Ok, Last chapter, really depressed. Thanks for everyone following this story and stuck with it to the very end. To all who wanted Haki used, I am sorry that I disappointed you. I don't feel like I truly have a grasp on Zoro's haki and Luffy I tried to use as much as possible. Anyway I am sorry. To all who enjoyed, thanks again

Sanji lit a cigarette as he sat down. It had been a few hours since he and Chopper had carried Luffy and Zoro aboard the Sunny and had set sail from the marine ship. Chopper had treated both of the injured men and now both were sleeping peacefully, and noisily, in the infirmary.

Sanji was keeping watch over them. Luffy was sleeping in his usual fashion, with his sheets kicked halfway off the bed and Luffy sprawled comfortably, snoring loudly with a small smile. Zoro was snoring but at least he had the decency to lay still.

Sanji took a drag out of his cigarette thoughtfully. Chopper had almost had a heart attack when he examined the bodies. They had more then thirty stab wounds between them and their bruises, scrapes, and internal bleeding could have killed a lesser person.

The cook could see how malnourished they were. They hadn't eaten very much in the past couple of days and Sanji's heart went out to both of them, even that shitty marimo. He was going to fix a huge breakfast in the morning for the both of them.

Sanji looked up as he heard the door open, expecting Chopper. Instead, Usopp walked in carefully, trying not to wake the two.

"Any change?"

He whispered. Sanji shook his head in the darkness. Usopp sat down next to him, looking at Luffy and Zoro.

"What do you think happened to them?"

Sanji shrugged. He had a hard time thinking that marines had hurt them that bad in their fight. Something else had happened.

Suddenly, Luffy tensed in his sleep, a grimace crossing his face. Sanji and Usopp leapt up, ready to run for Chopper. Luffy twitched, but it didn't look like he was in pain. Luffy opened his mouth and said in his sleep.

"Zoro?"

Sanji and Usopp glanced at each other. What was going on? They looked at the swordsman, who hadn't moved.

"Zoro?"

Luffy called again, this time it was more frantic, almost scared. Usopp whispered.

"Should we wake Zoro up?"

Sanji narrowed his eyes. To be honest, he wasn't sure what to do. Luffy tried again to reach his swordsman.

"Zoro?"

The swordsman finally stirred, barely. He didn't wake up, just said.

"I'm all right Luffy."

Luffy immediately relaxed and started snoring again. Sanji and Usopp glanced at each other, curious.

"What was that about Sanji?"

"I don't know, but it sounded rehearsed. They had to do that before."

Sanji sat back down, resuming his vigil.

"You go get some sleep Usopp. I will keep an eye on them."

Usopp nodded, but before he left, he placed Zoro's precious katanas beside him.

"Get well Zoro."

He murmured. Then he walked out. Sanji sighed and lay back, closing his eyes. This was going to be a long night.

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Zoro groaned into awakening. What was happening again? He had been on the marine ship, and Luffy had been fighting… Zoro needed no other reason to bolt upright, expecting to see Luffy and the captain still fighting.

Instead, he was met with the calming walls of the infirmary. He relaxed, glancing over to see Luffy in the next bed, still asleep. Zoro was about get up when he heard a metallic sound by his thigh. He looked down to see his wonderful swords.

He picked them up, examining them, enjoying the presence of them in his hands. He had missed them.

Zoro stood and immediately staggered. He hadn't healed very much yet, and judging by the morning light, he had to guess that only a day had passed since they had been rescued. He looked down at the still comatose Luffy.

He had heard as he was slipping into unconsciousness Luffy arguing with Chopper. He had heard Luffy force Chopper to save him first. Zoro smiled. He wasn't surprised. He knew his captain would do that.

Zoro staggered out of the room, leaving Luffy to sleep. His stomach was lecturing him for not feeding it properly. He heard the playful banter from the kitchen and smiled to himself.

He pushed the kitchen door open and the effect was immediate. The kitchen was silent for a second before Chopper yelled.

"Zoro, what are you doing out of bed?"

Zoro grunted as he sat at the table.

"I'm fine Chopper."

"You could have reopened your injuries."

"I had a wonderful doctor to take care of me."

Zoro sighed inwardly as Chopper started dancing.

"That doesn't make me happy you jerk."

Sanji wordlessly set down a plate piled high with food. Zoro raised an eyebrow at the unusually nice gesture.

"What's the occasion?"

"Shut up and eat, you shitty marimo."

Zoro smiled as he shoved some of Sanji's delicious food into his mouth. He had actually missed this. Nami's question caused him to freeze.

"What happened Zoro?"

Zoro shoved some more food in his mouth to give himself time to think. Should he tell them? It would make them worry more that was for sure. But they did need to know about how the marines were treating pirates so they could avoid it in the future.

Further thoughts were interrupted by a loud yell.

"MEAT!"

Zoro sighed with relief. Saved by the bell, or the Luffy.

Luffy bounded into the kitchen with his usual enthusiasm, automatically reaching for food from Usopp's, Franky's, and Robin's plate. Surprisingly, all three of them let him have as much as he wanted. Even Sanji didn't protest Luffy stealing from Darling Robin-cwhan's plate.

