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Just Sex

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Luffy comes over later, timed perfectly with Nami coming home from school.

Clearly an intervention.

Zoro’s on the living room floor with a glass of water and shaking hands. He could’ve dragged himself to his room to get a drink to stave off the deadly hangover and vomiting, but even he can recognize he’s taken things too far.

The silence is deafening when Nami goes to her room to change. Luffy sits on the sofa and leans forward to pat Zoro’s shoulder, worry shining in his eyes. Zoro avoids looking at him.

Then, Nami returns, wearing comfy clothes and a frown. “Zoro…” she starts. Her voice is trembling.

Jesus. He must’ve been a train wreck when she saw him last night.

“You-“

“I know, I know,” Zoro grumbles, staring down at the glass of water clutched in his hands. “I’m sorry, Nami.”

Nami sniffs and sinks down on the floor next to him.

Luffy joins them. “We love you, man. But enough is enough.”

Zoro takes a sip of water, stealing a glance at Luffy and Nami’s faces. Luffy’s watching him carefully. Nami’s lower lip is trembling, like she’s on the verge of tears.

Dammit.

“I’ve gone too far, I recognize that,” he admits. “I’m cutting back.”

“No, you need to quit cold turkey!” Nami exclaims.

“Sure, whatever,” Zoro says noncommittally.

Luffy sighs.

“I’m cutting myself off for a week at least,” Zoro says quickly.

“You’re an addict,” Nami snaps. “That won’t help.”

“Better than nothing,” Luffy says.

“Don’t encourage him, Luffy. This is serious.”

“I’m already having withdrawal symptoms,” Zoro says irritably. “I’m usually functional, but the last few months have been worse-”

“Functional alcoholism is not a badge of honor,” Nami snaps. “You’re digging your own grave.”

“I’ll cut back after a week of being sober!” Zoro yells, throwing his hands up. His head pounds and he groans, curling forward. “I’ll cut back, that way it doesn’t affect either of you anymore. No more finding me on the floor or needing to drag me home or turn me on my side to keep me from choking to death. That’s all I’ve got.”

Silence.

“Better than nothing,” Luffy repeats softly.

“Whatever.” Nami stands up, tears pooling in her eyes. She stares down at Zoro. “I just want you to live a healthy life. I want you to be around when I’m old and gray, okay? Is that too much to ask?”

Zoro frowns, heart panging at the sight of Nami’s tears. Then his throat starts to burn, and he scrambles across the living room to get to the bathroom in time to throw up again.

-

After a day or two, the nausea goes away, and he’s left with a dull, perpetual headache that follows him everywhere. He has to wear a damn baseball cap at the gym to keep the lights out of his eyes.

Sanji sends him a text or two, asking how he’s doing, but Zoro ignores him. All he can think about is that tall, tattooed man he saw him with at the bar, and his own fading heartache.

He wants the pain to fizzle out already.

So…he gets back on Grindr.