Author's Note: Why, hello, hello. Fancy meeting you here! It's been so long since I even touched this fic and it took me a hot minute to get back into the mindset for it. But, after the long and strenuous process of a multi-chapter fic, it feels right to get back to the fluffy feels of little Zoro. And, while Zoro's mother is the worst, his nakama are the best. Hope you guys enjoy!

3. Roronoa Zoro: Doctor-in-Training

Chopper has spent enough time around his crew to be able to judge their well being with a single glance. Which is why he knows Sanji is sick the moment he enters the kitchen. It isn't really a surprise. From what he understands about human children, they are utterly exhausting on the best of days. Single parents are often overworked and therefore at a higher risk of sickness. And, while Zoro is by no means a troublesome child and Sanji is not alone - nor a single parent - the little boy's clingy nature is bound to be exhausting for the cook, who tends to be the first one up and among the last to bed.

It's funny, in the most ironic sense of the word, that Sanji is Zoro's favorite person - even if it is a version of Zoro the crew never thought they would meet. Chopper can't turn around without finding the small boy in Sanji's personal space, trailing along behind him or wrapped up in Sanji's arms. Which is the spot Zoro currently occupies, head resting on Sanji's shoulders as everyone files into the galley for dinner. Zoro's deep tan and bright green hair make Sanji's too pale skin and slightly flushed cheeks stand out all the more.

"Get some dinner, Chopper," Sanji says before Chopper can ask, his voice hoarser than it should be. "I'm fine."

CHopper frowns. Zoro has always been his most difficult patient by far. But at least, nine times out of ten, the swordsman is unconscious and Chopper can get him into the infirmary. Sanji, despite actually listening to doctor's orders once they're given, is nearly impossible to get into the infirmary in the first place.

"Are you sure, Sanji-kun?" Nami asks as she settles into her spot at the table. "You do look very pale."

"Nami-san is so sweet to worry about me." Sanji's response lacks its normal enthusiasm and warning bells begin to ring in Chopper's ears as the cook settles Zoro into his seat. "But, I'm fine."

He most definitely is not fine, but one glance at the unusually terrified look on oro's face halts an argument before he can start it. After dinner, Chopper decides, when they can send Zoro out to play with Luffy and Usopp, he'll argue with Sanji about getting a check up. Zoro looks up at Sanji with wide, watery eyes that the cook doesn't seem to understand any better than Chopper does.

"Oi, oi," Sanji whispers as the others begin to eat. "What's wrong, little marimo?"

Zoro doesn't answer, throwing his arms around Sanji's neck and clinging tightly. Sanji staggers back an inch or so, sending more alarms ringing through Chopper's head as he watches. The movement pulls Zoro from his seat and the small boy wraps both legs around Sanji's waist, clinging for all he's worth as he buries his head in Sanji's shoulder.

"Zoro." Sanji hefts the boy into his arms with concerning effort. "What is wrong with you? It's dinnertime. Sit down and eat."

"You." Even Chopper's ears have difficulty picking up Zoro's muffled response.

"I thought you wanted to be brave and sit in your own chair today," Sanji says patiently.

"You."

Sanji lets out a long but carefully controlled breath. "Alright."

Chopper keeps an eye on them between bites of food. Zoro doesn't seem to have much interest in eating himself, Instead, every time he manages to spear a piece of the meat or vegetable from his plate, he turns to hold the fork up to Sanji instead. Sanji's brow furrows, looking like the last thing he wants to do is eat, but obliges and allows Zoro to feed him.

"Zoro," Sanji says after Zoro's fed him half of the plate. "This is supposed to be your dinner. Aren't you hungry?"

"You," Zoro replies simply, moving another forkful toward Sanji's mouth.

"No." Sanji's patience with the young boy might never stop amazing Chopper. "Your turn, little marimo."

"No. You."

"Zoro."

The authority in Sanji's tone makes Zoro hunker his shoulders, dropping his gaze. Chopper watches Sanji's eyes close and then struggle to open again as he runs a hand through Zoro's messy hair.

"Eat your dinner, little marimo. I'm full, alright?"

Zoro nods, but only picks at his food as dinner continues. Sanji doesn't push him, just runs his fingers through Zoro's hair, looking half asleep. Across the table, Luffy devours the plate of cold food Sanji had set out for himself, portions far smaller than they should be.

"Sanji-kun," Nami says gently as Sanji slips Zoro into his own chair to stand. "Robin, Usopp, and I can clean up. Why don't you go get some sleep?"

"Thank you, Nami-san, but I'm fine." Sanji picks up the plates in his reach, stands, turns, and faints.

The shattering of plates is drown out by Zoro, who lets out a terrified shriek and dives for Sanji. In a show of unusual foresight, Luffy's arms shoot out, snatching the small boy back before he can step on broken glass. Chopper ignores the young boy's protests, hurrying over to their cook, laying on the deck and panting heavily.

