A small crowd had gathered in the living room to watch your second round against Kid and his friend Killer. You and Zoro had switched sides after being accused of cheating. Apparently they thought there was a slant to the hardwood flooring.

You were quickly winning this round. Hopefully it would be over soon because you were starting to feel it. They may not have won but they sank enough balls and you missed enough shots to have to down a fourth of the bottle of tequila. Zoro could certainly handle his booze. You were starting to sway while he seemed unfazed.

Kid stood across from you squinting obviously concentrating on his next target.

"C'mon Kiddy, shoot already." you slurred, "you'd think from that freakish height you'd have no problem."
"Shut up." he snapped chunking the ball straight at you.

It bounced off your face with such force that it flattened one side.

"Kid," Killer murmured.

Before anyone could react you lunged for the redhead. Just as you reached him he placed his hand on your chest shoving you back into the table breaking it drenching you in beer.

"That's my sister!" Luffy shouted.

You couldn't move from the pile of cups and splintered wood, everything was whirling and the air had been knocked from your lungs. Attempting to blink the room still you caught sight of Zoro leaning over you.

"Are you ok?" he asked gently scooping you up.
"Been.... worse." you wheezed.
"Someone had to shut the bitch up." you heard Kid holler.

A low growl rumbled through the chest you were leaning against, his gaze sharpening on the redhead that was trying to fend off Luffy and Ace. Suddenly without a word you were handed off to Marco. You could hear the thud of fists making contact with firm bodies as the shouting in the room grew louder. Someone quickly began taking bets. Killer and Thatch could be heard trying to break up the fight.

"You ok, yoi?" your brother asked glancing down at you.

Now that you'd had a few moments to process, "My back ... actually...hurts pretty... bad." you took a few sharp breaths as the pain shot up and down your spine.
"Smoker is coming!" someone shouted.
"Thatch," the blonde called, "grab those two. I'm taking F/N to the ER, yoi."
"Is she ok?" the brunette asked.
"Hurt her back." was all Marco said kicking the screen door open.

The cool night air blasted you in the face sending waves of goosebumps over your flesh almost instantly sobering you up.

"W-wait!" you stammered, "I-I'm soaked in beer."
"With maybe a fucked up spine, yoi. Just shut up." he laid you across the back seat of Thatch's car.

Because of the nature of your potential injury instead of being put in a wheelchair and entering with some dignity, they came out and back boarded you in the ER parking lot.

A few hours, an X-ray and a thorough examination later you left the hospital with a bruised tail bone, four bruised and one chipped vertebrae and a bottle of Vicodin. The sun was rising as Marco pulled into the drive. Thatch was waiting outside to help you in.

"The guys are still cleaning up." the brunette murmured gently guiding you over the threshold, "Think you can make it to your room?"
"Couch please!" you chimed merrily drifting on your painkiller high.
"Can someone get F/N's blanket and pillows?" he called, "on second thought, do you think you can handle a shower?"
"Ah, yeah I feel gross." you agreed still sticky from all of the spilt alcohol.

Thatch took you to Pops' bathroom so you could use the shower chair. While you were doing that he made a bed for you on the sofa and brought some of your clothes downstairs.

"Thank you Thatchy, you're such a great mom." you chuckled as he lowered you onto the sofa which was overflowing with pillows and blankets.
"Call me if you need something, ok?"
"Yessir."

The silence that had settled in was interrupted by soft footfalls, "Marco said you would need these."

You glanced over at your beer pong partner holding your painkillers and a bottle of water. His knuckles were covered in dried blood and his beautiful face had not been spared either. A black eye, busted cheek, brow and lip were just a few injuries you could see in the dimly lit room.

"There's a first aid kit in the hallway cupboard, can you go get it please?" you shifted turning on the lamp on the on table next to you.

He disappeared down the hall and returned with the medium sized white box. You patted the space in front of you and motioned for him to take a seat as you opened the box. Zoro swallowed and did as you wordlessly asked.

"You guys didn't even bother to clean each other up?" you asked breaking the capsule inside a cold pack and shaking it, "hold this on your eye for a bit, it might be too late to stop the swelling."
"We were busy cleaning." he reminded you, "Thatch didn't want the old man to see how big of a mess we made."
"Hah, yeah I'm sure we're in for a scolding." you gently tipped his chin and began dabbing an alcohol swab against his busted lip.

He hissed and flinched at the stinging briefly removing the compress to glare at you. Ignoring his protest you squeezed a small amount of ointment into your finger and dabbed it over his lip. He flushed lightly hoping you wouldn't notice.

"Shouldn't you be resting?" he murmured still watching your every move.
"I'm fine." you smiled softly increasing his pulse, "My brother's may be fine letting you walk around with a busted up face but I just can't."

You moved on to the next cut this time placing a couple of steri-strips over it. He pressed the compress over his eye again to keep from staring.

"It was pretty impressive, how you jumped at Kid like that," he chuckled, "what were you even planning to do?"
"I grew up with these guys, after a while their idiocy wears off on you so be careful." you tapped his nose, "I had every intention of punching him in the mouth."

You blushed watching an amused smile play across his lips.

God, he really was too handsome.

He was totally impressed with your unwillingness to cower away, he figured even now if Kid were there you'd make a second attempt.

You quietly moved the compress away from his eye and tilted his head to make sure you'd cleaned every nic and cut. He tried to ignore your proximity and the sudden urge to close in that space.

"All done." you smiled releasing his chin.
He blinked, "Ah yeah I should get going."
"Don't be ridiculous." you shifted grabbing a pillow and blanket, "That chair reclines."

Taking your blanket and pillow he made himself comfortable in the recliner at the foot of the sofa. Your eyes lingered on him after you switched the light off and settled back into your make shift bed.

"F/N?" he murmured.

You hummed.

"Thanks."