Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Breathing, deep and extremely... heavy breathing. That was all I could hear as the moon’s light shown onto me. I looked around into the pitch-black n foggy town. I felt my blood boil, as thoughts rushed through my head. My face had been covered in blood, it was splattered here and there, mainly my mouth and chin.

I could feel, taste, and smell the metallic liquid. I looked at Sandai Kitetsu, as it too was covered in the same red thickened liquid. My eyes stung as I looked at the body that had lay at my feet. It was hardly recognizable; it was easy to spot that a few organs were missing while the others were splattered around the area.

Blood still flowed from limbs, and damaged organs that had lay dead still on the floor. On the right side of my left foot, I could spot a severed head, which seemed to be just as messed up as the body. My mouth ran dry, and my eyes began to sting. My heart had skipped a beat or two as I began to panic.

Why was I covered in blood? Why was this dismembered corpse by my feet and why don’t I remember what happened. All I could think of were questions, and absolutely no answers.

My blood ran cold as I thought of what my Captain would say. Despair and fear ran through me, Luffy doesn’t like killing. I promised him I’d never kill anybody again after I joined his crew, and if I just broke this promise without reason. What should I do...

(End of Prologue.)

“ZOROOOO!!” I heard my captain yell, as he leaped onto me. I grunted as I caught him, lucky enough to not fall back onto the deck of the sunny. “What is it Luffy, it’s too early.” I said sighing. “Well, I was bored and saw a beetle I want to tell Zoro about!”, he said grinning as if he hadn’t woken up the entire crew just to bug me.

I set him down onto his feet and told him to lead the way. I watched as his smile grew, and my frown slightly lifted up. Seeing him happy, well that made me happy. And I prefer that it stays that way forever. Just as Luffy had finished telling me about this beetle with a greenish blue looking shell thing Sanji shouted that breakfast was ready.

I watched as Luffy ran to the table shouting “MEATTTT!!!” as if he hadn’t had any in years. I watched Nami snort as she watched him disappear into the kitchen / dining hall. “He never gets tired of it somehow Zoro.” she said with her gaze softening.

I could tell Nami thought of him as a little brother, from the way she spoke about him. “He’s loud, and annoying! Yet... Luffy’s kind.” was what I recalled her saying while speaking to Robin about how much she cared for him one night when the crew was restocking up on resources in a town.

I looked at her for a few seconds more before walking into the room. I saw that Luffy left the seat next to him open, which was obviously my spot. I went to sit down silently, and watched as that damn curly brow brought me my plate.

“Tch. Damn mosshead always acting like you’re high and mighty.” he said sneering as he looked at me up and down with disgust. I rolled my eyes at him before speaking. “Guess you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, huh you damned shitty cook.” I said, smirking as I leaned closer.

He looked ready to attack me, before Robin walked through the door, and the bastard started acting like a damn dog. “ROBIN SWANNN, I HAVE YOUR PLATE RIGHTTTT HERE!” he shouted as he gave her a pancake shaped like a heart with bacon, and eggs on the side.

I sighed, as I watched Usopp, Chopper, Franky, and Brook sit down without making any noise. It was clear they were quite too tired to even worry about any of this at the moment. (Even though that damn skeleton doesn’t look like he needs to worry about that.)

Later that evening we all went to some small town to restock up on food and get more supplies for Chopper. Luffy went with Usopp to some type of bar to get meat, and maybe have Usopp find some materials he’d need. (Since it seemed like it had some type of inside shop as well.)

I tagged along, as it seemed dumb to leave those two alone in a place like this. After around 30 minutes the damned place seemed to get all foggy. I looked at Luffy, as I had slightly unsheathed Sandai Kitetsu.

Usopp stayed closer to Luffy, as I noticed a shadow coming in to stab me from the side. I dodged as their attack seemed slow and tripped them. A low life pirate had dared to attack us? And without a crew too. He seemed like bait, I thought.

“Oi, Luffy.” I said as I looked back. “Hah, yeah!” he said cheesing like an idiot. I couldn’t help but smile back. “You and Usopp get the rest of the crew, and head back to the sunny somethings off.” He nodded, “Make sure to meet us there Zoro!” I nodded at him before walking out of the bar.

The fog made it look emptier than it truly was, and I knew this. I heard Luffy began fighting before him, and Usopp were even able to get halfway around town. “Tch, you bastards don’t know who you’re messing with!” I shouted as I walked further left (Which was right.)

