#so instead here's another little post again from zoro's pov in the east blue

[thychesters]

Can you keep a secret? Luffy asks him one of the first nights they’re out at sea, just the two of them and their aimless wandering toward the Grand Line and a crew that doesn’t yet exist beyond the two of them. Zoro rolls his head from where it rests on his arms, wrist and knuckles digging into the wood beneath them. Luffy blinks back at him in the dark, straw hat pillowed on his chest and no longer awaiting a response. It’s okay, sometimes I can’t either.

Depends on what it is, I guess, Zoro says, If it’s not my business I don’t want any part in it. But it’s also not my secret to tell.

He shrugs, about to turn away again, but there’s a hesitation in breaking Luffy’s gaze, something powerful in it that leaves him feeling as if he’s been exposed down to his very core, and all Luffy does is blink at him and yawn.

‘M not a very good liar, Luffy tells him after he’s rolled back away from him to watch the night sky spread out above them like spilt ink. Would you ever lie to me?

Zoro’s tongue is heavy with copper and salt before he swallows. Depends, again, he thinks, could you lie to me? He doesn’t lie, doesn’t have any reason to, has never favored nor respected it to begin with. And yet, he says, Would it keep you safe?

Luffy turns to face him, nails scratching along the straw and says, Does it ever?

He thinks, it could, thinks, I don’t know, thinks, let’s hope we never find out.

Can you keep a secret? and a ghost whispers into the shell of his ear and says you must.

And Zoro says, no, I don’t think so.