The Blind Brawler [ Roronoa Zoro X OC]

Chapter 87: Like a Dog

⚠️Content Warning: Blood/Gore/Injury⚠️

The resounding clang of the cell door slamming shut woke me with a start. An unfamiliar man's nasally voice was shrieking indignantly, "What do you think you're doing, soldier?! Do you peons know who I am?!"

A Marine laughed snidely, "Hah! Oh, yeah. You made sure to tell us over and over. You're Special Inspector Major Shepherd from HQ, right?"

The nasally man snarled at him, "If you know who I am and you value your job, then get me out of here! I have to speak to Commander Jonathan immediately!"

I groaned as I sat up, my arms still bound in cuffs behind me. I was not fully awake as I muttered in frustration, "The hells goin' on?"

Zoro answered me in an equally irritated voice, "Some idiot got himself arrested, and they threw him in here with us."

Usopp leaned over to us and hurriedly whispered, "Those guards think he's one of us! Follow my lead," My brow furrowed in confusion, but before I could ask him to elaborate, he sat back and spoke in a cool manner, "That's enough! You're embarrassing yourself!" I sensed the nasal man turn towards him as he continued, "A man's gotta know when he's done for. Struggling will only make it worse. Good to see you, Condoriano."

"C-Condoriano?" The man echoed, baffled, "Who is that? What are you talking about?"

Usopp stood up, his voice almost smug, "Hey, now. Stop kidding around, old buddy, old pal," He strolled up to the man, "Don't tell me you've already forgotten your own name and my beautiful face!"

The man stood up abruptly, shoving my crewmate away with a panicked grunt, "Get away! I'm not your buddy! Soldier! I don't know this man!"

Usopp dramatically fell and lifted his head, acting bewildered, "What... happened to you?" He gasped in horror, "Did the fall damage your fragile brain? Oh, no, say it ain't so! How- How sad!" He then raised his voice and sobbed to the Marines, "I'm begging you! Please let this wretch with the broken mind out of here! He's not the same Condoriano that I once knew!"

I grimaced at his over-the-top performance, "Laying it on a little thick, don't you think, Usopp?"

To my surprise, one of the soldiers bought it, "Well, that settles it. No point in interrogating him."

My jaw went slack as I mumbled, "You have got to be kidding me."

The man now known as Condoriano yelped as he turned to the Marines, "What do you lemmings mean 'that settles it'? Wait! Where're you going?!"

Zoro sighed and stood up. I tilted my ear towards him curiously, "What are you doing?"

My boyfriend spoke flatly as he started walking over to the screaming man, "Dealing with our friend here."

"I'm ordering you! I'll have you all court-martialed!" Condoriano hollered through the cell door.

"Condoriano," Zoro said loudly to get the man's attention. As soon as he turned to face the swordsman, he was hit with a brutal headbutt that knocked him out cold. My boyfriend huffed, rolling his neck and shaking off the blow he dealt, "I think we've had just about enough of that crap."

Usopp started chuckling, "Nice move, Zoro!"

I smirked as he came back to sit beside me. I spoke loud enough for the soldiers to hear, "You know, Condoriano's memory is probably so messed up because you always resort to headbutting him."

He scoffed as he plopped down, "Oh, shut up," He then turned to Usopp, who was still snickering under his breath, "Stop it, Usopp."

I leaned back against the wall as things settled down again, "I've got no clue what Usopp's plan was with making this guy seem like a member of our crew, but it looks like it worked. Let's just hope Condoriano here stays asleep so we don't have to deal with any more of his screeching."