#tried to balance the ninja' overall trust in each other with the stresses of the situation

[razzle-zazzle]

Whumptober Day 25: Surgery

Being monitored

2177 Words; Betrothal AU

TW for injury mention

AO3 ver

Jay floated back to consciousness much like a dead fish floating to the surface of a lake.

He felt about as bloated and gross, too, the sweat between him and whatever he was lying on one of the first things he registered. The world spun into being around him in a wobbly, maybe drunken fashion, shapes and colors and sounds all kind of mish-mashing together until Jay’s brain sorted itself out enough to start differentiating between them all.

He felt funny. His head really hurt, and there was a strong sense of nausea in his throat, like something was caught there that he couldn’t cough out.

Okay, Jay, time to think. The thought was kind of watery, a bit insubstantial—oh, was he concussed? Concussion. Concussion. Conk-ush-un. What a funny word.

Okay, yeah, definitely concussed. Or maybe drugged—his limbs felt kind of floaty in the way they did that one time his appendix burst and his parents took him to the hospital and he’d been on painkillers—

The point was that the feeling was vaguely familiar, even if Jay couldn’t consciously place it.

He was lying on what might have been a stretcher or might have been a cot, a gentle pressure on his wrist resolving itself into a leather cuff. The room he was in was mostly bare stone, with a small counter with a sink off to one side and a single cabinet. There was a guy in a funny-looking outfit leaning against what was probably the door, but Jay couldn’t tell if the guy’s eyes were open or not. Everything was just a little blurry—that wasn’t normal, right?

Oh, yeah, concussion. Conk-cussing. Ha! Jay giggled, amused with his own thoughts. The giggle turned to a hiccup turned to a cough, and he thought the guy by the door must have shifted because something about them looked… different.

Or maybe it was the concussion talking.

But what had Jay been doing before… before he got here, because he was pretty sure he’d never been in this room before—he’d been doing something important. Something stressful, something that made flashes of sand and lightning pass through his mind. Something… Cole had been there, hadn’t he?

Cole had… it was something important about Cole, Jay was pretty sure. Something to do with—with snakes, purple snakes slithering across bare skin—

The tattoo!

It hit Jay like a—well, like a lightning bolt. The alliance. The accusations against Chen. Chen’s response, the search for tattoos—

Cole had an anacondrai tattoo on his back.

Was that—was Cole the spy? But how? Why? No, no, that couldn’t be it—

“Awake, I see.” Jay’s train of thought careened off a cliff into oblivion at the new voice, and he turned to look. A wave of nausea punished the motion, and Jay’s vision swam as a guy approached—wait, that was that mage guy, the one who always followed Chen around—Clouse!

Jay attempted to say something, either a complaint about his accommodations or some pithy line he didn’t have—his voice came out kind of garbled, random syllables mishmashed together as his tongue struggled to remember that it was a tongue.

“And clearly still out of it.” Clouse drawled, hands folded behind his back. He sighed, and Jay finally found his voice—

“At least I’m not ugly.” He snapped, which wasn’t what he meant to say.

Clouse sighed again. “Maybe you are well enough to work in the factory, then.” He suggested, making Jay balk, the cuff tugging on his wrist—or was he tugging against the cuff?

“Um, wow, is the room spinning for anybody else? Haha wheeeeee I’m so dizzy, you totally shouldn’t trust me around heavy machinery—”

“Silence.” Clouse hissed. Jay’s rambling petered out slowly, his vision blurring as his headache surged. Clouse looked him over, then—

“One more day’s rest.” He decided. “If he isn’t in a state to work by then,” he shrugged, “so be it.” With that, Clouse left, leaving Jay alone with the cultist from earlier.

Ugh, this sucked. Jay made some attempts to talk to the guy, but—no dice. His headache kept coming and going in waves, his thoughts scattering in circles.

A flash on something gold in his memories, something important—something about Cole, that Jay needed to remember. But all he could remember was the shift of moving earth, the thud of rock against sand and the buzz of lightning through his veins—lightning he didn’t have anymore, dammit Chen—

But there was something important Jay needed to remember, through the fog and haze and pain of his concussion (ha, it had the word cuss in it!). But he just—couldn’t.

After a few hours, Jay laid back down, letting unconsciousness take him.

+=+=+=+=+

The atmosphere in the cafeteria was subdued. And no wonder—nobody had gotten much sleep on the bunks the night before, and now it was early in the morning. Plus the whole attempt to get all the elemental masters together in an alliance had ended in failure, thanks to—well.

