[An annoyed huff.]

Just say what you wanna say, Z.

[He was starting to say something else, right? Though he adds - ]

Life's too short to hold back.

[ . . . yeah.

Baren's still angry. He holds onto grudges for a long, long time and hasn't quite figured out a while to dispel this rush of anger. The feeling of resignation is there too, even if that also just aids in making him angry.

He might be a festering ball of bitterness.]

Just something I'm not used to saying.

[He's still uncomfortable with it. But if the consequence of his pride is losing the only person he has left then he'd throw it away. Will throw it away.

But there's still some timidity.]

... I missed you. [Can't hold Baren's gaze as he says that. Only for:] I'm sorry.

[Don't mind him if he just - storms up to Zoro and grabs onto one of those shirt collars to drag him to eye level???]

The fuck are you saying to me?!

[(he's embarrassed)]

[yeah join the club baren.]

This is why I don't say that shit! Don't ask if you don't want to know!

Yeah, well don't feel stupid things!! What the fuck?! Gross! Who are you - Ryan Gosling?!

[IS THIS A ROMCOM

WHERE ARE THE CAMERAS]

Stick to stunts, acting isn't meant for you!!

WHO SAID I WAS ACTING?! AND WHAT DOES RYAN GOSLING HAVE TO DO WITH IT?!

[THIS IS WHY SINCERITY SUCKS]

[THEY'RE NOT MEANT FOR THIS]

It means you suck!!

[and that baren might've had a small heart attack (read: doki) but like

what the fuck ever, man!!!!!]

Ughhhh, now I feel like I need a shower. Stupid. Smelly. Annoying. Moron!

Yeah, you better be sorry, idiot!

[AND NOW IT'S HIS TURN TO SHOVE ZORO]

OW! WHAT THE HELL?! QUIT IT! I ALREADY APOLOGIZED! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!

[YOU'RE ONLY SHOVING HIM MORE INTO THE BATHROOM BAREN???]

The same shit is wrong with me - but clearly you got fucked up even worse after repeatedly getting your ass kicked!!

[UGHHH. HE'S IRRITATED, even though he doesn't want Zoro to fuckin conk his head against some bathroom tile.]

What's up with that sentimental bullshit, huh?!

[yeah, zoro would've crashed into his (their?) tub if he hadn't caught hold of the sink. and... almost tore it out bc... what is controlling his strength yet. luckily, it's still in place. just a bit of plaster cracks.

lowkey hopes baren didn't notice that.]

It wasn't–I wasn't being sentimental! I was being honest! Isn't that what you want from me?! Stop making a big deal of it already! It was embarrassing enough!

[sad fact of life: baren notices that]

.... I just -

[fuckin bought this place. for zoro. after he lost his house. which still hasn't come back. and then there's the whole thing about him being honest about missing him and being sorry and

nope

nope nope nope

baren definitely jabs at wherever zoro still has an obvious wound - not enough to reopen, but enough to hurt - before making an aggravated noise and storming back out of the bathroom

at least he doesn't head for the door or the bedroom. just the kitchen.]

You! Suck...!!

[HE CAN'T PROCESS THIS]

[zoro shouts as the pain makes his grip go limp. He falls back, head hitting the rim of the porcelain tub. Thankfully no cracks show up but it sure does hurt. He spends a few minutes there on the bathroom floor rubbing the back of his neck, muttering.]

What the hell is his issue...?

[he kind of doesn't want to go deal with it. But an ice pack calls. Groaning, he lifts himself up and waddles to the freezer. Holding a panda-bear shaped icepack to the back of his head, he turns to baren.]

So are you gonna accept it or what?

I'm still mad at you.

[.... is what he says, but he's already set on making dinner with whatever is left in the fridge. If he can make one of Zoro's favorite foods with what they've got, that's what he's doing.

Don't mention it.

But he does point at Zoro with his chopsticks.]

But if memory serves, you didn't dismiss me.

[You're with me until I decide you're not. Get it?

He promised.]

So you and I both have to deal with it until I decide it's too exhausting to still be pissed at you - or you decide you want me to go.

[He doesn't know why the answer surprises him but it takes a good minute to register. As it settles, he begins to smile, his whole demeanor gradually becoming warmer.

They promised.

Zoro sidles up to Baren's side.]

Like I'd ever dismiss you. [And he'll just sneak a bite of whatever veggie Baren just chopped.] Need help cutting anything?

[ . . . .

Baren just reaches up with his free hand to push Zoro's face away in IRRITATION.]

You're stupid and gross and should feel bad. Didn't you hear that I'm still mad?!

[this is the most domestic thing]

[Instead of getting angry, Zoro just laughs again. He lets the push shove him away, but just a few steps.]

That's why I'm offering to help, idiot. Already apologized. Cut me some slack.

[he says, stealing another bite.]

[STOP!! LAUGHING!!! AAAAAAA, HE'S SO EMBARRASSED EXHAUSTED.

There's another dramatic chopstick point though, before he goes back to guarding the food.]

Not good enough, dumbass!! And quit eating before I put it all together -

Anyway, you don't even get what I'm mad about. I'm getting a bum deal here so I'm figuring out what you owe me.

What do you mean it's not good enough?!

[DO YOU KNOW HOW RARELY HE SAYS THAT SHIT AND MEANS IT 100% BAREN???? at least now baren's getting his wish and his smile's going away. he leans against the counter and crosses his arms.]

You're mad you have to keep worrying about me getting too injured. That now that I've got this weird thing I won't have any concern for my safety and overdo it. You're tired of seeing me hurt and being the one responsible for my recovery. You don't want to lose me but my recklessness wore you down. It'd be easier for you to cut ties then watch me kill myself.

Am I close?

No.

[Yes.]

Why would I waste my time worrying over your reckless ass? It's what you do for a living.

[But now there are monsters and so it's different when you throw yourself at things that are actively trying to kill you.]

If you end up killing yourself, I always figured I'd just see you in hell.

[Living without you until then just sounds harder than expected.]

... you're just really fucking annoying about it. And you don't tell me half the shit you get up to unless I end up bringing it up myself. Secrets are fair game between us but they're starting to get in my way now.

[... Yeah, that's a decent enough lie.]

Right.

[He's not sure whether to buy it or not so he gives it half-and-half. None of it's a lie. Not really. It's just more a shroud to hide the truth. That was how Baren worked. Most of the time.

Zoro's pretty sure his mostly right. It's only the issue at the end that leaves him second guessing.]

So you want me to be even more honest with you. That what you're saying?

I can't work if I don't have enough information, Z. If it was like it was before, it wouldn't matter to me what you did even if the world was burning. But if you want to keep me? I don't want to lose my fucking mind.

[Terms and conditions - as per always. Amendments being made to agreements once Baren found things that didn't work.

Again, he knows he's asking for a lot. Cooking Zoro's favorite dinner won't be enough. If Zoro agrees to this, it might be uneven again -

And at some point, Baren didn't like that anymore.]

Can you deal with that?

Depends. You're gonna have to be more upfront about what that involves.

[yeah. all that prior happiness is gone.]

I'm not gonna be monitored, Baren.

[Constant updates, check-ins–even in the tunnels it was getting too much for him. The foundation of their friendship was freedom. That gets taken away then there's not much left to hold up everything else.]