Chapter Text
Whatever remained of Marshall D. Teach's pulverized carcass was taken away by the wind.
The Yami Yami no mi was put into a chest, beneath the deep waters of the Ocean and away from any life form that could have consumed it.
The Gura Gura no mi on the other hand was given to Marco the Phoenix. He wasn't going to eat it, of course, but it would have been his only memento from his happier days. With Oyaji and the others. When life was great, before Teach.
Now, all there was left to do was picking up the pieces of broken people he had left behind.
The Strawhats alone weren't even the only victims to this carnage.
Many reunions happened on that day.
A sister, Charlotte Pudding, felt the embrace of her siblings after months of being away from them.
And a daughter, the Ghost Princess Perona, hugged her father after years of thinking he was dead.
Carrot, the duchess, let out a river of tears as she embraced her fellow muskeeters.
The Oni Samurai Yamato, comforting the girl who he loved as if she was his own, while the older siblings cheered with them.
A captain as stubborn as Kidd breaking down at the sight of his crew. All alive, all well. And a similar scene happening to Bartolomeo the Cannibal just beside him.
The princesses Shirahoshi and Riku Rebecca, coming back to their families.
And the families and friends of each Strawhat giving them one last goodbye before having to part ways once more.
The voyage wasn't over after all. Even if one enemy was defeated, at least two others were racing to be the next Pirate King.
Luffy's family was the one that stayed behind the longest.
Even if the boy was unconscious, Dadan, Makino and Sabo didn't leave his side for a minute.
But eventually, it just had to happen.
The two women had gotten a lift from the Alabasta fleet, which had offered to stop by the East Blue.
And the Chief of Staff was dragged away by Koala. Their boss remained missing, but that was an issue for another day.
All three were at least sure that their boy was okay. And for them, it was enough. Luffy always knew how to pick up good friends.
It was night. Midnight, or probably later.
But everyone was home.
Although not in their usual sleeping quarters, the Strawhats decided that no one was going to leave each others' side.
The cook was on a mattress on the floor. The sniper had made his way on the same bed, and he was now sharing that space with him. Even if his hands hit the latter's face in his sleep.
The shipwright and the archaeologist were sharing their usual king size nest. His body was adorned with pillows, and her face rested well in them. Her extra hands caressed his still human back. The doctor was in between them, hugged tightly like a stuffed animal. Snoring softly and peacefully.
The navigator and the princess were sharing the same hammock, tied in the same blankets. The ginger was being held by the tan girl, who was resting her chin on her shoulder.
The helmsman was forced to sleep in the aquarium, but this time he had the company of the heroic musician. Since he could not perish by drowning there was no danger in this action as long as the fishman held him close.
The father and daughter duo were more separated from the main group, but still present. The little girl's mattress was her dad, and the safest place in the world.
Even Trafalgar, who had entrusted his crew to his first mate, had stayed behind. His sleeping stop was right by the door. His sword was near him, and he was ready to attack anyone that disturbed their peace.
The captain was in the largest bed in the middle of the room.
It was the most decorated one too. A nest of pillows and layers of layers of blankets, on top of the bandages he had on his body.
One of those pillows was his swordsman.
The first mate had his arms wrapped around him and his body on top of his bare chest.
Luffy was usually the big spoon when it came to cuddling, but this was a different case.
Zoro wasn't sleeping. He was completely awake.
He couldn't allow himself to rest.
He couldn't allow himself… to stop looking at him.
In hindsight, Zoro always knew that Luffy was cute. Objectively.
But from this angle… he was even better.
His chubby cheeks were tinted red, perhaps a little hot to the touch but nothing in particular. They lined up nicely with his smaller nose.
Zoro tumbed the scar beneath his eye. They were closed, but the long eyelashes brushed against his own skin. And the tickling sensation made him smile.
He kissed his hair, and ran his hands through it. The black curls were sift, thick and full. Zoro decided that was a good sign. Of well being.
He moved his hands to Luffy's back. He wanted to hug him, cherish him as much as he could. As much as Luffy deserved.
"When I first met you." Zoro recalled, whispering close to him. "I thought you weren't real. Like a person my mind made up or something."
"Because it just felt impossible that someone like you could do anything in this shitty world." He continued.
"How someone like you could, would want to have anything to do with an asshole like me." He said, laughing not to shed any tears.
"But now, looking at you here… I see it. You are just Monkey D. Luffy. And you are amazing." He kissed his head once again.
"Zoro…" A whispered cane from Luffy's mouth. "Don't say Zoro is an asshole… I like him."
The swordsman smiled, landing another kiss. "Alright, but I don't think that changes anything about me."
"It does." Luffy opposed, sounding slightly upset. "Zoro is cool. Assholes are not."
"If you say so." The green haired man said as he snickered.
"Blackbeard was an asshole." His captain stated. The smile fell from Zoro's face just at the mention of that bastard. "Thanks for killing him Zoro. I don't like killing, but this time it was nice."
"You're welcome." Zoro stated, resting his eyes.
"And thanks to Nami, Sanji, Usopp, Vivi, Chopper, Robin, Franky…" A yawn broke his monologue. "Brook, Jimbei, Torao, Bonney, Kuma, Yamabro, Shaggy, Carrot, Sabo… I love you guys."
Luffy was now peacefully snoring again. He was somehow prettier than before, too. Zoro didn't want to wake him up, but there was one last thing he had to ask.
"Luffy?"
"Yeah…?"
"Did I ever tell you about a chick named Kuina?"