"Franky," Chopper says.

"On it, little bro."

"Here, Sencho, let me," Robin says beyond Chopper's vision. "It's alright, Zoro. Chopper-san and Franky-san are just taking Sanji-san to the infirmary. I'm sure he's just caught a cold."

"I want Sanji-san," Zoro sobs, flailing in Robin's arms.

She seems unperturbed, only giving Chopper a small smile as he hurries past.

Sanji's sickness is a simple case of the flu, only made as severe as it is because he ignored the early signs and overworked himself. Not that it surprises Chopper. With Sanji, it's a given. A few days rest and some medicine and their cook will be up and ready to move.

Information that satisfies almost every member of the crew.

"Zoro," Chopper tells the little boy gently. "You can't sleep in here, you'll get sick too."

Zoro ignores him, curling himself between Sanji and the wall beneath the blanket. Chopper glances helplessly at Luffy, finding the captain frowning at their young crewmate.

"Zoro, don't ignore Chopper. Come on, you can sleep with me."

"No." Zoro's response is muffled by Sanji's side. "Wanna stay with Sanji-san."

"No," Luffy says firmly. "You'll get sick."

"I can't," Zoro tells them, peeking out from behind Sanji's sleeping form. "I don't ever get sick, Luffy-san. I'm not allowed."

Luffy's frown deepens.

"N-not allowed?" Chopper can't keep himself from echoing back.

Zoro nods. "Mama says nobody has time to take care of a worthless brat like me, so I don't ever get sick, Chopper-san. So I can stay with Sanji-san, right? Please. I'll be extra good."

Chopper's heart stutters and shatters, dread filling his chest. "Zoro," he says softly. "Everybody gets sick. And you're allowed to get sick."

Zoro shakes his head. "Nuh-uh. Mama got real mad when I threw up last time. She said no more food for three whole days." Tears shine in his gray eyes. "You'll let Sanji-san eat, right? He can have my food. I don't care if he throws it up."

"Zoro," Luffy says, crossing over to stand in front of the bed. "Everybody eats on my ship, 'kay? Even if they're sick. But you gotta come sleep with me tonight, cause Sanji doesn't feel good and he'd feel even worse if he got you sick."

"I can't get sick, Luffy-san. Please."

"You gotta come sleep with me, Zoro."

Zoro peers down at the sleeping cook, tears still threatening to fall. "He's gonna get better, right?"

"Of course." Luffy rests a hand on Zoro's head. "Chopper's the best doctor in the whole world. He'll have Sanji better in no time."

Hesitantly, Zoro allows Luffy to sweep him from the bed. Chopper smiles at the young boy as they head for the door, even though he has to force himself. Is this why Zoro never wants to go to the infirmary? He can't possibly think it's a waste of Chopper's time. As a doctor it's his job to take care of sick and injured patients.

"Can-can I come in tomorrow?" Zoro asks. "I can help! I take care of Mama when she gets sick. N' I helped with Daddy too."

"Sure, Zoro. Come in tomorrow when you wake up and you can help."

Zoro beams.

"You're doing really good, Zoro," Chopper says, peering in the mixing bowl.

Zoro pauses in his work to grin at Chopper. True to his word, Zoro had been in the infirmary the next morning, before even Chopper had gotten there. It had taken a moment for Chopper to pull in the image before him. The small boy replacing the wet cooling cloth on Sanji's forehead and pulling off the sweat soaked sheet to get a fresh one from the closet. All with the practiced ease of someone who's done it plenty of times before.

He listens to Chopper's every instruction without fail and works with surprising care around Sanji's sleeping form.

"I take care of Mama when she gets sick," Zoro tells Chopper proudly.

Chopper forces himself to smile even though he desperately wants to frown. Zoro's mother told him he wasn't allowed to get sick and yet expects him to take care of her? What kind of mother does that?

Yours would have, a small voice whispers.

Maybe she would have. Chopper tries not to think about the herd. They aren't his family, the crew is. The same crew that played doctor to him time he'd gotten sick. Zoro had been a main factor in that too, if Chopper's foggy memory was correct. The swordsman had surprisingly soft hands for someone so gruff. Had changed the wet cloth on his forehead, given him a cooling bath, changed sheets, and checked on him every hour along with Robin. All with the ease of someone who'd done it a million times. Then Chopper had assumed that it was from being a patient so many times. Now, he knows better.

"Sanji-san's awake!" Zoro cheers.

Chopper starts, almost dropping the medicine bowl he's holding, and turns to see that Sanji has indeed woken up. The cook winces at the boy's loud tone but gives Zoro a soft smile as he sits up.