I cut down a few pirates wondering if I could sell a few of them to some marines for some extra berry. Nobody in the crew knew I still hunted pirates down, especially not Luffy. I’d never tell him I still hunted pirates, as I’m not sure how he’d react.

While thinking if I should sell some of them or not, I continued running left then ran into this bastard with two swords. As I had dueled with him for a few seconds, the scent of blood flooded my senses. All the blood from the low life pirates I had cut down came towards me, and for a second I felt blinded.

The smell was overwhelming, far more overwhelming than it had ever been before. As I continued to fight everything got blurry, and eventually. I started to crave blood. My mouth began to water, and I wanted to taste the metallic liquid.

I start coughing trying to get rid of the thoughts, as I continued to slice down the man in front of me. Suddenly I lost whatever will I had left, and it all went black.

(Prologue.) When I regained consciousness all I could do was breathe. My breathing was heavy and felt almost labored just as my throat had felt tight. That metallic taste was stuck in my throat.

All I knew was that I had to clean this mess up, or at least attempt to in some way. I looked around before finding a bag, and stuffing everything inside. I tied up the sack and sighed. At least my clothes weren’t drenched in blood. But I still reeked of the smell.

I walked around looking for the closest bounty house and dropped off the bag in front of a woman. She peeked inside and her eyes widened. I heard no other words, as she handed me 200 berries, and begged me to leave.

I took it, and left to find some place with water, so that I could wash my face before running back to the ship. 10-15 minutes had passed since I told Luffy to get back to the Sunny. He was probably worried, and Nami probably wanted to get out of this damned place right away.

I quickly made my way to the boat and watched as the crew quickly got ready to sail away. Nobody asked me where I went, or what happened. But I knew that they all knew I had the metallic scent on me.

(End of chapter 1.)

Chapter Text

My eyes shot open as the call of morning birds, and the movements along with sounds of the ocean waves hitting against the Sunny reached my ears. I groaned as I used my pillow to cover my ears inside the hammock I laid in. Right as I started to doze back off to sleep, I heard jumping.

I sighed heavily, clearly knowing that the one jumping, and releasing that much energy this EARLY in the morning was our captain. I suddenly realized my hearing was better than usual, and a shiver sent down my spine.

Reminders of what happened the night before came back to haunt me, and I began to sweat heavily at the memories. All the blood, guts, and organs that were in that spot were so hard to pick up without puking.

The smell, the fact I could taste the blood, and the way they looked as they laid scattered dead around the floor. The more I thought about it the more grossed out I got and my stomach start doing flips.

I wanted to cry as my eyes began to burn at the thought of me acting like I did that night. I never wanted to experience that again. My eyes felt heavy at the thought of me hurting an innocent person the next time that happened.

It was easy to tell it was close to noon, meaning that it was around 10 or 11 am. Which had me guess that the reason Luffy was excited this early then was clearly for breakfast. I could hear him on the deck yelling “AH, SANJII! WHAT’S FOR BREAKFAST!?” as if the cook wasn’t making food at that very moment.

I rubbed my tired eyes. Luffy never changes and that’s somehow relaxing. Well, aside from when I met him after what happened to Ace.

I thought to myself silently about how I feel about my Captain before I got out my hammock and changed into a shirt and pair of pants. Along with my pitch-black boots.

As I opened the door to my room and walked down the hall to the deck of the Sunny, the unusually strong smell of salt hit my nostrils. I could tell it was coming from the ocean. I shivered as it felt colder than it usually does.

I sniffed the air for a split second, just to find out that the bloody scent that was on me. I had already washed all of it off yesterday, yet it stays stuck to me like some bad dream.

I breathed heavily as I walked towards the dining hall and opened the door. Everyone looked at me and quickly went back to eating. I could feel the stares, and glares that I was receiving from my fellow Nakama. They all seemed like they wanted to ask what happened the night before, and well... I did too. I sat down in my usual spot beside the captain of this ship. My heart rate increased as the increase of looks continued.

They knew something was wrong with me. And I wouldn’t let them find out what. I looked at Luffy as I noticed his dark brown orbs staring dead into the back of my head. Luffy must’ve smelled the blood too but thought nothing of it as I noticed him look away.

After all I am a swordsman, I use my swords to cut down my foes.

But Luffy’s policy of destroying enemies' dreams instead of killing them was extremely strong. I thought of how everyone in the dimly lit room continued to look at me every few seconds. Maybe everyone here realized it was way more than just a couple of splatters from my blade.