Kai scowled into his breakfast. Getting the gang together had been a mistake. Beside him, Lloyd was morosely picking at his own breakfast, while Garmadon carefully ate what little the cafeteria staff were willing to give him. Cole was nowhere to be found—none of them had seen him since his fight with Jay the night before. Which didn’t bode well for Cole’s apparent status as a spy working for Chen—

“I can’t believe it.” Kai muttered. “We trusted him!” Who he was talking about went unsaid, but Lloyd and Garmadon understood it perfectly.

“But…” Lloyd started, clearly deep in thought. “Why would Chen tell us about the spy? I mean—” He gestured loosely, “Wouldn’t that just defeat the purpose of having a spy?”

“Chen can be impetuous in his manipulations…” Garmadon mused, clearly reminiscing.

“It broke up the alliance, that’s why.” Kai suggested. “Chen traded his advantage in order to get rid of ours.” He crossed his arms, leaning back. “We did kinda put him on the spot.”

Lloyd hmmed. “I don’t know…” He pulled his mask from his pocket and fiddled with it. “Something about it just doesn’t seem right. How would Chen have even convinced Cole to side with him?” He tossed his head back, considering. “I mean, it’s Cole.”

“He has Zane.” Kai pointed out softly. “Maybe that’s how he got Cole.” He sat up, crossing his arms. “What I don’t get is that pendant. Like, you all saw it, right? That was half of a yin-yang pendant, right?”

“That is a very confounding element, yes.” Garmadon agreed. “That he felt it important to show Jay means it must be related, but…”

“But how?” None of them had any idea what a yin-yang pendant had to do with anything. None of them had even known Cole was engaged—well, assuming it was a yin-yang pendant and not something else.

Kai’s shoulders hunched as he fought back to that fight. He hadn’t been able to hear what Cole and Jay were staying, from up in the stands, but he had been pretty sure that they were reconciling sometime after Cole pulled out the pendant—though Kai couldn’t begin to fathom why Cole would have a yin-yang pendant—

And then Cole had suckerpunched Jay with a rock. It just didn’t track with the Cole that Kai knew—

“Hey.” Well, speak of the rain, and the sky will open. Or something like that. Kai looked up to see Cole standing at the edge of their table. He looked like… a mess, actually, dark lines under his eyes and hair messier than normal. Now that Kai was looking, he could see a chain around the sides of Cole’s neck leading somewhere under his gi—the pendant?

“Cole!” Lloyd greeted. “Where have you been?”

“Throwing rocks around.” Cole responded, deadpan. “Can I…” He gestured towards the other side of the booth, at the empty space next to Garmadon, something sheepish in his eyes.

Kai’s eyes narrowed. “What the hell, Cole.” He led off with, which maybe wasn’t the best choice of words, if the way Cole’s shoulders hunched was any indication. Well, whatever. Kai was too tired to be gentle. “I want an explanation.” He demanded.

Cole nodded, still standing. “I—” he started, gaze darting to the floor, “There’s something I should have—” whatever Cole was going to say was cut off by a sudden clatter behind them, making them all turn to look at the source of the noise. Skylor was standing up slowly, sheepish look on her face as she offered a hand to help Shade and Paleman up. Neither took it, standing on their own and moving away from Skylor, clearly annoyed. Paleman went to go grab a new tray, while Shade left the cafeteria entirely, disappearing into the shadows and leaving some of the spilled food clinging to him behind.

Kai winced in sympathy. That had to be embarrassing for Skylor—the idea that she might have done it on purpose to copy Shade and Paleman’s powers simultaneously never even occurred to Kai.

“That’s awkward…” Lloyd was also wincing, while Garmadon’s expression was more reserved.

Cole, however—

“Really?” He muttered, face twisted in a mix between annoyance and disbelief. The lack of sympathy for Skylor, who was sheepishly trying to take care of the worst of the mess on the floor, irked Kai deeply. Maybe Cole really was the spy, then.

Skylor looked up, flashing Kai a quick smile—shit, how did she make being covered in bits of scrambled egg and syrup look good—before her gaze slid to Cole, who stiffened as her eyes narrowed. As Kai watched, Cole’s eyebrows did a complex dance, several emotions passing through his face too fast to parse, as though he and Skylor were having some kind of silent conversation.

Oh, right. Because the whole debacle with Jay and Nya during the robot apocalypse apparently wasn’t enough. Kai glowered as he remembered the way Cole had made Skylor laugh, or the way he’d seen them almost flirting at the skate rink—

(And wasn’t Cole supposed to be engaged? What was going on?)

