None of you knew why Zoro slept so much.

His body was so well adapted now, that he could sleep literally anywhere at any given time. If he wasn’t partying with the crew or training his ass off, he was out like a light.

You had a normal sleep schedule compared to Zoro’s. The two of you talked often, being on the same crew and all, getting along with him pretty well. Zoro warmed up to you much faster than he did anyone else, though whether it was because you both trained together or just because you two had the same interests was anybody's guess.

He was hardened over years of piracy, feeling that with the life he had chosen, he had an obligation to protect what was his — his life, his friends, his only goal in life.

In his eyes, if he wasn’t able to do any of that, he couldn’t call himself a man.

A man doesn’t chicken out when his friends are in danger. A man doesn’t know how to give up on his dreams. A man knows how to hold his own — as well as having the ability to hold everyone else on his shoulders.

Besides, training was hardly a waste of time and sleep was essential.

Zoro was dumbfounded, to say the least. You haven’t been showing any signs of stress lately, let alone this much.

He felt like such an idiot now.

If only you had told him. If you just told him that you were feeling this way, that you didn’t feel safe sleeping on your own, he would have made space for you in his hammock without a second thought.

Zoro wanted to protect you most of all, and he couldn’t even do that.

He should have seen the signs — your withdrawal from dinners with everyone, how you spent most of your time outside on the deck alone, and the way you had gradually stopped helping him with night watch.

With him being wrapped up in his own desire to get stronger, he paid no mind to your slow drive to what caused these nightmares.

Zoro slept peacefully among the rest of the crew in his hammock, hands behind his head and his mouth open as his snoring fell on deaf ears.

The air felt awfully heavy tonight as the waves of the Grand Line gently crashed against the Sunny, rocking it along the glimmering water.

It felt suffocating. Like your airways simply refused to take any of the air in because it felt something else — something worse coming your way.

Rattled by all of the tension in your brain and conscience, you asked Zoro if you could accompany him in his hammock for the night, just so you could get a better sleep and peace of mind.

Zoro initially wanted to say no, that with you being next to him was going to heavily affect the beauty sleep he needed for training the next morning.

But he couldn’t bring himself to do so.

He agreed, albeit begrudgingly, scooting over as you laid close to him in the now cramped hammock. There was only space for one person, but now he had to accommodate for two. It was a new sensation of emotions, having someone sleep next to him when he preferred isolation.

However, it was certainly not unwelcome.

Zoro's eye twitched as he felt you writhe against him.

"You wanted this. Quit squirming so much," he drawled, unconsciously, almost lazily draping an arm around your side, keeping you grounded.

The nightmare started just after you fell asleep. It wasn’t too severe, as you were in the comfort of Zoro's slothful embrace, but it was more than enough to leave you shaking uncontrollably. Unconscious tears beaded at your eyes as your breath turned to ice.

He felt you shuddering against his lazy grasp, his arm instinctively tightening around you.

"What the hell..? What’s wrong with you..?"

He asked, his voice slurred from the fatigue plaguing his body at that moment.

Zoro then felt you clutching onto his arm for dear life, the sudden realization of what was happening finally settling into his mind.

He sat up on the hammock, holding you just a little tighter than necessary to his chest as he rubbed your back with his other hand, trying to get you to calm down.

"Hey.. hey, relax. It’s just me." Zoro murmured against the nape of your neck, his breathing steadily paced and calm as you tried to match it.