description: Zoro’s reaction to his fem crush getting injured after pushing him out of the way of an attack
warnings: dark/heavy themes, light blood/gore, sad boi hours
note: idk if these are really considered HCs but y’all know how I can be sometimes lmao I also got pretty carried away with this and made it way more dramatic than I believe you intended - hope it’s ok!!
t h e p a i n c a m e i n w a v e s
first wave - shock/denial
- seeing her unconscious body lying before him, streams of red staining the snowy ground, Zoro completely froze. cold and stiff as the barren trees that canopied above them. he crawled over, the deafening screech of the enemy’s attack rang in his ears like a gunshot. his hands were stained as well as he tried to shake her awake, attempting to stop the flow of blood trickling from her wounds. yet her eyes never opened, and he could feel the frost beginning to take affect on her body.
- the enemy was suddenly slain with ease. the same kind of ease that should have presented itself earlier. the ease that could have prevented any of this. it didn’t matter now. Zoro couldn’t even enjoy it as he was too hurried to rush (Name) back to the Sunny. he carried her limp body bridal style and ran full force, praying that his sense of direction wouldn’t fail him right now.
- It’s just a small wound. she’s just in shock. she’ll wake up. Chopper will have her healed in no time. everything will be okay, Zoro. everything will be okay.
second wave - anger/blame
- her. when (Name) didn’t wake the next day, when Chopper closed off the infirmary from any visitors, the anger started to settle within him. he tried his hardest to not be angry with Chopper, to not be so impatient, but as days passed he couldn’t swallow it any longer. he didn’t want to be angry with her, but he was no longer in control of his emotions. this is all her fault. if she would have just let me take the hit, she would be safe right now. I could’ve taken it. what kind of weakling does she take me for?
- himself. it wasn’t enough that Zoro mentally punished himself. it wasn’t enough that he couldn’t fall asleep at night because the nightmares reminded him of his moment of weakness, over and over and over again. no punishment was good enough. what felt the worst was how the entire crew attempted to console him, make him believe that it wasn’t his fault. that hurt the worst because he wanted to believe it, he wanted to believe his friends, but his haunted mind wouldn’t allow it. he believed he deserved the worst for allowing this to happen. if I can’t protect the ones I love, then what am I even good for? it should be me in that hospital bed, not her!
third wave - bargaining/vulnerability
- rain, snow, or hurricane, Zoro stayed put right outside the door. he didn’t eat a single bite during the week of her absence. if she couldn’t eat because of him, then there was no reason for him to enjoy food. he hadn’t even trained as he felt he couldn’t enjoy anything until she was back, healthy and safe.
- Zoro’s not good with feelings. he knows that. he knows it’s hard for him to open up when life is difficult. he shuts down, shuts out, shuts off. if (Name) were awake, she’d know just what to say. he’d give anything to hear some advice from her, hell, to hear anything. Zoro wasn’t the religious type, but he made lots of weeping prayers to anyone who would listen, right outside the infirmary door, every single night.
- he grew tired of the void, of not hearing anything call back to him. he grew tired of pushing everyone out. he was so emotionally drained by the end of the week, he knew it was time to open up. the crew was happy to see Zoro back, despite him not at his full self yet. he could finally stomach some food and Chopper made sure to reassure him that the surgeries and medications were proving fruitful. the crew was lively as ever, because they knew (Name) would be okay. and they were finally helping Zoro to believe so too.
t h e n , t h e s t o r m c l e a r e d
fourth wave - forgiveness
- it came flooding over him the day (Name) opened her eyes. one last wave: relief. a baptism of consolation. he was right there when she opened them. Zoro felt her stir and couldn’t contain the emotions that poured forth as she caressed his hand weakly. he collapsed onto her, weeping silently as he held her gently in his arms. he focused on her warmth, the way her heart beat rapidly in her chest. she was alive. she was okay.
- the crew couldn’t help but flood in moments after, and Zoro would have been angry any other time. but the warm smile that graced her lips as she was welcomed with pure love from the crew was enough to make the past agonizing week a distant memory. all the pain was gone. the sun had returned.
- when he got her alone once more, he chatted casually with her while she ate some soup Sanji had prepared for her. to his dismay, she remembered everything that had happened. and as he watched her struggle to eat due to the pain, all of the blame, anger, and misery was beginning to bubble up again. but she was quick to assure him that she was okay. Zoro remained by her side for the next few days, helping her eat and taking her mind off of the pain.
- she was normal. she didn’t express any regret for what she did nor any anger towards Zoro for letting her get hurt. he was surprised to say the least, but he was thankful. if she could forgive him, he could learn to forgive himself.
fifth wave - confession
- it came out accidentally. a rather frustrated proclamation of love as he confessed to her. she had grown irritated at his slightly overbearing care after a few days. this wasn’t like Zoro. he knew what she was capable of and she didn’t like being treated as weak, especially by him. why was he treating her like a weak child? the two ended up getting into an argument, butting heads for the first time since she recovered. he didn’t intend to, but if she wanted to know why so badly, then he’d tell her.
- “because I love you and I’m never going to let you get hurt again! now shut up and just let me take care of you, baka!”
- he had planned on telling her for a while now. he had fallen for her way back when she first joined the crew. that’s why her getting hurt of all people pained him most. in any other setting, he probably would have been utterly embarrassed at his confession. but spending a week not knowing if she would get to hear his confession, not knowing if she would ever even wake up, was far more terrifying.
- he never expected an answer from her. he understood that it was probably too much to take in. but her silent stare was a little heart-breaking. he eyed her as she shuffled towards him. her shaky arms wrapped around him in a weak hug and she cried into his chest.
- “I love you too, baka. why else would I have taken that attack for you? I can’t watch you get hurt, I-”
- he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, trying desperately to hold back his own tears, “thank you for saving me, (Name).” it was the first time he thanked her since she awoke. he didn’t want to believe that he needed saving, but he needed her to know her actions weren’t in vain. he was truly grateful for her and to know she did so because she loved him was all the more heart-warming, “but no more sacrifices, because I can’t bear the possibility of losing you again. deal?”
- she smiled up at him and that’s when he vowed to get stronger in order to keep that precious smile on her face forever, “deal.”