“Cole?” Lloyd prompted, snapping Cole out of whatever silent battle he was having. “You were gonna explain…?”

Cole sighed. “This isn’t a good place.” He said softly. “Too many eyes.”

“Wh—” Kai stood up, “That’s it? We don’t see you at all all night and that��s all you have to say?” Maybe Cole was the spy. Maybe there was something else going on. Kai didn’t care about maybes—he couldn’t put his hopes on maybes. What Kai knew was that Cole had an anacondrai tattoo on his back and suckerpunched Jay with a rock to the face. Something wasn’t adding up, and Kai was done being led around by the nose. “Just leave, Cole. We don’t need a spy hanging around.”

Cole shot them all a helpless sort of look, before tearing his gaze away. “Whatever.” He said, with no energy in his voice. And then, in a slightly softer tone, “If you really wanna know… the answer’s in my room.” With that, he left—

—and Kai knew they were missing something.

+=+=+=+=+

Ugh, this was getting annoying.

The cultist hadn’t left, except for when another cultist came to trade places with him. Presumably, it was in case Jay hurt himself somehow—at least, that was probably how the cultists or Clouse would justify it—but Jay knew why they were really there: to keep him from escaping. He didn’t doubt that the factory would have similar supervision.

Being cuffed to this stupid cot sucked ass. Having a concussion and no elemental power sucked ass. Being constantly watched by some hardass who wouldn’t entertain joining Jay in conversation sucked FUCKING ass!

That Jay still couldn’t remember events in full also sucked ass, but in a much worse way. He knew something important had to have happened in that fight, something related to the coiled tattoo across Cole’s back and Chen gleefully admitting to having a spy among the competitors. Something to do with a golden teardrop shape—

But all Jay could recall were bits and pieces of the fight. He could remember zapping Cole with more volts than was really safe, and he was pretty sure Cole had socked him in the jaw for that. He knew they had thrown their elements around, that there had been sand on the arena floor—

But what had Cole said to him? How had the fight ended—when did Jay get hit hard enough to get his concussion?

Jay buried his face in his hands and groaned as another wave of nausea passed through him, vision blurring. He couldn’t remember. He couldn’t remember, and it was going to drive him insane.

Assuming this whole “locked alone in a room but for a guard that actively ignored him” thing didn’t drive him insane before that.

Ugh, he missed Zane. He missed him so much—

Was that why Cole had an anacondrai tattoo? Because of Zane? Jay didn’t know. He didn’t fucking know!

He was no closer to answers when Clouse came by the next day and had him hauled off to the factory, either.

[graylinesspam]

Alright bitches, it's in-depth head cannon time.

Ninjago doesn't do a great job of giving us relationship development so I guess it's up to me.

Nya and Lloyd have a complicated friendship

When he first joined the ninja it was as little more than a hostage. He didn't want to be there as much as they didn't want to put up with him.

The ninja were stressed with saving the world and learning to harness their spinjitzu. They avoided Lloyd if at all possible. Wu mostly watched over him.

And it's a wonder why Lloyd was loud and rude and difficult. Convinced he'd follow in his father's footsteps and become evil. Just plain annoying. But nya saw it for what it was. Desperation for approval. She had grown up with just Kai and her foster mother to look after her.

In a lot of ways she and Kai were all each other had. They were close. Probably closer than most brothers and sisters. And he's always supported her loved her. But she was the little sister. Too small and slow to keep up with the neighborhood boys.

She remembers what it was like to muscle her way in the group. To insist and badger so they wouldn't leave her behind. To bite her tongue against her tears after being nailed in the face with a ball. You can't act weak because they won't let you stay. Trying desperately to earn her brothers respect.

It was different when they were older and they had the shop. When they really were two amateur blacksmiths trying to keep the place running. Rationing food and wrapping up burns after hours.

Then sensei came knocking and Kai had the other ninjas. A team. A brotherhood. Something good for him, a chance to grow. And she didn't have elemental powers. She was on the sidelines again. Worrying about them getting hurt, unable to help.

So she gets it. She can see it in Lloyd's eyes. It's the same kind of loneliness that had her taking apart electronics as a kid. The same loneliness that made her walk the three miles to her cave bunker every day and work on Samurai X.

So she asks for his help with stuff around the dojo and the bounty. Offers to teach him how to cook or mix tea brews. Offers him a couple of Syfy novels she owns.

