Chapter Text
The sun rises slowly, letting go of the horizon in a burst of colours. Zoro sits on the deck of the Polar Tang, breathing in the fresh, sea-sprayed air. He hasn't slept yet, having decided to stay up and keep watch. He didn't have to, since the polar bear was up steering the submarine, but Zoro felt like he had to keep an eye out for his crew. He promised, after all—'take care of things here, Zoro!'
He yawns and leans back against the railing. It is hard steel, still cold from the seawater, the ship having resurfaced at the first sign of dawn. It is jarringly different from the Sunny's pampered, sun-warmed wood.
They're sailing in opposite directions, now—the Sunny and the Polar Tang. His captain and him.
Zoro looks up when the cabin door opens, revealing Law holding two cups of coffee. He looks tired, but then again, maybe he always does. Zoro nods gratefully, taking the warm cup he's offered. Black coffee, no sugar—sometimes, Law reminds him of Robin. The way she had, at the start, picked up on so many details about the crew, trying to grasp who they were.
But then again, Zoro thinks as Law opens his mouth to speak, Robin knows when to mind her own business.
"You know, you look like you're in pain sometimes."
Zoro doesn't grace him with an answer, just glares at a spot between the rails on the opposite side of the deck.
"I'm a doctor, so I can tell," he continues, and Zoro turns his glare on him. Infuriatingly, Law is not intimidated—he just keeps looking at him as if he were one of those specimens he keeps in jelly-filled bottles.
"You have good posture, but sometimes you hunch your shoulders, as if to protect your ribcage."
Zoro's eye flashes dangerously, he grits his teeth-
"Is it heartache?" Law asks, calm and collected.
"Fuck off," Zoro finally spits out, turning back to his coffee.
Law huffs a rare, dry laugh. Zoro fumes silently. Bastard probably enjoyed poking growling animals with a stick when he was a kid.
"It's Strawhat-ya, isn't it?"
Zoro chokes on his fucking coffee.
"Relax," Law grins, and Zoro briefly wonders if Luffy will mind if he chops up their ally. "It was just a hunch. And I don't see who else someone like you could be agonising over."
"I'm not-" Zoro wheezes weakly, still coughing.
"So, why aren't you going for it?"
"I told you, I'm not-" Zoro seethes, turning to glare at him again, but Law stares back impassibly.
"Your heart rate's spiking—you're lying."
"My- oh I fuckin' hate you," Zoro scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest, a scowl on his face. Definitely not a pout. And he's definitely not blushing.
Surprisingly, Law doesn't press further, and they sit in silence for a moment. Maybe that's why Zoro speaks up.
"It's enough, just being near him."
Law hums as he downs the rest of his cup. "If you say so."
Zoro stands up and stretches his shoulders. "I'm gonna get some sleep," he tells him as he walks towards the cabin, wanting to go below deck where it is dark and he can hide from the truth.
"Did you know," Law calls after him, "that Boa Hancock is in love with him?"
Zoro freezes, halfway to the door. He schools his expression into something more neutral before turning back towards him. "Isn't she supposed to hate all men or something?"
"So I've heard. I don't know the whole story, but apparently Strawhat-ya saved her when she was trying to kill him."
Zoro huffs a breath through his nose. "Fuckin' typical." Luffy's always doing shit like that. Flipping people's worlds around on their axes and then going about his day as if he had done nothing of importance. And Zoro- Zoro is-
"She's even asked him to marry her."
His blood freezes in his veins and it must be visible on his face because Law adds,
"He's rejected her every time, though." He shrugs. "Just thought you'd like to know."
Zoro looks out over the ocean and the horizon behind which Luffy sails away.
"Luffy can do whatever he wants," he tells Law, or himself. He turns on his heels, then, heading down to the lowest floor of the submarine where the walls creak along Franky's metallic snores.
It's dark and cold but Zoro dreams of the sun and its warm embrace.