More than a prostitute (Zosan)

Chapter 23

The boys were silent, all shocked by what just happened. Zoro never pushed them like that. Even if he was hurt, he made it like it was nothing and asked them how their day went. How? Why? What Happened? All those questions in their heads were turning. Were they even capable of facing reality? They weren't sure. Sometimes, the silence was broken by Chopper's sniffing, but apart from them, no noise could be heard. They were heartbroken. Never, no, never the green-haired man treated them like that. Never did Zoro push them away, no matter how badly Zoro was hurt.

They felt like a burden Zoro had to take care of, but who was there for Zoro when he needed it? They always disturbed Zoro with their problems. He always put them first, and the three boys knew it. He put his life in stop for them. He was 23 and never went to a club. He never went partying with friends and never went on a date because he was always taking care of them. But Zoro never shares his feelings with them. He is always smiling, even if he's hurt. Did Zoro really trust them? Not enough for him to confide in them. And that was hurting them. Not that Zoro pushed them away, but the fact that he was always there when they needed him, and they couldn't say the contrary.

"Guys!" A feminine voice called them, making them snap for their thoughts. "Did you find him?" Asked Nami, Luffy only nodded. No one wanted to talk. No one wanted to say at loud what they saw.

"Is he okay?" Nami continued not seeing the boy's face because they were facing their back. But she didn't have any reply. The boys just left her there in the corridor of the house. She was surprised by their action; this could only say one thing. They found him and it was bad.

The guys continued walking and finally arrived at Usopp's room. They all sat still in silence on the ground. Still lost in their thought. They went like that for about 30 minutes until they heard someone step going to the bathroom they were sharing. They could recognize Zoro's footsteps.

"Is he going to be alright?" Chopper finally asked, not looking at the boys in the eyes.

"Of course, you know him. He is very brave." Usopp replied, trying to reassure the younger and himself at the same time.

"Luffy..." Chopper called him and wanted the older to reassure them, too. But Luffy had his eyes lost in the air. Hearing his name, he turned his head back at them with a reassuring smile.

"You guys, stay here." Luffy said while standing up and leaving the room.

"Luffy!" Chopper called him. "Take care of him, please." Chopper begged. Luffy didn't reply to anything and went to the bathroom door. He took a big inspiration and went inside. Of course, what was happening inside broke his heart. His famous happy smile had now fully disappeared.

Zoro was there, fully dressed, sat in the bath, huddled up on itself. Tears were running down and down again and were mixed with the water of the shower. His eyes, normally so shining, were empties. The man they usually saw so brave with nothing that could touch him was now broken. Luffy felt his heart squeeze.

He went into the room, closing the door behind him, and went to the bath to sit in front of Zoro. He didn't care if he was fully dressed or if his clothes were wet. All he wanted was to be presented for his brother.

Zoro finally raised his head, looking surprised to see Luffy.

"Luffy," he whispered with a broken voice. Luffy couldn't contain more and took the man into a thigh embrace.

"I'm here, now. Don't worry. Nothing will happen to you." Luffy assured him, he was going to protect the man from all his strength, he promised to himself. And hearing that, Zoro let himself go and cry even more than before.

He cried not only for tonight but for the past years. He cried for all the time he wanted to cry because he was treated like shit at his job. He cried because he felt disgusted by himself. He cried because of the feeling in his body. He cried because he didn't have the strength to say no to Sanji. He cried because he was weak. He cried because he hurt the boys by pushing them away. So, he cried again and again. Luffy tightened even more his embrace and patted his head like he had a kid who had just fallen. For once, the role was opposed: Luffy was the big brother, and Zoro was the person who needed protection.

After more than 30 minutes in this position, Zoro finally stopped his crying. He could feel how Luffy's body was tensed, and this was his fault.

"Zoro, tell me what happened. Did Sanji hurt you?" Luffy asked. He wanted to know, he needed to know.

"He..." Zoro closed his eyes, feeling the tears coming back. He didn't blame Sanji even less. Law for what happened, he blamed only himself.

"No, I did it. I couldn't say no, I wasn't strong enough." Zoro whispered.

"Why, Zoro? Why did you let someone hurt you?" Luffy asked, a little angry. He couldn't believe that the green-haired man just let himself go. He was furious against him. But he was mainly furious against Sanji for making Zoro this mess.

"I ..." Zoro started but didn't finish his sentence. Why didn't he say something? Was it because of the contract? Because he wanted to gain money for the boys to have a better life? Because the boys were so happy this last week and didn't want to interrupt that? It was a mix of all that, but it wasn't only that. There was something else. The image of Sanji smiling during their shopping and never seeing this smile again comes into Zoro's mind. Yes, there was something else, but Zoro wasn't ready to face the truth about the last part.

"You were so happy; I didn't want to ruin everything." Zoro whispered.

"ZORO!" Luffy said with a voice full of reproach. He forced the older to look at him in the eyes. "Listen carefully, Zoro. We wouldn't be happy if you didn't enter our lives, we are happy because you are with us every day because we saw you smile like never before because we could spend the day all together. But if you're unhappy, then we aren't either. If you suffer, then we suffer too because saying you in those states breaks our hearts." Luffy explained his eyes connected to Zoro.

"Luffy..." Zoro said emotionally because of the younger's words. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. Now everything will go better, OK?" Luffy asked, and Zoro only nodded. "Come, we are going to wash you because for the moment only your clothes are getting washed." He said, laughing, and Zoro smiled. Luffy helped him undress himself. He saw the love mark on Zoro's neck but didn't say anything. He put a little soap in his hand and massaged the older body.

After the shower finished, Luffy helped Zoro put his pyjamas and got into bed.

"Now sleep." Luffy ordered and was going to leave when a hand grabbed his grip. Luffy turned around to see Zoro looking at him.

"Sleep with me, please." Zoro begged, and Luffy smiled.

"OK, make me some space." Luffy only replied, which Zoro did.

Luffy laid down behind Zoro, spooning him. Zoro fell asleep in a second, exhausted by the day's events.

Luffy sighed, knowing that tomorrow Zoro would be the same as before, trying to protect them with all his strength. He would hide his pain deep inside his body as if it had never existed. But Luffy would be there, he promised himself.

Hey, hey,

Another sad chapter... We need some of them, but keep believing the happy moments will come!

I wanted this chapter to show the relationship between Zoro and Luffy. In the anime, Luffy is a rock for Zoro, and I wanted the same here.

Thank you for all your comments and likes. I loved reading them ❤️❤️

Amaya 🫶