Zoro leans against the far side of the galley, his heart racing as he watches you with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. He's known you for so long, fought alongside you, shared meals and laughs with you, but somehow, he's never managed to say what he truly feels. Rumors of the love potion he'd managed to get his hands on had filled him with a new kind of hope — maybe this was the push he needed.

As the crew gathers around, you casually reach for your drink, unaware of Zoro’s intense gaze. His fingers grip the edge of the table tightly as you lift the glass to your lips and take a sip. He feels a rush of excitement mixed with guilt, wondering if he’s done the right thing. But seeing you happy and relaxed, he tells himself it’s harmless. After all, he’s only trying to be close to you, to have a chance he could never seem to take otherwise.

You don’t seem to notice anything unusual, laughing along with Luffy’s antics as Zoro watches, captivated. He’s waiting for a sign, any sign, that you might look his way, that maybe you’ll finally see him with the same warmth he’s always seen in you. His heart pounds as he wonders, what if it really works? Will you smile at him in that special way? Will you lean in, or maybe even say something that would give him courage to finally confess?

But as the moments pass and the potion doesn’t seem to take effect, he starts to realize he might have to find the courage in himself, love potion or not. And as he watches you, he realizes you’re worth any risk he might have to take.