A/N:: I know it took me absolutely forever to finish this, but I was trying really hard to get the smut part out that was left, but I couldn't. So I have it wrapped up and finished with this. I do apologize for the forever wait and the expecting smut, but I do hope you enjoy what I have left! This has been sitting around waiting, so I just got the end tied up.

Enjoy! And thanks for reading!

Battle Royale

Be with Me

"What was that, you shitty curl?"

"You heard me, mosshead!" Growls rolled out of me and the blonde as we sat a local café. Luffy laughed out and two others joined in with hands patting together.

"Brothers are funny!"

"They are!" A hand found three individuals and they complained in a whine from my hand being too hard of a punishment.

"We are not!" Sanji said in unison with me before a hand pulled me down to sit back in my chair.

"Zoro! Yosaku was saying we should go to the arcade!"

"They have a new zombie game out!" The two brothers, Yosaku and Johnny, gave a high five as they loved zombies.

"So degrading, zombies." A mouth grasped a hold of a straw as the poor thing was being gnawed on.

"Don't you dare let Chopper play that, he will get nightmares." The words left me as our little friend was busy with Piano classes this evening.

It was our senior year, junior year was filled with homeschooling and even then I didn't want to go back. The teachers had been fired and the school under investigation, but anyone involved vanished from sight. It was just more official to 'fire' the disappearance of said teachers. Going back to school had rumors flair out and it caused so much anxiety in me. Luffy did well enough, but I knew deep down he was merely locking that behind him. He was doing a better job than me, though it helped having people to call friends. Sanji and Chopper understood in the best way possible without knowing firsthand experience. Then came Yosaku and Johnny one day at the beginning of my senior year.

On that particular day, I was having a panic attack from someone thinking it was funny to bring in one of those big bubble wrap things that you can pop. Well, it made a very loud noise and it literally triggered a panic attack as I had thrown the desk down and used the chair to cover my body. No one was really aware on what the hell could have caused that since most of the class was transferred people because, you know the last class was all killed. The class wasn't that big, only half of the maybe forty something kids, but they knew nothing. People had begun talking like I was mentally unstable, but were quieted when Yosaku and Johnny told everyone to get away. The teacher had to evacuate the classroom because I didn't budge, but the two stayed on each side of the desk I hid by.

"It's okay, brother."

"We understand."

It seemed like the two had a friend in my former class and once they heard about the situation they decided to come here. They said it was something they had put off and glad they did, but knew it wasn't something that anyone should go through alone. They didn't even know me, I could have killed their friend and here they were protecting me from others. It actually made me cry when they began talking like very hyperactive friends and it helped. After calming and moving the chair to relax better and take in the light atmosphere. They joked around and soon I found myself chuckling at some of them. Luffy had finally been able to come to me when the bell rang and he looked so relieved when he saw I was smiling a little when I faced him.

Johnny and Yosaku are just as important friends now and I was happy to have them with us now. They are a very big comic relief and supported me when I needed it most. Luffy was very excited to see me warming up to at least someone else and he made sure to let me know all the time those words.

"I love you." The whisper had me smile lightly as I felt a hand grip mine and I leaned my head against the other. My eye closed as I hummed out in comfort.

"I love you too."

"Good evening." My eye was wide as I stared straight up into grey eyes and that smirk widened. "How's life been, boy?" Hands held out in front of me as two bodies pressed into me in a protective way.

"Back off!"

"Brother doesn't want to talk to you!"

"Oh? New friends?" This knowing look was on him as I felt trembles leave me with a growl.

"What the fuck? I hope you stay in public longer." I spoke out in a hiss since this man is actually on Wanted posters around the area. Hopefully someone would notice and call the police.

"Tsk, tsk… You were able to survive, you should be thanking me since you have such instinct now."

"Get the fuck out of my sight!" I shouted up as I noticed some people staring in our direction and the man lifted an eyebrow as hands stayed in pockets.

"So vulgar, I merely was interested on how one of the survivors lived. Though, I was expecting you to at least die with your condition." A glare stayed towards him as he leaned lightly with the smirk looking more sadistic. "How is life treating you, boy? Getting enough sleep?" This large lump in my throat made me swallow hard as I felt lips tremble lightly. Hands from two different people pushed the man away as my friends stood in front with hollers.

"Get away!"

"Pervert!"

"Stay away from our friend!"

A laugh merely left him as he began walking away as I soon felt myself grasp to shirts for support as I leaned against them. "We got you, brother!" The unison of words had me grip tighter as I felt gasps finding me and closed my eyes, but snapped them open when blood was there.

"I need to go home."

"Z-Zoro, it's okay…" Hands found my face as I gasped out with trembling hands finding the body in front of me. "It's me, shh, just me…" The body pressed into mine as pained breaths left me at the nightmare still clinging to my vision. I brought a hand up to see blood and screeched out when I shifted roughly, but arms secured mine in a hold. "Z-Zoro!"

"What's wrong?!" A thump was heard and a groan as lights flared the room. My body shifted out of the hold as I found the ground and soon rolled under the bed.

"Zoro…" My name didn't make me move as I curled up under the cramp space with hands covering my head. Pained cries left me as I felt assaulted with the smell of the forest and the taste of berries and blood. There was so much everywhere and I thrashed lightly with another scream.

Make it go away!

"Zoro!" The pained cry of my name and hands grasping mine startled me. Shaky pants left me as I actually looked to brown eyes as I say the pain and worry in them. "We're safe… please…" The body trembled as he viewed me as I felt my face flushed with cool air finding the areas where my tears streaked.

"Th-the blood…" The hoarse tone of my voice and the word had him flinch lightly before tugging on me.

"It's not real… we're okay…" Hearing the soft tone had me relax more as I soon felt him begin sliding me out. Arms quickly took me in a hold as I curled into him whilst feeling him rock us. "What happened, Zoro?" Teeth gritted as I shook still from everything plaguing me swarming like it was still fresh. "What happened?"

"It was him." The body stiffened as he gripped me tightly and I noticed him shift and nod.

"Was it Lucci?" My father's voice startled me, but I breathed calmly as I felt safe in my hold. A stiff nod left me as I tried not to think about it and how bad I had been triggered by just his presence alone. Then his words echoed in my head as I felt my eyes widen.

"Getting enough sleep?"

Damn it, he did it on purpose knowing it only took a little push.

"I thought you were with the brothers today."

"I was."

"They saw him?" A nod left me to answer my father as I soon wrapped arms around a waist as I rubbed my face into Luffy's neck. "You two get some rest and we will talk in the morning."

"Night, Hawky." This snort left me as I heard the man grunt in dismay before hearing the doors. "Ace's toe is going to be sore in the morning, he rammed it into the door." This chuckle left him as he continued to rock me and a wave of relief found me.

"S-sorry…."

"It's okay, I was just worried… It's been a while since either of us has had that bad of an episode." Words implied mainly me as he knew most of mine was from the memory with Saga. Luffy would have bad ones mainly from his burn and how he found his best friend 'sleeping' under a tree. It seems like maybe someone chocked him out, a more pleasant way of passing I think.

"Be with me forever, Luffy." Fingers smoother through my hair before gripping lightly as he leaned his head against mine.

"Of course."