A Smile So Contagious | Zolu

20, The Pang of Jealousy in Me!

Rule #34 - Fish in a Birdcage

Zoro couldn't help it. God, he wish he could shove the feeling of possessiveness and jealousy stirring inside of him. But in reality, he couldn't.

Every single second Zoro saw Luffy laughing and giggling with Sanji, he felt like slicing the Thousand Sunny in half.

In the first place, why was that damn curly brow so close to him? Zoro thought.

Zoro sighed as he gritted his teeth and continued to watch Sanji and Luffy so closely. He snapped his head away from them and decided to just train a bit to take his mind off of that stupid scene.

Zoro sighed as he headed to the upper deck of the ship and started to do calisthenics as he lifted weights as well. After a few hours, his ears perked up as he heard footsteps approach him.

Luffy.

"Zoro! What're you doing by yourself?" Luffy asked curiously as he smiled and looked up at Zoro.

Zoro couldn't help but crack a smile. "Training," he simply said. Zoro couldn't help but remember the moment with Luffy and Sanji so closely and his expression soured once again.

"I thought you were hanging out with that shitty cook. Shouldn't you be with him right now?" Zoro spat as he forced himself to look away from Luffy and continue to lift his weights effortlessly.

Luffy raised an eyebrow and watched Zoro. "No. We were just talking a bit," Luffy murmured under his breath.

Luffy picked up on Zoro's sour mood and he put a hand on Zoro's arm.

"Zoro, are you—"

He was quickly cut off by Zoro shrugging his hand off his arm. Luffy paused as he was taken aback by Zoro's behavior. Zoro never pushed Luffy away—especially when they were alone.

Zoro sighed as he glanced back at Luffy and dropped his weights for a bit. "I'm fine. Just go with that shitty cook or whatever," he said bitterly.

Luffy grimaced. "You obviously aren't fine," he said. "And why do you keep bringing Sanji up?"

"Because you two have been inseparable," Zoro grunted as he picked his weights up once again. Luffy frowned a bit.

"We've only been talking for half an hour. Zoro, don't be like this." Luffy huffed as he crossed his arms.

"Like what?" Zoro said as he played stupid.

"Like you're mad at me. I didn't do anything," Luffy said as he grumbled under his breath a bit.

"I'm not mad at you, damn it." Zoro retorted as he continued to lift his weights, obviously trying to ignore Luffy.

"Then why are you—"

"I'm not being like anything!" Zoro snapped. Luffy's eyes slightly widened. Luffy held his tongue, something he never did.

It was then silent between them.

Zoro gritted his teeth as he continued to lift his weights. He felt damn guilty. Guilty for being so jealous, guilty for feeling so possessive over Luffy, and guilty for snapping at him like that when he's done nothing wrong.

But he couldn't help it. Seeing Luffy happy with Sanji stirred something in him he's never felt before. Luffy then broke the silence.

"I'm not apologizing," Luffy said bluntly. "I didn't do anything wrong."

Zoro sighed and didn't respond to Luffy at this point. Luffy didn't like this feeling. He felt like Zoro was pissed at him, which was obvious. But he hated it even more when he didn't know why he was.

Zoro was never mad at him. Luffy couldn't pinpoint why he was mad either.

"Why are you mad at me?" Luffy finally asked, his voice quiet and wary.

"I'm not mad at you. Why would I be?" Zoro insisted, obviously lying. Luffy sighed and shook his head.

"You're mad at me. Stop lying to me. It's so obvious," he muttered under his breath. "Why can't you just tell me?"

Zoro continued to give him the silent treatment.

Luffy hated that. He didn't like being given silent treatment. It made him feel ignored. It was like Zoro was saying he would never forgive Luffy for whatever he's done.

Luffy gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. He grabbed the weights out of Zoro's hands and dropped it on the floor.

"Stop ignoring me and answer me!" Luffy exclaimed, a hint of desperation and pleading in his voice.

Zoro then finally snapped.

"I'm jealous!" he yelled, his voice seemingly echoing through the ship.

The wind blew through their hair and Luffy froze a bit. Jealous of what? Luffy thought. Jealous of who? Zoro continued to rant, as if when he started, the dam has been broken, everything leaking out.

"I'm jealous of you and shitty cook being so close together today," Zoro huffed. "Waking up from a nap and seeing you being so damn close to him felt like shit."

Luffy stayed silent for a bit before then speaking. "Why? Nothing would even happen between me and Sanji anyway, we're just crewmates."

"That's the thing that pisses me off even more," Zoro murmured as he bitterly chuckled and ran a hand through his hair frustratingly.

"I know damn well you wouldn't give him your time of day that way. That you two are nothing but crewmates. And that pisses me off more, knowing I'm jealous even though I know that."

Zoro said. Luffy was holding back...a smile? It felt good. Knowing that Zoro felt jealous and possessive. It made him feel good.

Luffy then finally smiled. "You're the jealous type, huh?" Luffy teased.

Zoro grumbled and blushed red a little, his cheeks flushing in embarrassment. "Damn it, Luffy, shut up."

Luffy softly giggled and hugged Zoro tightly, latching onto him.

"Maybe talk to me next time about it instead of acting like you're super pissed at me, 'kay?" Luffy said as he giggled.

Zoro couldn't help but chuckle a bit as well. He sighed as he wrapped his arms around Luffy's waist and buried his face into the crook of Luffy's neck.

"Noted, captain."

Zoro whispered quietly as he felt Luffy's arms around his neck, bringing him closer.

Truth be told, Zoro never felt threatened by anyone else and felt the need to fight for Luffy after all, especially since they were lovers now.

Why? Because he knew Luffy was loyal as well.