"Well, good morning to you too, little marimo," Sanji says, voice rough and thick as Zoro scrambles up onto the bed to give Sanji a hug. "Not too close, Zoro. I don't want you to get sick."

"I can't!" Zoro tells him happily, nuzzling his head against Sanji's shoulder. "I'm not allowed."

Sanji frowns, but rests his cheek against Zoro's hair, one arm wrapping around the small boy's shoulders. "Well, you're allowed to get sick here, okay? If you don't feel good, you come tell me or Chopper-san."

No question, barely any surprise. Chopper frowns up at the pair, watching the small boy nuzzle close to Sanji. So, this must not be the first time Zoro has mentioned his mother to the cook. Chopper really shouldn't be surprised. Even if he's been playing with him, Luffy, and Usopp for months now, Zoro far prefers Sanji's company. Meaning, any secrets he holds goes through the cook first.

"Okay." Zoro grins at him as he pulls away. "I'm gonna go see if Robin-san's done with your soup. Did you know you get to eat, even if you throw up?"

Sanji's smile turns tight and he brushes some hair from Zoro's forehead. "Hai. On this ship, we eat every day, even when we're sick."

"That's really cool! Mama says I'm not allowed for three whole days when I throw up at her house."

Chopper inches back slightly as he watches the rage flash through Sanji's eyes. The cook is nothing if not insistent that everyone eats every day. But, the smile remains on his face as he looks down at Zoro.

"Well, your mama isn't here, little marimo. So, you don't get in trouble when you're sick and you can eat even when you throw up, okay?"

Grinning like a madman, Zoro nods. "Okay! That's really cool, Sanji-san. I like it here."

"We like having you here, little marimo."

If possible, Zoro's smile grows wider.

"Now, you've got to promise me that you'll tell me or Chopper-san if you ever get sick, okay? Promise?"

"Promise! I'm gonna go see Robin-san now. I'll bring back soup!"

Sanji chuckles. "Yosh."

Chopper waits until the door slams shut behind Zoro to glance at Sanji. "How are you feeling?"

"Better." Sanji puts a hand to his head. "Still got a bit of a headache."

"Well, your fever's gone down significantly. But, I can't believe you didn't tell me."

"It's just a stupid cold, Chopper. Nothing to bother you with."

Chopper glares at the chef. "I'm a doctor. I don't bother you when I tell you I'm hungry, do I?"

"No, but-"

"Then come to me next time. It was really scary to see you pass out like that." Tears build in Chopper's eyes. "You're supposed to tell me when you get sick."

"Oh, Chopper, don't cry," Sanji moans.

If Sanji and Zoro ever find out that - nine times out of ten - the tears that gather in his eyes are entirely intentional, they'll kill him. But, it's so easy to get them to actually listen to him when he cries. The fastest way to ensure that the absolute morons are safe about their healing. So, Chopper lets a few tears leak onto his cheeks.

"Alright, alright." Sanji flops back onto the pillow with a small cough. "I'm sorry. I'll come see you next time."

"Promise?"

"I promise. Now, stop crying."

Sniffling, Chopper wipes his eyes and smiles at Sanji. "You really scared Zoro, you know? He thought you were dying."

"I see that." Sanji throws a hand over his eyes. "You didn't let him sleep in here, did you? He'll get sick."

Chopper shakes his head. "He slept with Luffy last night. He wasn't too happy about it, though." Frowning, Chopper rocks forward on his hooves, glancing up at Sanji. "Sanji?"

"Hmm?"

"You don't think. Zoro knows I don't think he's a waste of time right? He knows that I'll always take care of him."

Sanji pulls his arm away from his face and glances down at Chopper with a furrowed brow. "Of course he knows that. Why would you ask?"

"He told me and Luffy last night that he isn't allowed to get sick because no one has time to take care of him. But, our Zoro knows that's not true, right?"

Sanji's blue eyes soften. "Of course he knows that, Chopper. The idiot is just too stubborn to ask for help, that's all. He knows you'll take care of him."

Chopper wonders if Sanji believes the words because Chopper isn't sure if he believes them. But he nods anyway.

"Careful, Zoro," Robin t'sks softly from outside the door. "It's hot, don't spill it on yourself."

"I won't, Robin-san!"

A hand grows out of the door frame, turning the knob and swinging the door open for Zoro as the small boy walks in, bowl of soup in his hands. He grins proudly, Robin smiling softly behind him, and brings the soup to Sanji.

"Robin-san made it for you," Zoro tells him. "And Chopper-san and I made your medicine!"

"Oh? Well, aren't you becoming quite the little doctor." Sanji smiles at him, ruffling his hair as he takes the bowl.

"He's done really well," Chopper says. "So well, I think I might have to steal him from you once a week to help me with my medicines, Sanji.

Sanji chuckles. "Well, I don't know if I can spare him, Chopper. Zoro's the biggest help I've ever had in my kitchen."

