Makeshift Hero

Hero

Luffy's eyes snapped open when a hand gripped his smaller one, jerking him a little, many feet above the sea.

"Luffy, I'm gonna kill you." Zoro growled over the wind and rain.

Luffy was ripped out of the air, onto the deck, and into a firm chest.
"Luffy, what the heck were you thinking?!" Zoro asked incredulously, staring down into Luffy's eyes angrily.

"I- Zoro, I'm s-sorry-"

"Damn right you're sorry!" Zoro snarled, hugging Luffy tighter.

The green-haired male's anger melted away, though, when tears poured from his Captain's big eyes.
"Oh, Luffy, what's going on?" Zoro whispered, kneeling when Luffy sagged, slipping to the deck.

"I-I'm just a burden..I-I can't do anything but eat and sleep...I can't live without you guys because I'm not very smart...you don't n-need me-" Luffy sobbed, gasping when a slap was lain across his face.

"Are you a mad man?!" Zoro exclaimed. "We couldn't live without you! You're the one that keeps us all so optimistic. Luffy, you can't hate yourself when everyone else loves you, you got that?" Zoro demanded, pulling Luffy as close as possible.

"Z-Zoro?" Luffy whispered after finally calming himself down to hiccups and sniffles. The taller man hummed in question.
"We'll get colds if we stay out here.." the Captain whispered sleepily.

Zoro laughed loudly, picking Luffy up like a girl, Luffy's temple resting on Zoro's shoulder as his arms lay limp on his chest, finally falling asleep peacefully.

Zoro crept back into the quarters he shared with Sanji and Usopp, carefully laying back down in his hammock.
Luffy shifted and the green-haired man stilled until Luffy settled back down, sprawled across the swordsman's torso happily.

"Zoro?" he heard a voice whisper.

"Yeah, Usopp?" He mumbled back, trying to get comfortable with a body lying on him.

"Is he okay?"

"Yeah. Just turns out that our Captain is human, with insecurities like the rest of us." Zoro's lips quirked up at the corners as he looked down at the dark-haired male, snuggled into him.

"That's good. I was really worried-"

"Something was wrong with Luffy?" Sanji cut in, sitting up.

"Yeah, Sanji. He's okay now." Zoro said, before suddenly sitting up, grasping Luffy easily to hold him still.
"But I better not catch you shouting at him anymore. Your yelling made him feel worthless, you idiot. He can't help it, okay?" Zoro snarled, glaring daggers at the blonde.

"Tch, Crap-Marimo..." Sanji snapped, looking away angrily. After a few moments, his features softened and he glanced back at the snoring boy.
"You're sure he's okay?" Sanji mumbled.

At that, Zoro grinned, glad the cook cared.
"Yeah, he's fine."

With Usopp and Sanji's nods, he lay back down, letting a leg hang over the edge of the hammock, one arm behind his head and the other slung lazily over Luffy's back. Zoro smiled down at Luffy, who had tucked his arms under him, his cheek resting on Zoro's heart, his mouth open letting out soft snores. His knees were bent, settled on either side of Zoro's torso.

He truly looked small, not like the fierce teen he'd seen make beating three very powerful men into the ground look almost easy.

Finally able to sleep peacefully, he joined Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp in dreamland.

~~~~~~

"Luffy..."

Snork.

"Luffy."

Snoooork.

"LUFFY, I SWEAR-"

"Just joking, Zoro!" Merry-Go's Captain chirped cheerfully. He sat up and planted his hands on Zoro's chest, launching himself off the hammock, sticking the landing.
"C'mon, slow poke! Sanji's making breakfast!"

The swordsman followed quickly, having already decided to make sure everyone treated Luffy like he was Luffy. Not some toy to blame things on and not some porcelain doll that would break easy.

Strangely, Luffy wasn't at the table. Nami was pouring over maps and Usopp was resting his head on the wood surface, grumbling about it being too early, but the other two were no where to be seen.

"Where's Luffy?"

"Kitchen." Usopp mumbled, Nami not even registering the question.

Zoro's eyebrows rose to the heavens as he got up from his seat, creeping over to look into the kitchen.
Sure enough, Luffy was standing beside Sanji, watching every move the cook made as Sanji explained everything.

"But he never lets anyone in.." Zoro smiled, realizing that Sanji was helping Luffy learn...and feel important.

With a satisfied smile, he plopped back down in his seat at the table, laying his head down to sleep a bit more until they came out with the food.

~~~~~

When breakfast was sat down in front of them, Luffy boasted happily, good-naturedly that he had made the gravy for the biscuits.

Everyone but Nami congratulated him after tasting it, slightly surprised it tasted great - not that they wouldn't have eaten it anyways.

"Nami? Are you going to eat?" Luffy asked.

"No, you'll eat it all anyways.." She murmured, marking different points on her map.

Luffy, oblivious to the dark looks from the other three males, only frowned, confused. "I won't, I promise! You can have more than me if you want!" Luffy smiled, pushing his plate towards her.

"I don't want to hear your whining later, Luffy. Just eat it." The red-head muttered, pushing the plate away as she drew a line from one point to another. Again, the anger radiating from Sanji, Zoro, and Usopp was ignored by both Nami and the Captain.

Luffy, now put-down, lowered his head before tentatively reaching for a biscuit. He opened it and slathered it in butter and added a spoonful of Nami's favorite jam. Luffy closed the biscuit gently, set it on a napkin, and lay the napkin quietly in front of Nami.

Irritated and not quite paying half-attention, she swatted the biscuit away with a growl.
"I'm working on our next course, Luffy! Stop bothering-"

"NAMI!" Sanji, Zoro, and Usopp shouted, Zoro standing up threateningly.
"Stop yelling at Luffy!" The swordsman snarled.

All three of their features lightened a bit when Luffy laid a hand on Zoro's arm.
"Sanji, Usopp, Zoro, please sit down. We shouldn't be yelling at breakfast." Luffy laughed, his smile bright.

Nami, who had been frightened by the sudden anger, let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding in.
"S-sorry, but-"

"But nothing. He's our Captain and our friend. Don't treat him like an idiot, okay?" Usopp demanded.

At Nami's nervous nod, Luffy smiled bigger, and pushed his plate towards her again.

"Eat Nami." Sanji mumbled around a mouthful of food.
Nami ate, and gave not another word in protest.

_____________

Sorry I made Nami the sort-of villain.
I just wanted some yelling and protectiveness.
Also sorry about the OOCness, but hey. It's my story.

Hope you guys enjoyed!
✌️