Chapter Text
Gender, be it primary or secondary, is not a thing Zoro has ever bothered much with; it’s just one of those concepts that he couldn’t care less about. It always seemed like such a stupid thing, an excuse for people to be assholes, an excuse for weakness and low self control. He doesn’t make excuses for himself and he certainly doesn’t tolerate them from others.
When Kuina had told him one day he was going to be a better swordsman than her by the simple fact that he was a man, he hadn’t hesitated to tell just what he thought of such a simplistic view. Later, much later, well after she was gone, when he presented as an omega and his peers started suggesting he might need to reconsider his dream even though he was a much better fighter than anyone in their tiny island, he had been just as offended. It’s true that women don’t tend to build up muscle as men do and omegas’ hormones tend to leave them grouchy and weary at certain points of the month, but saying someone is weaker/less capable just because of something as stupid as biology is plain ridiculous.
So he trains and he gets better and stronger, never once making excuses for his failures. He intends to be the best swordsman in the world and he’s not about to let something as inconsequential as his body parts get in the way of that, nor is he going to listen to what prejudiced assholes have to say on the matter.
After he leaves his home island, he assumes the subject will be a non-issue: there’s no one to place any expectations on him other than himself. Except it turns out that’s not quite true as he finds out on his very first day of traveling. Apparently, securing transportation as an unaccompanied, unmated omega is near impossible, at least not without accepting some ridiculous proposition and in the end he has no choice but to sneak into a big ship and hide with the cargo.
He learns that that seems to be a general problem in smallish, rural islands, although not so much in big ones and, funnily enough, definitely not on those with marine bases. Apparently, there are laws against discrimination based on gender, but they’re not usually enforced, not everywhere. If there’s a marine base in town however, you can threaten to present a complaint and that usually works like a charm.
It’s more than a little annoying, but it is what it is and Zoro sees little point in getting upset about things he can’t change. He tries to stick to bigger, urban islands and considering his newfound profession requires him to travel to marine bases often, it’s not that troublesome. The fact that his targets tend to underestimate him frustrates him a bit more, because that usually leads to even shorter fights (easier to cut someone into tiny pieces when they don’t think you’re a threat), yet slowly but surely he builds a reputation for himself and that counts for something.
Except of course that even knowing who he is, even with his reputation as a talented swordsman preceding him, some stupid alphas still think that because he’s an omega, he’s not a threat.
He doesn’t let such nonsense bother him. What other people might think it’s not something he has ever concerned himself with and any alpha stupid enough to actually believe such nonsense ends up meeting the end of his blades sooner or later, one way or another.
It’s not ideal, for sure.
But such is life.
He knows Shell Town is going to be a problem from the get go. The looks he gets as he makes his way towards the town’s bar say as much: the disapproving glances at his swords, the low murmurs that follow his wake.
He’s surprised, to say the least: it’s not a small enough island for such traditional ways of thinking and one of the largest marine bases on this side of the East Blue is here, so it makes little sense.
Then of course he meets Captain Morgan’s entitled alpha son and the pieces start falling into place, painting a very comprehensive (if unpleasant) picture.
His first impression of Morgan isn’t a flattering one and he thinks he can not wait to leave this bloody island behind. Right this minute is still not soon enough and the more Morgan talks, the more convinced he becomes that he should have taken his business elsewhere.
Zoro’s met plenty of men like Morgan: full of themselves, convinced of their superiority. He reeks of entitlement and unearned self assurance, and while he’d love to show the man how pathetic he truly is, he doesn’t have the time (or the inclination) to start trouble. He just wants his money and he’ll be happy to be on his way.
“Roronoa Zoro,” Morgan says and Zoro raises his chin defiantly, back straight, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword. There’s some reluctant respect in Morgan’s tone, but there’s also some mockery he doesn’t particularly care for. Not that it matters, of course, he knows who he is, he’s well aware of his talents: what this Marine Captain thinks of him means little. Still-- “I’d say you live up to your reputation,” Morgan continues, eying the bag with Zoro’s prize and the bounty hunter can feel his patience running thin. The Captain’s getting somewhere, that much is clear, he just wishes he would get there already . “A bit surprising, considering…” he trails off, gesturing at him widely and Zoro does his best not to roll his eyes.
