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For all of his life, Zoro had never been much of a follower or a leader. He hated giving orders as much as he hated following them. All of his life, he’d been content to continue on with that exact memo and do things his own way, by himself.
The only thing that other people were going to do was tie him down, and keep him from accomplishing his dream, to become the greatest swordsman. Zoro didn’t need anybody.
That was, until he met Monkey D. Luffy.
Tied up, beaten and warm in the yard of the Shellstown marine outpost. He would’ve survived, either way, Zoro likes to think. But he felt it then, even if he didn’t acknowledge that feeling until days later. Something shifted.
And that shift began because of a boy with a straw hat and a sunshine smile.
Sitting on the deck of the Going Merry, with his back to the mast, he watched idly as Usopp ran across the deck, chasing after Luffy who was laughing hysterically at something as Usopp fumed.
Zoro hummed, thinking of the many days spent alone, going from island to island. His only focus being finding the next bounty so he could survive long enough to defeat Mihawk.
Brushing his thumb over the hilt of his sword, he thought of Kuina. Thought of the fact, that just like him, she wasn’t a leader or a follower. Kuina carved her own path, she made her own way with nobody to back her but herself.
He used to think that was the only way to do it. Other people were only obstacles to be cut down. Why would he bother with them? He’d bothered with Kuina and she’d died.
Sanji walked past him, a tray with a fancy looking drink held delicately in the air. Zoro huffed, rolling his eyes at the orange umbrella sitting in the glass.
Glancing him out of the side of his eye, Sanji scowled at him. Zoro glared back, despite the warmth flooding his veins. At the fact that before he knew it, there was a place carved for him here.
No, Zoro wasn’t a leader or a follower. And, he didn’t think he ever would be. But, for the first time, he realised he didn’t need to be. He didn’t have to carve his own path or be a leader or a follower.
As he listened to Sanji’s distant swooning from across the deck, heard the low murmur of Nami’s voice and watched as Luffy raced past him again, Usopp hot on his heels, Zoro allowed himself to close his eyes.
He could just be a swordsman. Their swordsman. And that was enough.