The Greatest (Zoro x Tashigi)

Chapter 31- pt 1 of "Get Off the F-ing Boat"

[7 am- a few hours after the craziness of the middle of the night.]

Tashigi POV:


The sun rises, birds chirp, and the whole boat is still with the quiet of sleep. A few snores and sleep mumbles interrupt the silence of the ocean. I watch the waves start to tint orange, and determination blooms in my heart.

I am brave.

My home needs me. That is the only thing that matters right now. Saving Haomzen. All else...

my eyes slip to the deck, landing on the crew that all sleep in a dog pile on the grass below, even Robin and Nami tucked into the crazy. I smile, watching green hair move as Zoro readjusts, his nose twitching and face scrunching for a moment before it goes slack again, drool hanging from his mouth.

... has to wait.

My these pirates make me question everything, force me to think of the world in ways I never saw. Think about them in ways...

But like I said, I don't have time for that. No, the only question I need answered about them all is can I trust them?

"meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeat." Luffy sleep whines in the highest pitch the young man could possibly produce, and I wince as the sound pierces my ear, my smile turning into a grimace of bemused hopeless exasperation.

-"I listened, and I have determined there is no problem. As your commanding officer, I order you to ignore this menial village health hazard"-

an Admiral said that.

-"Call it greater good. The people of Haomzen will sacrifice themselves as guineapigs for biological warfare."-

a base commander.

-"Yes, I had it looked into. Another false report, it seems."-

Vergo.

My grimace turns pained, and the memories cut like glass. I can't trust the navy. Why should I trust pirates?

No, that's not it.

Why should I trust myself?

My hands grip the blankets swaddled all around me, their purple fibers soft to the touch but offering little comfort. I blink, then stare wide eyed as a spot of purple turns darker, then another spot,

ah, I'm crying.

-"A soldier doesn't cry over something like this, you gotta get stronger!"-

Somehow hearing Smoker's voice in my head makes the whole thing worse. For a split second my thoughts start to spiral. What if he's-

No.

I have to draw the line somewhere. I draw it at him. I know Smoker is good. He's safe, and loyal, and he cares. About his men and about people and his commitment to hard justice.

I grip the blankets tighter, a few more tears splashing against the fuzzy cloth.

But he's right. I was weak in Alabasta, and I'm still weak now.

Definitely not strong enough to be the Greatest.

I start to lift my head to look back at the pile-

But can I really trust the one man who might be able to finish what I can't-

"OH!" I yelp, "Zoro! I mean- Roron, ah-" the swordsman leans against the rail a few feet away, blocking my view of the crew dog pile I was initially lifting my head to look at. "... Weren't youuu" I peek around him at the dog pile, noticing everyone else is still snoring (a bit louder than before even?)