Luffy shoveled food into his mouth with surprising swiftness. He grabbed everything in sight and Sanji, already prepared for this, started plopping food down as fast as Luffy was eating it. Luffy paused in his eating.

"Shish ish wely smgood."

"I'm glad you think it's good Luffy."

Sanji said as he plopped a wooden tankard full of water in front of his captain. Luffy slopped it down in about a second before turning back to his precious meat. Zoro smiled at the distraction and started eating again. However, a certain navigator wasn't distracted.

"Zoro, you didn't answer my question."

The kitchen grew silent again, except for the sounds of Luffy eating. Zoro turned to Nami but before he could answer, Luffy asked between mouthfuls.

"What question?"

Robin explained.

"Nami wanted to know what happened to both of you."

Luffy actually paused in eating, thrusting his food away.

"Oh, I see."

He glanced at Zoro then back at his crew.

"Nothing happened."

Luffy licked his lips and the crew sweat dropped. He is such a terrible liar. Zoro calmly picked up his food with his fork. Franky crossed his large forearms.

"You can't expect us to believe that Luffy Bro."

Luffy crossed his arms.

"Nope, but I know you will only worry needlessly if I do tell, so I won't."

Zoro said through a mouthful.

"Let's just say we shouldn't get captured by the marines here."

Robin said casually.

"You got tortured didn't you?"

Luffy and Zoro tensed, barely hiding their surprise. The crew gasped and looked at Robin. Most of the time, Robin's deductions were correct. Robin explained.

"When I was with the revolutionaries, we had some problems with Marines torturing pirates that they had captured. They would beat them, stab them, and starve them. Is that what happened to you?"

Luffy decided to let Zoro answer this one. He knew he was a terrible liar, and would only condemn them.

Zoro sighed and fixed Robin with a stare, as if to congratulate her sarcastically. Robin didn't look fazed and took the gaze as an order to keep quiet. Zoro closed his eyes, thinking his next words carefully.

"Look, I know you want to know but happened to us but the best thing to do is just drop it."

"But—"

"No Nami, drop it."

Luffy ordered. He gave his crew a hard stare.

"Sorry guys, but let it go."

The crew didn't look completely convinced. Luffy started eating again.

Zoro glanced at him as he also continued to eat. Luffy was acting completely normal, laughing, eating, and being his usual self. If Zoro didn't know any better, it would seem Luffy had never been tortured a minute in his life.

Zoro narrowed his eyes. Luffy was being too normal. It bothered him.

Luffy finished his breakfast, stood up and walked out the door without saying a word. Zoro quickly scooped the last bit off food off his plate before hurrying after him, ignoring the crew's protests.

Luffy was on the lion figurehead, in his normal thoughtful pose. He was staring out to sea, with his legs crossed, looking pensive. Zoro climbed up behind him.

"Oi Luffy."

Luffy smirked.

"You haven't forgotten have you Zoro? This is my special seat."

Zoro smiled and stepped off the lion head.

"We need to talk."

Luffy's smirk widened.

"I figured you would say that. Crow's nest?"

"Sure."

"Ok, be there in a minute."

Zoro stepped back and made his way to the crow's nest. He sat there, waiting. Sure enough, a hand grabbed onto the side of the nest and Luffy rocketed himself up to sit next to his first mate.

"What is it Zoro?"

Zoro noticed the natural smile and it kind of creeped him out a little.

"How can you be so calm Luffy?"

Luffy's face fell to look innocently confused.

"What do you mean?"

Zoro sighed. Typical Luffy, pretending nothing is wrong.

"You can't just act normal after you have been tortured for three days straight Luffy."

Luffy smirked.

"You are acting quite normal."

"Yeah but I wasn't hurt as bad as you."

Luffy leaned against Zoro.

"You are still worried about that? Zoro, I am fine."

"But you really aren't, are you?"

Zoro felt Luffy tense and immediately felt a little victorious. So he was right. Luffy looked up at him with his dark eyes.

"Zoro, I just don't want you to worry when you know I can handle it. Those marines wanted you to feel guilty about it. I knew that you wouldn't let it get to you because you are so strong."

Zoro sighed, bowing his head.

"I'm tough when it's me Luffy, not when it is you."

Luffy was silent for a minute, thinking.

"But you know I can handle myself Zoro."

"Not when you are screaming your head off."

Luffy winced but continued.

"But I am all right now, aren't I? It wasn't your fault Zoro."

Zoro looked at his captain. He did look all right on the outside, even though he was covered in bandages. But that didn't exactly mean he was all right on the inside, no matter how much Luffy told him he was all right.

Luffy was dedicated to hiding his true feelings from the crew, even from Zoro. If he were hurting, he wouldn't show anyone. Zoro sighed.

"Still Luffy, you can't just pretend it didn't happen."

Luffy chuckled.

"I'm not pretending Zoro. I am embracing the fact that it happened."

