Praesto: n. latin 1. right here 2. near at hand

Zoro doesn't quite know what to think when he reads the papers.

He crumples it in his fists, and doesn't say anything.

Leans back, closing his eyes, trying to pretend that he's not feeling his world break apart.

Why's he still here? Still stuck on this island, cursed not to be with his captain?

Why wasn't he strong enough?

Why wasn't he there?

He was supposed to be at that battle.

The Battle of the Best, they're calling it. Some part of Zoro aches, wondering if he's supposed to feel jealous, supposed to want to fight with the best. But the place in his chest where there ought to be bloodlust is just empty, and he wonders what's wrong with him.

All that he can think of is Luffy.

Their captain.

His captain.

Zoro's the first mate, isn't he?

He's supposed to be the strongest.

Supposed to always be by his captain's side.

And yet...

He opens his eyes, pulls out the papers, eyes idly scanning the words before landing on the words Straw Hat.

He's alive, for now.

He needs to be by his captain's side.

Has to be with him.

This is Luffy.

Luffy, who he owes his life to.

Luffy, who he would give his life for.

Luffy, who'd give up his dream in a flash if it mean that Zoro could achieve his own.

When the paper comes a few days later, 3D 2Y, he accepts it.

Trusts Luffy.

Because he wants to be with his captain, he's longing to be with his captain.

But because he trusts Luffy, he'll do what Luffy wants him to do.

And for now, he focuses on getting stronger.

Nothing will separate him from his captain again.

He doesn't quite know what to think when he reads the papers.

But he knows one thing.

He's not leaving his captain again.

A/N: Whaaat? I'm in the One Piece fandom again? (And not writing Liar Liar. Shame on me...) Sorry, Batman dragged me in and is keeping me there. But I felt the sudden urge to write this, so here's a scribble of... something. Similar to Hikari and the 'Captain' series, I guess.