Chapter Text
Zoro had confirmed Haki didn't exist in this world weeks ago. Currently, he was doubting that assesment due to the overwhelming sense of bloodlust coming from Sabo at the moment.
From the few times Zoro had encountered him back in his world, he knew there was a certain edge to Sabo that wasn't present in Ace when it came to Luffy. Maybe it was because Sabo hadn't seen how strong Luffy had become firsthand, or maybe Sabo was just clinging to the one brother he could. Whatever it was, it almost made him uneasy even though the revolutionary never let it show outright. It was usually masked with a kind, disarming smile.
This Sabo wasn't good as good at hiding it.
His face was perfectly calm, but his dark eyes gave away his smoldering rage as he stared down his brother. "I'm sorry, Ace, I didn't quite hear you," he said coolly. "Care to repeat yourself?"
For perhaps the first time in both worlds, Ace looked nervous. "Sabo, try to relax," he urged, holding his hands up placatingly. "Lucy is okay-"
"Okay?" repeated Sabo, chuckling humorlessly. He slowly took his hat off, setting it on the table. The act was so simple, but it had the hair on the back of Zoro's neck standing upright. "You just said our baby sister was assaulted. How does that constitute as her being okay?"
"It was a kiss," stressed Ace. "He didn't get the chance to touch her. Lu isn't seriously hurt-"
The blond man shut his brother up with a glare. "And that's supposed to make it better?" he questioned. He went quiet for a moment, then, "Did she cry?" Silence. Sabo's attention abruptly snapped to him. "Roronoa."
Zoro barely kept himself from flinching. "I didn't see her cry," he admitted carefully. And that was the truth; he hadn't seen a tear fall from her eyes. He had a feeling lying would only piss the older man off even more. "But she sounded like she might have been before I found her."
Sabo's face was unreadable, his silent rage unforgiving. The tension in the kitchen was growing thicker and Sanji in particular was tense next to him. Even Ace looked at a loss for what to do.
"Sabo?"
And just like that, the tension alleviated. No one had heard Lucy come in, but she was awake now and sleepily rubbing her eye. "Did you just get home?" she yawned, stretching.
Cute.
Zoro was completely loathed to admit it, but Lucy with her disheveled hair, little pout, and weary expression was fucking adorable. Somehow, this thought temporarily distracted him from the fact that her brother had been seconds away from murder. He felt himself soften at her appearance, allowing him to relax marginally.
(This world was fucking with his head. Since when had he ever found anything cute?)
All traces of anger left Sabo's face as he regarded his sister with a soft look. It was almost as if he had never been angry in the first place, but everyone in the room knew better. "Yeah," he told her. He frowned, though, as he took her face and gently thumbed the bruises. "That looks like it hurts."
Lucy shrugged. "Kinda," she replied. Her tired eyes scanned the kitchen before landing on the cook. "Sanji, I'm hungry again."
Ace sighed in exasperation. "Lu, you just ate," he reminded her. "Sanji, you don't have to."
But Sanji smiled, whether grateful for the distraction or eager to please Lucy, Zoro didn't know. "It's no trouble," the love cook assured him, proceeding to make himself busy.
Lucy pulled away from Sabo before drifting over to his side. She pressed her cheek into his shoulder and Zoro held a straight face at her blond brother stared daggers into him. Even against Sabo's venomous rage, Zoro knew his place and that would always be by his captain's side. Nothing- not even an angry, overprotective brother- could remove him.
Sabo seemed to realize that Zoro would die before he harmed Lucy and stopped glaring. "You should head back to bed after you eat," he suggested. "It's late." Actually, it was only a little after nine, but hell if Zoro was going to be the one to correct him.
Lucy stubbornly shook her head. "No way," she insisted, tucking herself under his arm. He allowed this, resting his arm across her shoulders. "I just woke up."
"We should let her stay home anyway," Ace chimed in, sending his brother a pointed look. "So we can figure out what to do next."
Zoro felt Lucy tense in his hold. "I can go to school tomorrow," she protested with a frown.
