INNATE INSTINCTS [zoro x male!reader]

VI. GREAT BALLS OF FIRE

[A/N: Please forgive this time skip, I hate the Orange Town arc, lol]

Nami was helping (Y/N) change his bandages after the crew beat the literal shit out of Buggy. They had a new boat for the time being- still small but much bigger than the one the three men were using days before.

Zoro and Luffy were playing with cards on the deck, but (Y/N) suspected Luffy didn't know the rules and was just throwing down whatever card was first in his hand.

"We're not ready to go to the Grand Line just yet," Nami announced to the crew while tying off the bandage around (Y/N)'s torso, "We're going to need more people, for one, and definitely a better ship. We're too unprepared right now."

"I agree!" Luffy stated, jumping up and scattering playing cards everywhere, "We need a musician! A cook, too. I'm getting bored of apples!" 

Nami scoffed. "There's a town a little ways South from here. We could probably get a new ship there."

"Maybe a new crewmate, too." (Y/N) started, "Like Luffy said, a musician!" He and Zoro giggled at that. 

"We can load up on booze, too." Zoro chimed in.

"Cheers to that!"

"You guys!" Nami scolded.

--

As two days of straight sailing passed, the navigator announced to the rest of the group that they were approaching a town called Syrup Village. 

(Y/N) had used an hour or two during the trip to explain the whole dragon thing to Luffy and Nami. As he and Zoro had guessed, Luffy thought it was the coolest thing ever. (Y/N) showed them his dragon form- Nami was scared shitless, and Luffy had stars in his eyes. Zoro remained expressionless but was secretly prideful of the fact that (Y/N) revealed this to him before the rest of the crew.

He's chosen to ignore that the rest of the crew, at that time, consisted of just Luffy.

They had stolen a ship from Buggy, so they had his Jolly Roger flying flashily on their sails, however, they didn't take notice of it.

One would think (Y/N) would pay special attention to check for these things after his incident with the Marines, but it passed his thoughts too.

The four made it to shore and tied their ships to nearby logs. 

(Y/N) sniffed the air.

"There are people here," he and Zoro said in unison. Zoro smirked at this.

Suddenly, pellets began flying toward Luffy, who was somehow dodging them nimbly and clumsily at the same time. 

Dozens upon dozens of pirate flags rose from the bushes on the cliffs high above them.

"Cool!" Luffy cheered. Nami scolded him for being impressed.

A boy, most definitely near their age, walked out from the bushes.

"I am the great Usopp, leader of the Usopp pirates, who reign over this village!" He announced boldly, "If you're thinking of attacking this village, think again! Because my eighty million subordinates will destroy you!" he gestured with his tanned arms to the pirate flags around him.

"AWESOME" Luffy began to yell. The other three gave him skeptical looks.

"You're full of shit!" (Y/N) shouted to the 'Captain'. Nothing beats his nose.

"You're lying, aren't you?" Nami added.

"How did you know?!" Usopp revealed himself.

"I didn't, but you just admitted to it! Plus, (Y/N) is always right about these things!"

"You've known what he was for literally a day..." Zoro grumbled.

"I may have exaggerated the number, but I have great men under my command!" the boy rebutted. (Y/N) laughed.

"Hmm...Around three other people? Kids, at that?" the three-eyed man snickered.

He saw right through me! Usopp panicked. Three kids who were holding the pirate flags jumped up from the bushes, screaming, and ran away as fast as their little legs could take them.

"Either way, I-I am Proud Usopp! My slingshot is better than any pistol!" He drew the rubber back on his green slingshot, holding a metal ball, aiming right toward Luffy.

A shadow crossed his features.

"You've drawn your pistol." Luffy sounded serious. Pistol...? (Y/N) questioned. "Now you've put your life on the line."

Zoro smirked and unsheathed one of his katanas by just an inch, resting his thumb on the hilt. 

"You're facing real pirates now," the swordsman said. 

Usopp backed down after what felt like hours of hesitation. Luffy and Zoro began to holler with laughter.

"We stole those lines!" Luffy giggled, "from Shanks!"

"From Shanks...?" Usopp stared, "like the great pirate Shanks?! You know him?"

"That's the one! Your dad is Yasopp, right?" the straw hat boy grinned.

--

Usopp took the crew to Syrup Village's local restaurant, and while they were all eating, Luffy explained his relation to Usopp's father, Yasopp. Nami sat across from Luffy and next to (Y/N), who was across from Zoro. Usopp sat at the end of the table. 

As Luffy talked, Zoro and (Y/N) were downing booze like there was no tomorrow. Nami gave them disgusted looks.

"Well, that makes things easier! Do you have any friends in town that could supply us with a ship? A big one!" she asked with a sweet tone. 

"We're a small town, as you can see," Usopp explained. Nervousness radiated off of him, and (Y/N) kicked Zoro's leg in warning, "We wouldn't have anyone like that..."

"What about the big mansion on top of the hill?" Zoro chimed in. (Y/N) nodded in approval.

"Yeah! Do you know them? Would they pay for our ship?" Nami said. Usopp slammed his hands down on the table.

"You cannot go there!" 

The four stared at him.

"Uh, I just remembered, I've got something to do. I've got tons of influence here, so eat or drink as much as you want! See ya!" he proceeded to rush out of the restaurant. 

"Kid needs to grow a pair..." Nami grumbled.

"Really? I thought he had hella balls for trying to scare us off in the first place." (Y/N) added. Zoro glared at this.

"Can we stop talking about Usopp's balls?!" he nearly yelled. 

--

After finishing their food, (Y/N) caught on to three familiar scents. The three kids from earlier barged in, each grasping a wooden sword, and announced themselves.

"We are the Usopp Pirates!"

They walked over to the table.

"Where is Captain Usopp? What have you done with him?!"

Luffy patted his stomach, "Man, that was some good meat!"

The three kids paled. "M-Meat..?"

Nami laughed at what the kids were most definitely thinking.

"If you're looking for your captain," Zoro started with a sinister expression on his face. 

"We ate him." (Y/N) finished, smiling and letting his razor-sharp teeth come out. He licked his lips with his forked lizard tongue. The kids screamed. 

The pirates clutched their stomachs in laughter as the kids fell backward, absolutely terrified.