Really? Is that what this is about? That he’s an omega?
He keeps his hand on the hilt of his sword, refusing to give into the urge to cross his arms over his chest defensively, instead standing up a bit straighter. Usually Marine bases have one high ranked omega officer, precisely so there’s someone to complain to about discrimination and also to pretend they don’t discriminate based on gender, but he’s almost positive that won’t be the case here and he hates that he’s even thinking about filing a complaint: what good would that do?
“If it’s all the same, I’ll just take my money and go,” he says, feeling tired and frustrated. He knows better than to allow his emotions get the better of him: he’s a warrior after all. And besides, any sign of emotion will only further prove to Morgan and all those stupid alphas who think like him what they already assume to be true: omegas are highly emotional and so unfit for much more than looking pretty and bearing children.
“You’ll collect your bounty,” Morgan agrees and Zoro can already sense the but. He holds back a sigh, keeping himself from reacting in any way, keeping his gaze steady on the bigger man. As he rattles about penalties, alternating between empty flattery and even emptier threats, Zoro evaluates his options. He can put on a fight and he’ll win, no doubt, but Morgan makes a fair point: he needs to stay on the Marines’ good side, lest he finds himself without a reliable source of income.
The yard it is then.
He can’t decide if it’s sad or if it’s hilarious that Morgan’s brat thinks he can intimidate him, only for him to leave the yard in a rush, scared, like a dog with its tail between its legs.
All in all, it’s not a very productive encounter, though it gives him something to think about.
He should have known a man like Morgan wouldn’t be someone who kept his word: the Marine Captain is a walking red flag. It was stupid of him to believe he’d let him go after a week of hanging on this damned cross and so he has no one but himself to blame for his current dilemma.
He should have known better, but that’s in the past and regretting his naivete will account for nothing, so what he really ought to be doing is figuring out an escape plan.
He considers his options, taking mental inventory of his current physical estate. He hasn’t eaten in a day and a half, but that’s hardly the longest he’s ever gone without food or water and so he doubts he’s truly affected. His muscles ache due the uncomfortable position he’s in, but that's hardly a problem. The ropes securing his arms are a bit more problematic, but he’s fairly certain he could break free if he really tried, although that’s likely to leave some nasty marks.
(Not that it matters, of course. Vanity is beneath him.)
He closes his eyes, resolving to save his strength for a little longer. Perhaps an easier solution will present itself if he’s patient and, if not, escaping in the middle of the night is his best bet. Freeing himself from the ropes is going to take time and the last thing he needs is to be fighting a small army of marine cadets while at it.
Besides, he does have some sleep to catch on.
The strawhat teen leaves in a rush after freeing him and Zoro doesn’t know what to do. He wants to leave, of course and he meant what he told the other: he owes him nothing. That being said--
He’s curious, mostly. Luffy is unlike anyone he’s ever met before, man or woman, alpha or beta or omega. His whole hearted conviction is admirable: unlike all those self assured alpha assholes Zoro has encountered on his travels, Luffy’s conviction about becoming the King of Pirates doesn’t come from a place of pride, but from a firm determination to do what needs to be done to achieve his dream.
It’s kind of enticing, to be honest.
Zoro understands what it’s like to have a (impossible) dream, to have people scoff at your ambitions, to be judged for aiming too high. Like Luffy, he knows where his destiny lies even if no one but himself believes it: he’ll become the World’s Greatest Swordsman, he just needs to keep on working for his dream.
He doesn’t need a distraction. In fact, that’s the exact opposite of what he needs. What he does need is to get off this island, even if he hasn’t been paid, even risking never getting paid again: he’ll rather just try his luck elsewhere.
I just think it’s a waste of time for you to be hanging out here, when there’s something you want out there.
He looks at the cross, lost in thought. It’s a curious man, that Luffy. He had seemed genuinely in awe at Zoro’s skill and, to be fair, most people are, but they always always bring up his secondary gender for some reason. Luffy hadn’t and Zoro knows it’s impossible he hadn’t noticed: with the sun high in the sky and him sweating, his scent must have been unmistakable and yet there was no comment about how surprising it was he was such a good fighter despite being an omega.
