll have to take mine instead. Please, settle for that.”
‘He knew she would understand.’