Rebel

WHOO HOO!! UPDATE-TAGE!!

Yeah, angst in this chapter. Beware. And more vomit.

REBEL
Ch.2

Morning came once more, like the previous day as did the one before. The sun was shining, dolphins played in the waves and there was nary a cloud in the sky. Once again Sanji was cooking breakfast while Nami was tending to her tangerine grove, Chopper and Usopp were off somewhere else and Robin was reading a book.

Luffy was still in bed.

Zoro stared out onto the ocean, biting his lip. He was very worried. The previous night found him with confusion as he started at the empty bathroom. He had said that he would be in shortly, but it seemed that Luffy decided not to take a shower. Yet hot water and steam lingered behind. Zoro was confused. Worried and confused.

{Does Luffy not want to tell me something? Or is it that he doesn’t want to burden me?}

“OI!”

“GRAH!”

Zoro had to dig his nails into the railing to keep himself from falling in the ocean. He glared back at Usopp who merely raised his eyebrows.

“Dammit!! You could have killed me, Usopp!!”

“Not likely. Sanji wanted me to tell ya that breakfast is ready.”

Zoro made his way to the kitchen, brushing past Usopp. The olive-skinned boy shrugged and sat himself down at his usual place.

Sanji raised an eyebrow as Zoro stepped into the kitchen.

“What?”

“Luffy wont be coming to breakfast today.”

The blonde chef narrowed his eyes.

“Yes he is. I don’t care if he’s sleeping; breakfast is the same time everyday and everyone attends! I could care less if he’s worn out from your little fuck-fest last night so get his sorry ass out of bed before I kick him out!”

Zoro face-faulted. He wasn’t aware that they had been that loud last night. Either way he shook his head.

“He’s not coming. He hasn’t been feeling well lately so it’s best to let him sleep.”

Sanji frowned again.

“Luffy? Not feeling well? Those two shouldn’t even belong in the same sentence.”

Zoro nodded.

“He told me that he hasn’t been able to keep anything down and he has a slight temperature. I’m gunna ask Chopper to look at him today. Something just doesn’t feel right about this.”

Sanji chewed on his cigarette while processing the information.

“You have a point. He hasn’t been looking too hot. He didn’t eat anything at breakfast and he slept all day yesterday.”

“He keeps going up to the crow’s nest cause he said he couldn’t sleep. He was too warm,” added Zoro, “Maybe you could make him some soup or something. Either that or if we have crackers. He needs to eat something or else he’ll just get worse.”

“I know we got some crackers and I can make his breakfast into a soup,” he trailed off.

The annoying nagging thought dug back at Zoro, telling him something was wrong and he needed to check it out.

“I’m gunna go check on Luffy.”

As Zoro stepped down to the cabin his apprehension grew worse. It took all he had not to burst running outright. Upon entering the cabin he set eyes on Luffy’s hammock. Indeed he was still there under a large pile of quilts. He shook the hammock slightly.

“Oi, Luffy. It’s time for breakfast.”

No response. Zoro nudged the lump slightly once more.

“Do you want some crackers? You need to eat something.”

Nothing once again. Zoro was getting nervous. Apprehensively, he started to peel away the quilts, getting to the core which held the brunette.

“Luffy?”

He peeled off another quilt, realizing there was only one blanket left. He dropped the quilt to the floor and pulled the last one away slightly. Luffy was on his side, clearly asleep. Zoro went to put his hand on his shoulder, trying to stir the captain once more.

“Luffy?”

His breathe caught when skin met skin. He slowly moved his hand from the shoulder up to the forehead. He almost couldn’t control himself.

Luffy was burning up. He literally felt like he was on fire. Luffy’s face was all red as it was.

“Oh god…Luffy…”

Said captain cracked his eyes open slightly.

“Z…zoro..”

Zoro shook as he stared at him.

“It…it hurts…..”he panted. He fisted his shirt in his hand. The pain was unbearable. And it was so fucking hot!! He felt like he was going to turn to ash any moment. Not being able to handle it anymore, Luffy passed out.

And that’s when Zoro acted.

“SOMEBODY HELP!!!”
---

“Get him into the bathtub! Sanji, get the ice!”

“He’s burning up!”

“We have to get his temperature down!”

SPLASH!

“Keep the ice coming! We have to submerge his entire body! Get me a wash clothe!”

“What’s wrong with him?!”

“I don’t know!! We just got to get his temperature down!”

Zoro’s hand twisted the shower handle to the far right, making sure ice cold water burst out.

“What the fuck is happening?!!”

Luffy’s face was red and covered with sweat. He moaned as his body came in contact with the ice.

“..I….itai…..”

Zoro grasped Luffy’s hand tightly. He stared at him for a few moments, but narrowed his eyes as Luffy started to thrash his head.

“GET HIM OUT OF THE TUB!!”

Jumping slightly, Zoro grabbed the small captain’s lithe frame.

“Put him on the floor!!”

He quickly tried to put him on the floor, but Luffy continued to thrash violently.

“What’s he doing?!”

“It’s a fever induced seizure! PUT HIM DOWN!!”

Zoro obeyed quickly. As soon as he touched the floor, Chopper moved Luffy’s body into the recovery position*. As soon as Chopper moved his hands away, Luffy started vomiting.

“OUT!”

Chopper shoved everyone out of the bathroom…..except for Zoro and Sanji.

“I’ll need your help!!” He pointed at them, “ Sanji!! Get paper towels and wash rags! Zoro! You get more ice and my search my office for my medical bag!!”

Both of them snapped to their tasks leaving Chopper alone with the now unconscious Luffy. The little reindeer was shaking himself as he saw his captain’s glazed eyes. The rancid stench of vomit hung in the air over the two. Chopper started to wipe his eyes until he saw the blood in the remnants of Luffy’s stomach. Chopper shivered and hugged himself. Before he knew it, he was whimpering. He didn’t stop when a pair of arms wrapped around him.

“Why is this happening, Robin?”

She shook her head. With another hand she wiped up the bile with a paper towel, not making any comment on the obvious blood.

“You’re our doctor, Chopper. If you don’t know what’s wrong, it’s not your fault.”

“I meant why is this happening to Luffy?! He doesn’t deserve to be in pain!!”

Robin said nothing in a thoughtful silence.

“No……no he doesn’t.”


TBC

*The Recovery Position is mainly used on those who need CPR or are having seizures. It makes sure that the victims doesn’t swallow their tongue and they don’t choke on vomit if they regurgitate.*