He's stubborn at first. Angry and scared. But the loneliness wins out between the stress of running from the damn skulkin. He starts following her around. Her little helper. He's kinda clingy which would be adorable if it wasn't so sad. And inconvenient, she's been staying around more to look after him but she needs to get to the cave more often. Pick up some wires and circuit boards. Until she's outed and he starts helping her with that too.

And then Lloyd is announced as the green ninja and she's more than apprehensive. She's terrified. It one thing to watch her big brother come home from fighting the army of the underworld bleeding and frustrated but Lloyd is a child. And his father is the one after them.

He starts training with the other boys. Jay who she's reluctantly crushing on. He's sweet but also thoughtless and isn't exactly nice to Lloyd. Zane is rational and calm but cold and detached. Cole is ever the peacemaker but he stands with his brothers. And Kai, is jealous. Overall not a welcoming group to work with. But their responsible for him. Her included and they protect him with their lives.

And Nya is worried about him. He's so young. Until he's suddenly not. Which brings on a whole new wave of trauma. The guys treat him like he's grown mostly. Which given their mission and its deadline might be for the best. But Nya doesn't want to shock him too much with this change. She still asks for his help with things, mostly repairs to the ship at this point. Tries to make time in their hectic schedule to just talk about comics and things that aren't about the end of the world. She struggles with a balance of treating him the same and not treating him like a little kid. She's confused what to do with her big sister feelings now that he's not so little.

After Garmadon becomes himself again the team gets closer and she gets closer with all of them. They except her more since she started fighting alongside them. She's more than kai's tag along sister. Or jay's girlfriend. And she's surprised to realize that she considers them her brothers too. Not just Kai's teammates. And she's surprised at how they start to seek her out too. To help or talk or go out to eat. It's been a while since she's had such close friends, maybe never. The ninja are beginning to look like the family her and Kai never had.

She tries not to play favorites with the boys. Never one to go comparing people. But she's avoiding jay and cole for obvious reasons and Kai's having some broody issues and acting out. She's pretty much left with Zane who is great company but just not very personable especially while preoccupied by his new love interest and Lloyd whenever he visits or when she stays at Sensei Garmadon's dojo. Which is a relief after dodging her suitors for weeks.

But it isn't until Wu finally tells her about her elemental powers that she realizes just how close her and Lloyd have become. It's hard to tell when she stopped thinking if him as someone who needs to be protected and started thinking of him as someone level headed she could go to with her problems. When he was in hiding all she could think about was wanting to find him just to rant through all of the turmoil in her head. But their relationship has come full circle from her encouraging his training with his new powers to him doing the same for her.

And she realizes that Lloyd is her best friend. She falls into line behind his lead before he ever tries on the title of sensei. He's the green ninja and her best friend. One of the most level headed people she knows. When he says go by God does she go. She trusts him. Trusts his judgment.

And she's oddly proud. He's so genuinely good in everything he does and she's delighted to notice the little things she's taught him shine through. Manners and tech skills and how to speak to a lady. She had a hand in Lloyd becoming who he is. And he is good.

That's why she doesn't question it when he calls her to pixel's meeting. Heeds his urgency and follows him. She doesn't question Lloyd because he's never given her a reason to. He's never lied to her before. And she feels a little betrayed when he does. But mostly scared and angry at Harumi for changing him this way. Her best friend turns his back to her to go fight his father once again and she's not sure his pure heart will survive the battle.

[cienie-isengardu]

Supernovas Trio: Zoro-Luffy-Law and Zoro-Luffy-Kid

Because I’m overthinking OP again, here come some thoughts how manga visually presented Zoro, Luffy & Law during fight in Dressrosa in contrast to Zoro, Luffy & Kid shared moments in Wano. By visual presentation I mean all the frames where the three appeared at the same time, what was the positioning of the characters and especially who occupied the central part of Trio.

In Dressrosa arc, there was a moment when the three Supernovas - Luffy, Zoro and Law - were separated from the rest of Straw Hats. It was the first time Zoro had a longer interaction (screentime) with Law since Punk Hazard. About Roronoa and Trafalgar relationship I’m gonna talk one day in separate post, but for now let’s look at source:

Starting with OP #746, this chapter was more like set up for the rest of their journey together. And of course, because of Luffy, Law had the misfortune to be completely defenseless and dependent on the madness of fellow Supernovas. On the panels where we could see all of three of them at the same time, Zoro was always placed close to Luffy, who made the central figure of the Supernovas Trio:

The next chapter, 747 put straight away the three Supernovas in middle of enemy group and Zoro even needed to save Luffy and Law trapped by Donflamingo’s men. Here, place of Zoro has changed, and now it is (defenseless) Law in middle of group instead of Luffy.

what makes sense, since Luffy is carrying Law on the shoulder, so his one hand is constantly busy by keeping Trafalgar in place. Thus, he can’t fight at full capacity, so Zoro, if not alone to keep Law safe, for sure is guarding his captain’s less protected side.

