A cut deep through rubber. Luffy x Zoro angst.

Tiger Kin.

At some point during the mini-party, Zoro managed to find some of his regular clothes. However, he left his swords out of his usual attire.

After Zoro and Chopper walked away, the party went on for a little bit longer, and by the time they were asleep, the party had settled down to just drinks and talking, with some happy music in the background.

Sanji had followed the party (with food, snacks, and drinks) out to the Deck a couples minutes after Chopper convinced Zoro to dance with him, and was now talking with Ussop, swaying to the music and flirting with him. They had danced their hearts out and had fun together, but that didn't stop Ussop from smacking Sanji upside the head any time he tried something. Wich was often.

Robin, Nami, & Brook were talking about lord knows what, probably the cost of a human soul or something, drinking some tea and eating snacks. Franky was drinking enough Cola to feed a small town, and laughing and talking pretty loudly.

A little after Zoro and Chopper had settled down for a nap, the temperature had dropped a lot more, as they were nearing a winter island. Zoro was fine, as he could sleep through almost anything, but Chopper was really cold, and was shivering in his sleep. Chopper being curled up in the crook of Zoro's arm helped break the wind a little bit, but was not enough to keep him warm.

As Chopper shivered in his sleep, he tossed and turned, his slumber growing restless, as the cold reminded him of Drum island and the tragic past he had there. His nightmares didn't happen often anymore, but the extreme cold always triggered them.

Zoro rolled over to his side, so his back was to the back of the bench and he put the arm that Chopper was curled into under his head, a firm pillow between him and the bench cushion. His other arm was laying in an odd position on the top of the bench-back. Chopper's shivers doubled almost immediately after he moved, he just couldn't handle the cold in his sleep anymore.

Chopper, though he wasn't awake, felt the heat coming off of Zoro's body just behind him, and rolled over as well, to face the heat. He got as close as possible to Zoro, cuddling up to his broad and warm chest. Despite being built almost purely out of hard trained muscle, Chopper found his chest was soft, and really warm. (*1)

As Chopper cuddled into Zoro's chest, Zoro moved his arm from atop the bench-back to curl around Chopper and cuddle him even closer. Although he was also asleep, Zoro knew whatever was close to him was important, and needed warmth and comfort. In his sleeping state, Zoro thought that Chopper was a child, and not only that, but he felt as if Chopper were his kin. As he slept and Chopper warmed up, Zoro pulled his knees up to curl around Chopper somehow even more, resembling a tiger curled around its baby kits. All that he knew was what he was protecting was precious. (*2) After they got comfortable again, the both fell into a deep, deep, restful sleep.

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⚠️ POV change!! ⚠️ Nico Robin's POV now.
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Not to long after Mr. Swordsman and the little doctor wandered off, the temperature dropped quite a bit. "Hey, Musician, it's getting cold, best to head inside." I said. Brook tilted his head and said "I do think it is getting quite chilly!! Even though I have no flesh to feel it with!! Yohohoho!!!" Then he headed inside after helping me clean up our mess. I got up off my chair and walked over to the speaker to either turn the music off, or blare it to wake everyone. I hadn't quite decided yet. Franky was asleep finally, and Ussop had dozed off while cuddling Sanji on the ship railings. Speaking of Sanji, it looks like he fell asleep to. Not going to lie, he and the young sniper look adorable together.

I got the the speaker and put my hand on the dials. 'Should I blare it of just turn it off...' I thought. 'Oh, but what about Zoro and the little doctor? Wouldn't they be asleep aswell??' I took my hand off the dial and used my devil fruit to check on Swordsman and the little doctor, by spawning an eye and ear on the bench across from them.