That thought alone... well, it didn’t feel good.

I noticed the cook place a plate in front of me with eggs, and rice. I flipped the eggs onto the rice to make a makeshift omelet. I then ate it all in one bite and sat silently for a few minutes wondering if the tense atmosphere would go away.

“Hmpeh, ah Zoro!” I heard Luffy say next to me as he looked in my direction while still somehow stuffing his face.

I looked to match my Captain’s gaze, and my heartbeat’s pace began to speed up. He was going to ask about last night wasn’t he. My mouth ran dry as I swallowed awaiting his question. I bit my lip, slightly being able to taste the metallic fluid.

While waiting I stared deeper into his eyes, they were such a beautiful dark brown color. The way he always looks so kind never ceases to amaze me. Suddenly I realized he was waiting for my response rather than asking right away. I took a small breather as I responded. "Yes, Captain?” I said softly.

“How come you smelt like so much blood on your way back?” he asked cluelessly. I felt everyone’s eyes look our direction, in both curiosity and fear for what Luffy had asked. I heard Nami mutter under her breath “Idiot, idiot idiot!” My heart rate began to increase, and my breathing got heavy. I had hoped he wouldn’t bring it up.

I knew he would, I really did. But somehow, I still had hope that he wouldn’t.

“There was this slightly large and um strong opponent.” I said fumbling with my half-truth, and half lie in fear. “SHISHISHI! So that was why you smelled like blood!” he said laughing as he pat my back. “Ah, Zoro doesn’t need to look so tense! I understand it’s possible to struggle with enemies' sometimes! You should’ve just told me instead of looking so scared!” he said grinning at me from ear to ear. could hear the talking around the room coming from the other Nakama, they most likely knew I was lying. But I didn’t care, Luffy deserved the truth, but I want to keep it from him. From all of them.

Luffy’s an idiot at times, so he won’t notice immediately that I’m lying. I noticed Robin, Franky, and Nami walk out the door in unison most likely to discuss whether I was lying or not. I watched as everyone left until it was me, Luffy, and that idiot cook alone in the same room.

“Oi, cook your makeshift omelet it was... somewhat good today” I said as I met his eyes. I noticed a vein pop onto that idiot's forehead. “Tsk who the hell are you talking to bastard!” He snapped at me as he went to kick me in the shoulder. Tsk. I blocked and countered his kick with my swords.

“SHISHISHI! Zoro and Sanji never stop fighting!” Luffy said laughing as he watched the fight with amusement. I felt a vein pop on my head as well. “SHUT UP IDIOT!” We yelled in unison as we kicked him out the kitchen.

We both flew for a second before landing on opposite sides of the deck. I began to fight that curly eyebrowed bastard until the sun had shone in my direction and I got burnt. I gasped in pain. As I held my arm and began to sweat. “What the hell did you do, you shitty cook!” I said furrowing my brows together in anger. I was pissed off now, pulling that dirty trick, and he’s fighting me after I complimented him! “Nothing you moss head” he said as he glared at me with that ugly mug of his.

“Sanji-kun!!” I heard Nami yell from the lookout with Robin. “HAIII NAMI-SWANNN!” Piss hair said, as he began wobbling with his damn heart eyes. “We need your help up here cook-san" I heard Robin say from above. “HAIII ROBIN-CHANN!!” he said as he made his way up the ladder of the Sunny. I glared in the direction that he went up in as I continued holding my arm.

I went to walk sleep against the edge of the railing since our morning seemed complete, but jumped back as soon as I got close to the sun. I didn’t do it on my own, it was like a natural reaction from my body. Suddenly I got a whiff of blood in the air. I looked around in every direction possible. There had to be a ship full of people nearby.

As I continued to try and locate where the smell was coming from, my senses began to tense. Memories of what happened the night before began flashing before my eyes.

I could see as I bit into the neck of the man and tore his vocal cords out. The blood splattered from that spot onto my shirt, as I proceeded to chop off the remainder of the head off with my sword.

I held my head and yelled out in pain, I just wanted all of this to stop. I looked around again as the metallic scent got closer. I ran to the edge of the ship and ignored the burning on my skin that I was feeling at this moment. I alerted the rest of the crew that I had seen a group of pirates alone and injured in a boat slightly smaller than the sunny.

