Love Is Blind | ZoLu

5

A brief moment of silence took place where the Straw Hats called home, after having received such shocking news.

Chopper himself couldn't believe the diagnosis he had just given everyone around him.

"Does he know yet?!" Nami cried, processing the dreadful situation.

The young doctor shook his head at her, unable to even form a proper sentence without messing up his speech halfway.

"N-n-no, help me tell him. I just- I CAN'T DO IT! LUFFY!!!" He broke down in tears.

While most of the Straw Hats were stunned by this news, others were in too much of a shock to even move.

"We'll all let him know, but we need to calm down first."

Their Cook divulged, lighting a cigarette to avoid seeping into his emotions and letting them take over him.

Such an unexpected situation left the Captain's crew feeling devastated, grieving the loss of Luffy's vision and realizing how much would change from now on: Both in his life, as well as their very own.

"He's right, as much as I hate to admit it... It's best if we set our grief aside for Luffy's sake."

Zoro commented, feeling weak to his knees before approaching Chopper.

"Chopper, let's go see him."

"We'll know how to help him get through this."

Franky added. One by one, the group turned their backs against the ocean to face a wooden door.

Many thoughts rushed through their heads in the short span of less than five minutes while they physically and mentally prepared themselves for what they were about to face.

But truth be told, no one was ready to let their Captain know he had lost his eyesight.

Not even Zoro himself, who had witnessed it first-hand when Luffy's vision was taken away from him by Blackbeared.

They slowly walked inside of the room, the footsteps alerting Luffy who was eager to get an answer from his doctor.

"Chopper? Are you there?"

He questioned, his eyes shining with hope, despite there being nothing for him to view on the outside.

Chopper didn't have the heart or mind to say anything in response, so he hummed at the boy in return.

"We're all here, Luffy."

Sanji spoke, his blonde hair covering the sorrowful look on his face when approaching Luffy.

And there he remained, sitting rather impatiently on an examination bed, along with the others who were also in the Doctor's office.

The air grew dense around them, becoming a saddening ambient before the bad news broke out.

"The bed moved just now."

"I sat down next to you, that's why." Zoro spoke, wrapping his arm around the boy's hunched shoulders.

The others watched him in silence, seeing how supportive Zoro was being, only hoping they could offer the same amount of support to their Captain, to keep his mind at ease.

Luffy gently turned his head, facing the man but not being able to focus his eyes on him.

"We came here to tell you something, Captain."

They said, as Luffy felt someone take ahold of his hands.

"Your hands are warm. Who are you?"

Luffy jumped when he heard someone burst out crying in the room, then exit it immediately.

He was scared, and grew quite confused.

"Zoro. It's Zoro, Luffy."

Zoro spoke with patience, trying to act as calm as he possibly could while Robin went after Chopper.

"Chopper was here awhile ago, he told me to wait in here. But now all of you are here. What is it that you all wanted to tell me?"

Luffy admitted, searching for answers through his friends.

No one knew what to say, each second was crucial for the Straw Hats as they knew it was time to tell their Captain the reason they were gathered up in his Luffy's room.

But for that, they needed their doctor to be present, and he wasn't around the area they were in.

"Zoro, it's time."

Sanji pointed at the Swordsman, yearning for him to make the first move.

"T-time? For what, guys?"

It was impossible to explain anything when hearing the way Luffy was speaking to them, using such a distressed tone of voice.

"To tell you something. It's something very serious."

"Okay," Luffy cut in. "But first, can you turn the lights on so I could see you guys?"

His persistence in wanting to see the light and having his friends know he would no longer be able to see it was tearing them apart.

"That's what we need to talk about, Luffy. Listen carefully now, alright?" Luffy nodded, hearing Nami's voice.

Chopper entered the room again before anyone else could say another word. With their doctor around, they allowed him to explain everything to Luffy.

"I examined your eyesight earlier." He said, earning a nod from Luffy who was smiling.

"Luffy, I'm so sorry."

His breathing hitched, exposing the cries he could no longer hide. Hearing him made his Captain worry.

"Why are you apologizing, Chopper?"

"For... N-not being able to do anything! I'm... So sorry."

Luffy continued to hear distant cries from someone else, bringing his mood down with their painful weeping.

"About what?"

"Luffy, you... You permanently lost your eyesight."

Chopper stated, witnessing the hopeful smile on Luffy's lips disappear and turn into a laughter with no true joy in it.

"Hey hey, that's... That can't be, right?"

The boy grew nauseated, his stomach tied in knots as he struggled to accept the results Chopper gave him.

Many of his friends confirmed that what the doctor had disclosed with a heavy heart, was real.

"It's a joke, I get it now." He laughed to mask the shock he was in.

"We wouldn't joke about this, Luffy! You're just in denial right now."

Each word that came out of Chopper's mouth felt unrealistic to Luffy.

His laughter got louder while he pushed Zoro away from him, standing up from the bed.

"Get out..."

"Let us be with you in this, don't push your friends away." Brook's words were unconvincing to Luffy.

Nothing could convince the young Captain, all he could think of was how to live on without the gift of sight.

"I just need some sleep."

"More... Sleep?" The others softly spoke, lowering their heads.

The Captain gritted his teeth, putting his anger and sadness aside to speak.

"Please, get out."

Thinking it was best for the boy to settle down in his bed for awhile, his companions complied with his wish and left the bedroom.

Later on that night, Luffy was left to face the difficulties in sleeping with a disturbed mind.

~~~