Yet once they get away from Donflamingo’s officers, Luffy again is presented as a central figure of Supernova trios:

only for the Trio to run into Marine Admiral Issho

Like I said earlier, when Luffy and Zoro kept Law between themselves, A) the defenseless Trafalgar is safest in the middle and B) Luffy’s weak point is guarded by trusted first mate. Yet once the Trio run away from enemy’s loyal fighters, they fall back into previous (visual) dynamic, all centered around Luffy.

Of course, Zoro knows very well his captain and how great powerhouse he is, so he does not need really fret over the situation. But at the same time, both Luffy and Zoro are this kind of men that take seriously their commitment to allies and whatever Law want it or not, Luffy already decided to consider him as a friend than just a fellow pirate.

I guess, despite the danger, Luffy and Zoro are just confident in their own skills, while the poor Law can only trust that his allies will not kill him in the process.

In chapter 748, Supernovas Trio, thanks to Luffy’s lack of common sense (a.k.a. lauging at high voice of Pica), pissed Pica for good and after being blow away by enemy’s attack, met Colosseum Fighters (saved by the god Ussop).

For most of time, Luffy is presented in between Zoro and Law... but the more characters show up, in the latest two scenes once again Law is put in the middle. Maybe it wasn’t planned by author, but frankly, Oda is a master of little details. So, Supernovas did not know at first if these people are their allies and though all of Colosseum Fighters had the same goal - to beat Donflamingo - no one came here with teamwork in mind. Zoro, as the one enough tactful, actually suggested compromise: Colosseum Fighters backing up Supernovas in fight against common enemy but it was quickly rejected.

Luffy wanted to defeat ‘Mingo all alone, the Fighters didn’t care what Luffy wanted and in all fairness, this argument could quickly get out of control and turn into a fight no one really needed. So, maybe Zoro instinctively prepared himself to repel a possible attack as evidenced by:

Zoro up until the last frame, (after meeting with  Cavendish) kept sword sheathed but now has one in hand what in itself is a sign something wrong is going on

Luffy carried Law on his right shoulder, and since he does the same in the two last presented examples, it means Zoro switched his place to keep Law in the middle.

There is another thing to think about. The 748 chapter ends with Supernovas Trio riding a bull surrounded by allies. The same as in previous panels, Law is put in the middle, between Luffy on front clearing path and Zoro protecting them from behind.

Since Law was still in seastone chains, which means defenseless /useless in fight, this combinations put him again in the safest place while let Zoro and Luffy fight without worry. And Law is going to stay as such through the next chapter.

Which chapter 749 the battle has finally begun for good - Luffy faced Pica for a while until leaving the fight to Zoro. In all fairness, there is little to none good frames focusing on Supernovas Trio.

Chapters 746-748 weren’t overall a long interaction, and even characters did not talk that much to each other (Trafalgar, like, maybe once adressed Zoro, while Roronoa did not talk to him at all?) Yet from the visual composition of frames showing the three Supernovas together, we may draw some conclusions. Like,

the group started as centered around Luffy who was the link between two introverts that did know little each other and did not have any real interaction up to this point,

but the dynamic switched once they faced bigger danger

then Law was wordlessly put in the safest point and backed from both side by powerful allies (mainly because Zoro switched position?)

an allies who not even once have complained or commented on his uselessness nor did anything that would show lack of respect for Law.

That in itself is very different than from the “teamwork” of pre-TS three Supernovas captain, in which Eustass Kid bragged how he is gonna charitably save  their useless asses, even though Luffy and Law back then were perectly in shape to save themselves. Law was pissed off a few times by the way Luffy handled him, but there was no real quarrel between Zoro, Law and Luffy (not like between Three Captains when everyone tried to prove their superity)

The next time when we see Zoro, Luffy and Law in the same frames happened after beating down Donflamingo, when all heroes were resting in hidding.

the day after that

and around the party between Straw Hats and their new (sworn) allies made by bunch of different  people.

and when they sailed to Zou.

