I don't care if you believe in the power of friendship, the underlying romance of comradery, the inherent gayness of Shounen manga, the inevitable eroticism of being pirates, Captain and First Mate of the same crew... But these two. They. Are the pinnacle, the peak, the climax, the Magnus Opus of mutual loyalty. Platonic, romantic, whatever you may call it, be my guest, all interpretations are valid here. I've said it before, I will never shut up about it and it's driving me insane.
Zoro had his goal in front of his eyes, but he was still rather aimless, like a dull knife - quite literally - lost at sea. Luffy - once again, quite literally - gave him a direction. Something to push himself further beyond, not only in terms of his own dream - he made a promise once, a promise he could never forget. And now he made a second one. A promise to stay by his side. Of the person that helped him not to lose sight of said dream. Of the person who decided not to get in the way of his goal in the first place - just to end up doubting himself, since he thought he had almost doomed him to die before he could even try.
They both have experienced loss in their young lives. They already had to learn lessons the hard way. Again, under normal circumstances, they're not good with talking emotions and such with each other - but this time it counted. Like Luffy said. He may have had a hard time before. But now it's so clear to him. Clearer than anything else: He needs Zoro. The fear of losing him made him lose appetite, optimism, he was willing to do anything for him, no matter the cost, maybe even eating his own limbs for his sake - so no amount of physical touch (one of his primary love languages) could even express the joy of having Zoro back, alive.
And Zoro needs Luffy too. The one who inspired him. Whose own dream he deemed worth protecting. He won't let him falter. That's why, despite all the pain, he can reassure him, even smile at him. Because he is part of his dream now too.
That vow, that promise, that unshattered sense of loyalty is meant to last a lifetime. Until death does them part.
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