Zoro heard the seriousness in Luffy's voice. Zoro actually stopped thinking and listened. When Luffy said something in this tone of voice, it was usually and surprisingly profound. Luffy stared out to sea, explaining.

"Look Zoro, I know it happened, but I can't exactly mope in the New World. We got captured, we got tortured, we escaped, and we are fine. I am not pretending it didn't happen; that would be pointless. I am embracing it happened."

He looked down at his bandaged hands.

"These wounds, that both of us received, only make us stronger. Think of it as training. We can tolerate pain better now, even better then we used to. We learned a lesson: don't let us get captured by the marines again. It made us stronger, and we need as much strength as we can get here."

He turned to his first mate.

"Do you agree?"

Zoro nodded, immediately relaxing. Luffy had once again calmed his fears. He was right after all. Luffy brought his knees up to his chest, laying his chin on them.

"Also, I'm…I'm kind of glad it happened."

Zoro noted the guilty tone in Luffy's voice and glanced over at him. Something was wrong.

"What do you mean?"

Luffy smiled almost sadly as he admitted.

"I…I was afraid Zoro."

Zoro's eyes widened. What the hell was Luffy afraid of? Luffy saw Zoro's questioning stare and explained.

"It's stupid really. I just thought that, after the two years, some of you all might have changed."

Zoro just stared. How could Luffy think that, after all they had been through? But it was understandable. Zoro had the same thoughts when he had come back aboard the Sunny. Luffy brightened.

"I know now. That fear is irrational. Zoro is Zoro. I think our friendship is even stronger then it was before."

Zoro snorted.

"Bonded by trauma, huh?"

Luffy smiled.

"I guess."

Zoro crossed his arms.

"Luffy, you know I will never change right? My loyalty to you will stay with you."

"I know Zoro."

They were quiet for a few minutes, enjoying the other's company, when Zoro had a thought. He groaned inwardly as he remembered Luffy knew about Thriller Bark.

This was one conversation he wanted to avoid at all costs, but he also knew he needed to talk about it, better sooner then later.

"Who told you about Thriller Bark?"

Luffy raised his eyebrows. He couldn't believe Zoro would bring up such a taboo subject, for Zoro anyway. Luffy sighed, pulling his eyes from the sea to look up into Zoro's face.

"No one told me."

Zoro's eyes widened.

"But how did—"

"I know my swordsman."

That shut Zoro up. Luffy turned his eyes back to the front.

"I know you all think I am not very bright, but I can figure things out when I need to. It was too much of a coincidence, me getting cured and you almost dying. I didn't know how, but my instincts told me you had taken my pain away. "

Zoro sat still, not believing what he was hearing. Luffy had actually figured something out? Luffy continued.

"It became really evident after you woke up. You kept giving me weird glances like you were hiding something from me and I was going to kill you if I found out."

Zoro felt Luffy's eyes bore into him.

"Don't do it again Zoro."

Zoro knew Luffy was going to say that.

"You know I will."

He answered quietly. Luffy sighed.

"But you know what I went through now."

Zoro couldn't agree more. When Luffy had stood up to the marine and had been beaten with those spikes, Zoro had felt guilt rip him a part. He had felt Luffy's pain.

But he wasn't the only one to blame for making rash, and selfish decisions. Luffy had taken other people's pain before. He also had forced them away when he needed them most two years ago when Ace died. No, Luffy was just as guilty as Zoro was.

The Swordsman held out his hand.

"I will make you a deal."

Luffy raised his eyebrow.

"I will let you take my pain, if I take yours."

Luffy's eyes widened. Zoro was basically telling him he had Luffy's back forever. He was going to protect him if Luffy was going to protect him back. Luffy smiled and clasped Zoro's hand.

"Deal."

The two let go and sat there, relishing the moment. Zoro suddenly sat up, alert. His observation Haki was telling him something was wrong with the crew. Luffy laughed.

"Ah, finally felt it huh? Yeah, they just heard every word we said."

They heard Nami's shriek.

"What?"

Luffy chuckled. Zoro glanced at him.

"How?"

"I think Franky made a new toy that allows you to listen to things far away. Isn't that cool?"

Zoro shook his head at the stars in his captain's eyes.

"Not when it's used on us."

Luffy smirked.

"Ah, come on Zoro. At least they won't ask us questions any more."

"Yeah, but know they will be doubly worried."

"Ah, who cares? They were bound to find out eventually."

Zoro glanced at his captain when he yawned.

"But I really don't want to face them right now."

Zoro smiled and snuggled back against the mast, letting his broad shoulders touch Luffy's lanky ones.

"Yeah, I will help you raid the kitchen in a few minutes if you want, but right now it's nap time."

Luffy smiled and closed his eyes. His swordsman understood him better then anyone.

The pair lay there, captain and first mate, letting the warm sun coax them into a doze. Just like on the marine ship, they were comforted by the other's presence. They were on to their next adventure, and they already knew that they had the other's back, for the next adventure and always.

Such is the relationship between Monkey D. Luffy and Roronoa Zoro.