Her brother looked at her like she had grown two heads. "Any other time, I catch the three of you skipping on a weekly basis," he reminded her. "Now you wanna go?"
Sabo turned his glare onto Ace. "She skips school?" he demanded hotly. Zoro almost found it funny that the revolutionary in his world was so set against his sister rebelling in this world. "And you let her? Ace, what the fuck?"
Ace shrugged, unbothered. "You try and stop her then."
Apparently up to the challenge, Sabo gave his sister a stern look. "Monkey D. Lucille," he hissed threateningly.
Zoro raised an eyebrow. "Your full name's Lucille?" he questioned the girl. Luffy was an odd name, but he had never thought it was short for anything. Maybe Garp had given his granddaughter a more formal name. Lucille, he decided, didn't fit her at all.
Lucy had her pinky jammed up her right nostril. "Dunno," she answered honestly. "Sabo only says that when he tries to be mad at me. It never works though." She grinned and even though it was as bright as ever, it brought attention to the bruises around her mouth.
Suddenly Zoro was angry all over again. Fucking Bellamy. He was going to disembowel that bastard.
But her words were true enough because Sabo's stern glare dropped and he sighed. "You're an enabler, Roronoa," he accused lightly. Zoro shrugged, knowing it was true. And he wasn't sorry about it.
Lucy suddenly had that look Luffy would get before he said something stupid. "Can Zoro and Sanji sleep over?" she asked innocently. Her face didn't show it, but he felt how tightly her fingers gripped his shirt, how firmly she was pressed into his side.
She was still affected by what that son of a bitch did, even if she didn't show it.
Sabo bristled, but Ace nonchalantly nodded. "Why not?" he mused. "Does that work for you guys?"
"We wouldn't want to impose," Sanji suddenly cut in. He handed a ham sandwich to Lucy and she happily took it, gobbling it up. The love cook smiled at her- a smile Zoro had never quite seen from him before- and ruffled her hair. "Today's been harrowing, we understand if you need time alone with her."
Lucy pouted, taking his hand off her head and holding it. "But I want Sanji to stay," she insisted, a stubborn look on her face.
And fuck, not even Zoro could deny the love he saw in Sanji's eyes in that moment. Maybe the shitty cook had been telling the truth earlier; he still didn't know how to feel about that. "Only if it's alright with both your brothers," he said, turning to them for confirmation. But truly, he already knew their answer. Lucy was undeniably spoiled by her big brothers.
It made Zoro happy in all honesty. He knew how much pain Ace's death had caused Luffy. He was glad Lucy had both her brothers to dote on her. She deserved it.
Sabo instantly melted at her pleading eyes. "Fine," he agreed begrudgingly. "But you're both sleeping on the floor."
XXX
Zoro was completely unsurprised when Lucy shimmied down from her own bed to settle between them. She immediately nestled against him, her head resting on his chest. "Your brothers are going to kill us," he pointed out, but wrapped his arm around her anyway. He was instantly reminded of the lazy afternoons spent on the Merry and Sunny with Luffy, his captain sprawled atop him as they napped.
Lucy giggled. "I'm not breaking the rules," she told him, which was techinically true, though he doubted they would see it that way. She looked at the blond. "Don't worry Sanji, I won't let Sabo hurt you."
Curly-brow sighed dramatically from her other side. "Oh to be protected by such an angel," he gushed. "I am in your debt, my love."
Zoro rolled his eyes. "Ever think shit like this is the reason he doesn't like you?"
"Can it, Mosshead."
Lucy yawned, settling against him. "I think I'm gonna kick Bellamy's ass the next time I see him," she decided, closing her eyes.
The shit cook tensed, but Zoro smirked. "Oh yeah?" he asked. She would have to get in line, and he doubted there would be much left after him, Sanji, and her brothers finished. Still, he was glad she initial shock had worn off. This was more like his captain.
If Lucy said she was going to kick Bellamy's ass, then she was going to kick Bellamy's ass.
"Yup," she answered, popping the 'p.' Right after she said that, her loud snoring filled the room. The familiar sound eased Zoro into his own heavy slumber.