Luffy may started as central figure for this Supernovas Trio, but during and after battle of Derrossa, Straw Hat is no longer needed for such role because Zoro and Law get along quite well and keep close to each other on their own will (and to be fair, Law interact with other Straw Hats on regular basis). What is even more visible once Straw Hats-Hearts pirate alliance get to Zou. The point is: Law is okay between his crazy allies and there is no need to compete with other Supernovas around him. Luffy may stress him out with all his craziness, randomess and shenanigans, but the two captains can and will trust each other, same with Zoro (except for, like following a plan because Luffy and Zoro are lost cause in that regard). But at the same time, Luffy doesn’t need to be around Law anymore, doesn’t need be the bridge between his own crew and another captain from the Worst Generation.

Law is the first Supernova to interact with Straw Hats for so long (that is like 4th arc in the row and 3rd for this Supernova Trio to actually interact with each other) and his position with main heroes is pretty much secured and settled down.

Now, let’s talk about another Supernovas Trio Quartet: Zoro, Luffy and Eustass Kid and Killer. Up to making the alliance of Straw Hats - Hearts - Kid’s Pirates, both Luffy and Zoro had a chance to meet their counterparts. The captains met in prison where instead of working together, competed to prove the other who is better and along the way, Luffy kinda helped save Kid and Killer in dire situation. Or more like: Kid and Killer were saved because ninja Raizo thought they were friends of Straw Hats. Zoro on other hand did not have any clue that Kamazo the Manslayer was in fact Killer and both men seriously injured each other in fight over O-Toko.

So far there was only one chapter (981) presenting Zoro, Luffy and Kid & Killer at the same time in the same frames. So, let’s look closery at the source material:

We have so far only four panels solely focused at this Supernovas Trio (with addition of Killer, the sanest person of the four). The biggest difference between those panels and previously analyzed? ZORO IS THE CENTRAL FIGURE IN ALL THE FOUR PANELS.

This makes me smile like crazy maniac because though it is so atypical (Luffy, the main hero not being in the spotlight?!) it makes absolute sense - up until now, Kid and Luffy at the sight of each other ARGUED NON STOP and apparently physically can't stand side by side and NOT compete. I mean, just look at these dumbass put together in the same prison:

or even in 981 chapter, during fight after both blowed up their covers on whim/reckless decision to hit enemy in the face

when Luffy is the one that actually started the whole ruckus yet keep blaming KId for “causing a scene” (above) or  “you’d make a huge mess” (in previous example).

Okay, these two CAN WORK TOGETHER when the situation calls for such teamwork, but once it’s over, they are at each other throats without second thought. Which is why Zoro being put in the middle between two chaotic dumbass captains is so awesome and different from Zoro-Luffy-Law team work.

Because Luffy was a bridge that connected Zoro and Law when previously they had little to no interaction (what makes sense, since both are introverts and prefer keep their distance and they aren’t people who trust easily) while now Zoro is, well, kind of a wall to keep these two hotheads from fighting and arguing all the time. In a way, Zoro (and Kliller) is there to balance the situation, what may be seen on the first jointed frame:

Luffy accusing Kid for making a huge mess (ignoring his own part in the created ruckus)

Zoro (who sliced in half a tower because he heard Luffy is already fighting only adding to the mess), despite being Luffy’s first mate, stays objective enough to point out Luffy’s fault

and Kid, instead of fighting with Luffy over what he said, actually is calling Zoro on his own deeds (what Roronoa ignored?)

while poor Killer just stands and watchs these ridiculous guys silently.

Despite the first meeting together when Luffy, Zoro and Kid argued a bit, the next panels actually show how similar dumbass chaotic people they are (and how Killer is the sanest person compared to them). In 3 of 4 scenes, Kid, Zoro and Luffy actually get along quite well; even though they do not speak to each other (but listen to Killer’s advice), the visual composition does not show any discomfort between them. They stand arm to arm, with like zero personal space between them and it works okay. What is different from the first time of Zoro-Luffy-Law teamwork, when there was always some visible space between Zoro and Law. Of course, the realities of combat in Dressrosa and Wano vary from one to another and so far it’s hard to predict how their relationship will develop, but for sure it will not be exactly the copy of Zoro-Luffy-Law dynamic.

What is even more interesting, as much as Luffy and Law alone are okay to work together, once there is Kid in sight, their teamwork goes straight to hell and the three of Supernovas captains WILL ARGUE TO NO END and COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER like some crazy maniac. 

And because of that, the presence of Zoro (and Killer) may help to balance the dynamic between allied pirates of the Worst Generation. Because really, compared to Kid, Luffy and Law in close range of each other, Zoro and Killer are the cool-headed guys no matter what.