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Nami has a bad feeling about this, but what can she do? Their captain is one stubborn idiot who doesn’t back out once he puts his mind to it. They’ve gone through different situations before, some even between life and death, but they had never been through something as ridiculous as this.
She doesn’t understand why they even have to participate, her crewmates are way too prideful at times. They’re way too calm as well. It’s not that she doesn’t have trust in her friends, but it’s a huge problem for a group where Nami’s the only one who does the thinking most of the time.
In the end, Nami’s competitive side comes out. There’s no way they’re going to lose to this bunch of pirates. They’re going to win.
Or they were close to winning. Nami supposes it’s not unexpected for pirates to make a workaround in this kind of game—cheat, really, if you will.
Nevertheless, she can’t deny that their crew is a bit unprepared as well. Zoro and Chopper were taken out early in the game in their ridiculous boat. While Luffy and Sanji were promising with the use of their captain’s powers as propellers, their raft, too, was destroyed which eliminated them from the game.
Everything came down to the three of them. With Nami’s excellent navigation prowess, Robin’s ingenious use of powers, and Usopp’s impact dials, they were clearly bound to win.
But then that Foxy captain used his Devil Fruit power which slowed them down to an extreme degree, and now there’s a high chance that Nami may be taken away from her crew. After all, she is one hell of a navigator—a cute one at that—there’s no way they won’t be choosing her.
They all watch now as Foxy takes the stage, waiting for his decision. Nami laments again, not ready to part ways with her beloved friends.
“I choose you!” Foxy declares.
Nami’s probably not seeing things right, because it looks like the enemy captain is not pointing at her. She follows the direction of his finger, and the first thing that pops into her head is oh no.
Foxy is pointing at Zoro. Their enemy wants Zoro.
While Nami is a bit relieved that she’s not chosen, she can’t help the dread that runs through her at the reality of one of her crewmates being taken away. Add also the fact that the said crewmate is the one who has been with their captain the longest—not too long before Nami actually—and the unspoken first mate.
Zoro takes the decision with pride. They knew what they got themselves into, and it’s not in their code as pirates to defy what’s basically a universal rule of a known pirate game. Zoro doesn’t say anything as he gets on the stage, the woman Porche giving him a mask.
The rest of the Straw Hats turn to look at their captain, who is being uncharacteristically quiet. It always gives Nami the chills when Luffy is quiet.
Luffy’s hands are by his side, clenched so hard his arms start to shake. He’s gritting his teeth, glaring at the stage, at the Foxy Pirate captain who is too happy with his triumph. He’s going to explode, and Nami opens her mouth to extinguish the fire before it even flares.
“Don’t,” Zoro suddenly says, his steady voice ringing out, and the crowd grows still. “You agreed to this. You know what’s at stake. Follow the rules of the game.”
Win me back, goes unsaid.
Despite his words seemingly being directed to all of his crewmates, the Straw Hats know he’s talking to one person only.
Determination quickly replaces the rage in Luffy’s eyes. Nami sighs in relief as their captain goes back to his usual self, already preparing for the next event, leaping towards Sanji and Chopper to talk about strategy if there’s even one.
With Zoro (temporarily) out of their crew, the next event falls entirely into Sanji and Chopper’s hands. Or some would say, legs and hooves. Luffy completely entrusts the whole thing to their cook and their doctor, confident in their skills despite being one man down in the team.
It’s a bit slow for Sanji and Chopper to get into a groove with their opponents being ten times bigger and all. The referee is no help at all either so Nami has to take matters into her hands, ensuring that her friends’ efforts don’t go to waste.
The high-pitched sound of the whistle echoes across the field, officially ending the game.
Luffy celebrates the loudest, jumping with his fist high in the air. On the other side, Zoro only huffs a smile, still way too calm.
Back on the stage, Luffy is asked to choose which member of the Foxy Pirates to take.
Silence engulfs the crowd. Luffy stares head-on at the stage where Zoro’s standing with eyes closed and arms crossed. Nami feels nervous somehow, hoping that their captain won’t have one of his spur-of-the-moment decisions.
Then Luffy waves his hand in the air, his grin as bright as the sun. “Zoro!” He screams at the top of his lungs as though the swordsman won’t be able to hear him. “Come back to me!”
There’s a deep chuckle from the stage. “As you wish, Captain.”
+ + +
The Davy Back Fight ends with the victory of the Straw Hats Crew. Not long after the old man with long stilts reunites with his grandson, they set sail to their next island.
Zoro takes his usual seat on the forecastle deck, setting his swords down next to him. He leans against the railing, closing his eyes as the waves of the sea lull him to sleep.
“Hey, Zoro.”
He opens one eye, spotting Luffy at his favorite seat in front. His red vest flails against the wind along with the straw hat that’s hanging around his neck. “What is it now?” Zoro asks.
“What would you do if we didn’t get you back?” Luffy asks. He’s still facing the sea but Zoro immediately picks up the curiosity dripping from his tone.
Zoro closes his eyes again and shrugs even though the captain doesn’t see him. “Don’t know. I didn’t think about it. I knew you guys wouldn’t fail.”
There’s silence and for a moment, Zoro thinks the conversation has ended. But then he hears movement, the unmistakable stretch of limbs due to Devil Fruit powers. He feels Luffy sitting next to him, the smell of sun and sea wafting into his nose.
“Yeah, but… what if we failed?” Luffy asks with more insistence. “Would Zoro leave me?”
The sound of the waves hitting their hull is calming, almost like a lullaby swaying them softly. Zoro opens his eyes and finally looks at his captain, who’s actually way too close than he expected. “A rule is a rule, Luffy. I would have to swear loyalty to that Split-Head captain.”
In fact, he already had for a brief moment. But that’s something Zoro doesn't want to think about ever again.
“But Zoro is mine,” Luffy says, unblinking, leaning upwards to push his face close to Zoro’s.
There’s no doubt in the captain’s voice and Zoro doesn’t bat an eye about his words either. Though the beating of his heart tells quite a different story, and he doesn’t want to acknowledge that for now.
Zoro is mine. The words echo in his head, the sincerity of it heating up his skin, warming his bones. His captain’s statement is a fact that none speaks about but everyone knows. An open secret that doesn’t take more than a brain cell to deduce once one spends a considerable time with the Straw Hats.
Luffy knows it. Zoro certainly knows it. He may serve under a different captain but that very fact remains.
Zoro is Luffy’s.
“Yeah,” Zoro says. Three words more unsaid but quite understood. He pushes Luffy’s forehead with a finger, prompting a whiny Ow! from the captain. “Now stop thinking about stupid things that will never happen.”
Luffy immediately grins, his distinct shishishi laugh playing like a melody to Zoro’s ears. Too soft and too bright. “Okay,” he says. Then he turns away and walks back to the main deck. “I’m hungry. I’m gonna ask Sanji to make me food.”
Zoro only grunts in response, watching his captain sing some song as he struts toward the kitchen. Luffy halts and looks back at him, with no words and only a smile, his hair now getting too long that it flutters in the wind.
The captain doesn’t say anything, but Zoro follows anyway. Because that’s just how it is. Zoro is Luffy’s, and he’ll follow his captain to the end of the world if he has to.