Zoro glows under the praise. "I can help you both!" he tells them cheerfully. "Then I can be a swordsman, and a cook, and a doctor. Then, I'll be useful Sanji-san."

There's a sadness in Sanji's eyes as he smiles at the young boy. "You're already very useful, Zoro. But, you do make one hell of a doctor. I feel better already."

A rumbling, deep cough reaches Chopper's ears before he can make it to the infirmary. He freezes, glancing around the deck in search of the source. He planned on mixing more herbs today. Usopp had picked up a mild variation of a flu-like sickness from the last island and Chopper's sure it will make its way around the crew. So, he plans on making more medicine and reading through the book the local doctor had given him. Better safe than sorry, after all.

But, the sound of another rumbling, slightly wheezing cough means he has a patient to look into first. The cough sounds suspiciously like Zoro, but it's far too close. If Zoro's sick, the swordsman is up in the crows' nest, trying to hide it from him. This cough sounds like it's coming from inside the infirmary.

Maybe Sanji. With all the cigarettes their chef smokes, this sickness will do hell to his lungs.

Sighing and mentally running through the herbs he has to mix, Chopper pushes open the infirmary door. His legs and brain stop working at about the same time.

Roronoa Zoro sits on the infirmary bed, fist pressed against his mouth to try and stifle another cough. Zoro is sick. And willingly sitting in his infirmary.

"Usopp," Zoro pauses to hack up a lung. "Gave me his stupid fucking flu."

His entire body moves with the force of his next cough and Chopper hears the slight wheeze in his breath that is definitely a symptom of this. But, he still can't make himself move. This must be a dream. The strangest, wildest, most out of place dream he's ever had.

"What?" Zoro asks once his coughing subsides.

"You. You're. You came in here all by yourself," Chopper stutters out.

A scowl crosses Zoro's face. "I know." He stifles another cough, still looking displeased. "The brat promised, didn't he? I'd come to you when I got sick. And I'm not in the business of breaking promises. Even if I am a sniveling little brat when I make them."

"Don't say that," Chopper orders, closing the door behind him. "Little you was really sweet. He wasn't a brat."

Zoro rolls his eyes. "He was something."

Grabbing his stethoscope, Chopper rolls his stool over to the bed, hopping up to be at eye level with Zoro. "We all really like having him around, even if we missed you."

Another cough racks Zoro's entire body and he sniffles miserably, breathing through his nose. Chopper presses the stethoscope to Zoro's chest, listening to the small wheeze in his lungs and sticking a thermometer in the swordsman's mouth.

"Brat ran his mouth too much." Zoro's words come out muffled around the thermometer.

"Don't talk with that in your mouth," Chopper tells him. "You'll mess up the reading. And he wasn't a brat. And. And. And, you know that I don't think it's a waste of time taking care of you, right?"

Zoro moans. "I knew it. I fucking knew you'd remember that."

"Don't talk with the thermometer in your mouth!"

"Then don't ask me questions when you're." Zoro pauses to cough. "Trying to take my temperature."

Chopper pouts at him, bringing the tears to his eyes. Zoro groans, pulling the thermometer out of his mouth.

"Look, I know, alright? I know that this is your job and that you don't think taking care of me is a waste of your time. I do know that. I'm here, aren't I?"

Chopper takes the thermometer from his hand, staring up at him with watery eyes.

"Maybe, I used to," Zoro admits after a minute. "At first. But, then you chased me down every damn time and dragged me in here. I got it after that."

"So, why-?"

"Because you make me sit still." Zoro turns his head away, fist tucked to his mouth again. The coughing lasts another minute before the swordsman sucks in a slightly wheezing breath. "I don't like to sit still. But, I know you'll take care of me. No matter what. Now, please, stop crying."

Chopper wipes the tears from his eyes. Works like a charm. Every time. "You're going to let me take care of you, right? You're sick and you promised."

"This is going to be a fucking thing, isn't it? You're never going to forget."

Grinning, Chopper shoves the thermometer back into his mouth. "Nope!"

I just had to bring it back to the present, because Roronoa Zoro is a man of his word. And, remembering his time as a child means remembering any promises he made in that time. Even if it's a promise that he'd rather not have made. I also hardcore headcanon that Chopper fakes tears to get Zoro (and Sanji) to listen to him when he needs to assess injuries. Because, let's all be honest, if anyone can make these boys soft, it's Chopper. Sorry if it seemed a little OOC, Chopper is kind of a hard character to pin down, especially since I have no idea what anything is medically... Ever. But, I hope you all enjoyed. I'll be continuing to update this sporadically as the inspirations and story lines come to be. Because, lets be honest, I think we can all use a little bit of baby Zoro in our lives!
As always, remember to stay healthy, stay sane, and stay safe out there!