I could smell the faint scent of blood as the ship got closer to ours. I watched as Usopp, and Franky threw a rope to the ship due to Luffy’s command. I glared silently from the shadows as the random pirates they saved all began to board the sunny.

The random pirates thanked the crew for saving their lives and begged to know if there was a doctor onboard to save their fallen crew members.

Luffy and Robin called Chopper over to the scene. “Doctor-san would you mind fixing these people up?” Chopper hummed. “They don’t look too bad! I just have to clean their cuts and apply some ointments!” He said cheerfully.

Usopp smiled as the looked at the wandering pirates. “Chopper here is the best doctor around! After all he was recruited by the Usopp pirates.” He said looking prideful. I snorted as he had said that right in front of Luffy.

“DON’T THINK YOU CAN SWOON ME WITH THAT, BAKA!” Chopper said as he began to dance and blush at the compliment. I smiled as it was clear my crew didn’t let what happen with me change them.

As it got darker, I went to check on the people who boarded our ship, and I saw them all lined up in the medical room Chopper had inside the ship. I noticed one man in particular moving around, searching for something.

I silently approached the man and loomed over his smaller figure. “Oi. What are you looking for.” I said as I looked down. I watched the man turn slowly to look up into my eyes with fear visible on his face.

“I-I wasn’t looking to steal anything swear! I just um I lost some jewelry, yeah that’s it!” he said sweating like there was no tomorrow.

I smelt a small amount of blood coming from the man’s direction. I approached it, and found a mini tube filled with the dark red fluid. I picked it up silently before looking into the man’s eyes.

The room had no lights, as it was night now and there was no reason to have them on. The darkness inside the room made the atmosphere feel heavier. I grabbed the man by his collar and dragged him out the medical room. I stared into his eyes as I got closer.

“What. Is. This.” I said as I got closer as I looked into his eyes.

The man seemed to gasp in fear. “You... you're like one of those blood-thirsty beasts that attacked us!” He shivered in fear. I noticed his pupils dilate as he looked at my eyes closely. “You’ve got the same crimson red eyes as those demons! Those damned vampires!” he shouted. I held my hand over his mouth. “What do you know about the vampires.” My words came out more intently, and well... evil than I wanted them to.

The damn bastard went quiet, and I got angry. Suddenly I began to drool. I looked into the man’s eyes as my line of sight began to get blurry. My eyes darted to the sides making sure to observe everything that was happening at the moment.

The dry feeling in my mouth left me hungry. I... I have to eat. I looked deep into the victimized pirates' eyes as my mouth got closer to his neck. In the darkness you could see the clint of the fangs as they got closer.

I began to breathe; I didn’t want to do this. But I didn’t have a choice I was losing control. I gulped as I knew deep down in order to keep control, I’d have to be the one getting my food. Rather than the beast that seemed ready to kill.

I looked at the sky, and moon before looking back at the man. I smiled a bit as I quickly moved to bite into his neck. I could see tears flow out the man’s eyes as he tried to fight against it. But there was no use. He was gone.

Slowly I could see the teeth marks in the skin begin to shrivel up. I tore out that part of the skin before quickly chewing it, and swallowing.

I wanted more. My stomach craved it. But I didn’t want this.

Then, ever so slowly I began to carve open the corpse with one of my swords and remove organs. I looked around once more to make sure I was alone out here as I began to put them into separate bags.

Once finished with that I had picked up the body and tossed it into the unforgiving waters below. I sighed heavily, as the need for blood began to calm down. I began to scrub the blood off the deck. As it had come from the body and neck I dug into.

I grabbed the bags of organs and went to the kitchen to hide them where I hid my stash of booze, and sake. I sighed in relief knowing I never showed it to anyone else. I noticed my body burning as if it was on fire and hissed holding onto my hand. I saw a pair of claws grow, and then retract.

Maybe that was a sign that it’s over for tonight. I sighed sadly as I got up to go and wash any blood that might’ve gotten on my face and clothes.

Suddenly I paused in front of a mirror that the damn cook had in the kitchen. Most likely to admire his own looks. I observed my own worn out and tired face. It was clear this vampire situation was overwhelming me. Quickly looking away from the mirror, and towards the kitchen door I began to walk forward. As I was about to exit the room, I heard footsteps coming from outside. . . And before I could react, someone opened the door.

Chapter Text

I have not worked on this fic in a while, I plan to do an entire rewrite. With the same concept of course, just making the writing better