I think you should join my crew, Luffy had said instead and so Zoro had asked why he’d think he’d want to do that. He had expected the derisive, patronizing answer, the kind that makes his blood boil. The seas are a dangerous place for an unmated omega, he’s been told time and time again, followed by the offer of protection in exchange for his services (whatever that might mean). Luffy however--
You’re a great fighter. I’d say that together, we’d make a pretty good team.
The boy is as bold as he’s fearless, he’ll give him that. Even though Zoro doesn’t bother with pirates who don’t have a price on their heads, most give him a wide berth anyway as soon as they hear his name. Is that all you are? Luffy had asked, no hint of apprehension and he had taken Zoro’s refusal with some modicum of grace, freeing him even after telling him it wouldn’t change anything, so--
He huffs, shaking his head, annoyed with himself. He works better alone, always has, always will. He’s a lone wolf, he needs no one. As he’s told several, debatably powerful people in the last couple of days, he’s got his own thing going. He doesn’t need (or want) company and the last thing he needs (or wants) is to join a pirate crew whose captain is a child chasing a (impossible) dream, even if he wholeheartedly believes in it.
Good luck with the sword thing.
Damn it. He needs to go find his swords and get the hell out of here before he does something he’ll come to regret.
(Or even worse, something he won’t regret. )
He ends up joining the fight, because he can never resist one and because while he told Luffy he owed him nothing, he feels like he does. It’s a hateful feeling, being in someone's debt, the feeling that someone is bound to show up sooner or later to collect. And so he fights and he ends up enjoying himself, which isn’t surprising per se: there’s nothing quite like a good fight to get his blood pumping. But there’s something different about fighting by Luffy’s side, even if he has no idea how to put it into words: it’s just different in a good way.
And then they’re running, escaping before the whole base comes down on them. He’s a good fighter, but a marine base this big probably has around a hundred cadets and the odds aren’t in their favor.
Things keep getting weirder after that.
Luffy’s ship isn’t his, but Nami’s, the other crew member he picked at the Marine base. With the two new additions, that brings the crew to the great number of three. It’s laughable, really and the fact that both he and Nami deny being part of the crew certainly doesn’t help, but Luffy is clearly unbothered by this. In his mind, they are a crew and they’re now sailing towards the Grand Line, bringing him a step closer to his dream.
There’s no way this little boat is going to take them anywhere farther than the nearest big island, but again, it’s not something that concerns Luffy. It’s like the boy assumes that the world will bend itself to his whims; that just by declaring something, it’ll come to pass.
A very alpha view, but not in the entitled way that Zoro is used to. It’s not that Luffy feels like the world owes him something by the sheer virtue of existing, but he’s so focused on his dream, on the big picture , that all the small details are beneath his consideration: they’ll sort themselves out, given time.
It’s not that different from Zoro’s own approach to the future, to be honest.
So he doesn’t protest as much, certainly not as much as the thief. For all she claims their alliance is temporary, that she’ll drop them off as soon as she can, she seems determined to knock some sense into Luffy before that. She’s an alpha too and Zoro has heard that alphas tend to butt heads when sharing small quarters, but he thinks in this particular instance it has more to do with Nami’s bossy personality than any of that secondary gender stuff.
It’s no matter. He stays out of it, like a good omega would and the thought is so stupid that he can’t help grinning. He’s been told more than once that omegas are meant to be seen but not heard, and while such nonsense usually guarantees an eye roll from him, he does tend to keep quiet around other people anyway. Not because he feels he should, certainly not because whatever the alphas are saying is more important, but simply because talking to people is usually not worth the effort.
Luffy catches him smiling and he throws a bright grin in his direction, eyes alight with happiness. Nami wacks him on the side of the head, telling him something about how he ought not to get distracted by every pretty omega who bats their eyelashes at him and Zoro glares at her. Even though her back is at him, she must sense it, because she half turns and offers him a half hearted apology with a dismissive wave and while it hardly appeases him, he lets it go for now.
It’s no matter. It’s not like they’ll be sailing together long.
They’re not a crew, after all.