Laying the Past to Rest (One Piece WA 2017)

Dark Alley

AN~ Id like to thank Sora_Uzumaki_ for the first vote on this book.
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          Zoro sat on my hoodie his car as he watched Sanji smoothly slide into a black benz and speed off, not before they made eye contact, causing the paler man to blush and push down on the gas.

Zoro stayed there, gazing off into space as the sky became dark. The cold didn't bother him anyway, and he had afternoon classes so there was no rush. Sadly, the sun soon set off, so the green haired man decided to do the same.

         The light flashes a continuous pattern of green, yellow, and red as the streets flowed endlessly until Zoro pulled up to his apartment complex. It wasn't anything breathtaking, but it was affordable. Fancy things weren't something he desired anyway. However, tonight Zoro was not in the mood to climb the 6 flights of creaky, worn down steps since the elevator was broken. Desperation set in as he banged his head on the complex wall. Maybe I can sleep in my car.

A small yelp rang through the barren lot which caused the tires man to quickly become alert. "Who's there?" Zoro demanded even thought he could clearly see no one was around him. Instinctually, his large tanned went to rest on his gun. He waited as he tried to keep as still as possible. When no sound came, the tall man began to relax. That was untile the sound came back again with a little less vigor.

Zoro was able to pinpoint sound coming for a small alley behind him where the dumpster were. As he creeped deeper and deeper into the barely lit way, the weak whimpers began to get louder and louder. Accidentally, he made a u-turn down the straight path and had to start his search all over. Finally, he managed to locate the source of the sound, a dumpster.

Holding his nose with one hand, he threw the top of the waste bin open to find nothing. Not losing hope, threw open bin after bin after bin, but the sound was gone. Zoro rolled he eyes as he started to head back in the direct he thought he came from. It was probably just his imagination, but then the feeble and frail yelp came back. Immediately, the muscular man jumped down onto his hands and knees scoped out under bin after bin. No set on doing away with whatever his found.

He found nothing.

Again.

In a fit of anger he kicked the nearest garage bin. The came out louder and more pained this time. Frantically, Zoro ran the to back of the bin, and slowly but surely was able to slid the bin just enough off the all wall for whatever was behind it to scurry past his feet. Lucky for both of them, it wasn't to fast, so Zoro was able to swipe it up and into his arms in two lunges.

Whatever he was carrying began to bite his arms and whimper loudly. Zoro hoped it wasn't a small racoon or a really large squirrel so that rabies would be out of the question.

Eventually Zoro made it out of the alleyway, it seemed like a maze to him, but it was a really a straight path with one left turn. As the tanned man made it into the light of the front of his apartment complex, he saw that what was in his arms was actually a puppy. With further inspection, it was extremely obvious it's front leg was bent unnatural as if someone has stepped on it as it was sleeping.

Pets weren't allowed in his complex, but Zoro was not about to change his ways and follow them now.

Carefully, Zoro positioned the puppy into his backpack as he causally slipped into the building. He was almost to the stair case when a high pitched bark rang through the hall. The secretary at the desk looked up from her magazine as she eyes over the green haired man with the slightly big bookbag.

"Kids these days. Glad I didn't have any." She huffed as she went back to reading.

"As if someone would have some with you." Zoro grumbled under his breathe as the puppy wiggled around as if to agree.

After what seemed like a million yips later , Zoro carefully rested the small dog on his couch. Without a second thought, it seemed snuggled right into the middle of the seat leaving barely enough room for Zoro on either side. Silently, the watched TV until small barks stirred Zoro's face off his hand. He would have sworn he wasn't asleep though. "W-what?"

The puppy just looked at him as if he was the one in charge.

"You are not going to get very far with that face." However, the tanned man still went into the kitchen to cook what he thought a puppy would like.

3 pots of burnt water later

"Here you go buddy." Zoro sighed as he slide his large hand across his forehead. Who knew boiling a egg was so complicated. Fuck rocket science, it should be egg-making science. This is why I stick to instant ramen. Despite the awkward grey color of the boiled egg yolk, the puppy dug in without a second thought. Soon it was at Zoro's ankles with its tongue out its mouth, limp and all. "No more little buddy."

As if in retaliation, the little booger began to nibble on the large man's toes which only caused Zoro to counteract by swooping the little thing up into his arms.

The next morning

        A thick coat of saliva covered Zoro's face and he was 80% it wasn't his. A small warm tongue swiping across his nose once again verified his beliefs. "I take you in, and this is the thanks I get?"