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sanjisboyfie · 11 months ago

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๑ keep safe : chopper's crown (27)

one piece x male reader

i imagine

the grapes on the end of the branches

are sweet

『 prev 』

unfortunately for nami, the only way to get to the other side of the lake was by climbing up a humongous tree and then crossing over it via branches. she was shaking in all of her steps, making [name] slow down his pace to comfort her.

zoro, who was walking behind the two, rolled his eyes in annoyance and began audibly complaining to nami for being so slow.

just as nami was about to bite back with a string of curses towards zoro, something from the white river jumped up and tried attacking them. nami screeched in fear, grabbing ahold of [name] and pulling him in front of her to act as a shield. this action just caused them to lose their balance though and immediately fell off the side of the branch.

[name] held nami tight to make sure she was secure in not falling and outstretched his hand, calling out robin’s name for support. she understood immediately and made two hands sprout out to catch them before they fell to their doom.

“nami, you sure love causing trouble,” [name] teased, adjusting his grip on her waist. her legs were hugging his torso and arms were wrapped around his neck in a death grip. he propped his foot against his ankle, making his thigh act as an impromtu seat for her as they were hanging in the air.

“i am sorry…for troubling you,” she apologized breathlessly, collapsing onto the firm ground of the branch, apologizing to both robin and [name].

“no problem,” robin easily said, an unbothered look on her face.

[name] continued on teasing nami, who in her terrified state couldn’t even scold him, by pinching her sides and cheeks and ruffling her hair, “nami! always the one getting us into trouble, maybe you’re more of a hassle than me and luffy — combined! haha!!” his cheerful laughter rang out in the forest.

just as they touched the ground once more, this time on the opposite of where they originally were, robin had stopped abruptly in their exploration. [name] looked at her in interest, following where her gaze was and questioning what she saw.

unblinking, she responded, “a well,” he hummed in acknowledgement, but then wondered aloud, “what’s so important about a well?”

“why would a well be in the middle of this gigantic forest? someone had to have installed it here, obviously, but why at the root of tremendously large trees?” she rhetorically asked, inciting [name] to theorize on his own why it was there.

“maybe the animals made it!” he childishly cried out, making the other three unsure of if he was joking or not.

zoro slapped him on the back of the head, grumbling, “don’t think too much or else steam might come out of your ears. whenever you do seem to think, anyway, you say stupid shit like that.”

[name] pouted, grabbing ahold of zoro’s short hair and giving it a harsh tug. the action made zoro wince in pain before glaring at [name] as if his life depended on it, “hey! don’t be so rude, you stupid marimo head! you’re the stupidest one in this whole bunch,” [name] scolded, giving another harsh tug to his hair, “you’re bringing the moral of the strawhat adventure team all the way down with your shit attitude!”

“this is not an adventure team!” zoro called back, hand lifting and grabbing [name]’s own h/c locks, “no one else agreed with you when you named us after that, so it’s your own fault in the first place!”

“my fault?! how’s it my fault you’ve got a shit attitude?!”

“at least i don’t think with my stomach instead of my head!”

“oh, that’s a bold statement since you’re insinuating you think at all!!”

the two began fighting viciously, falling to the ground as they were having a mini brawl that included pulling each others hair and scratching at the other person’s skin.

nami could only sigh in exasperation, not having the energy to scold them. instead she informed robin she would try getting a bird’s eyes view to grasp a better way to continue exploring, making the ravenette nod her head in acknowledgement.

as zoro and [name] were childishly rolling back and forth on the ground against one another, the two women were hard at work in trying to make sense of their situation.

idiots.

[name] and zoro couldn’t tell how much time had passed since when their brawl first started, but it took nami hurriedly pulling them up by the collars of their shirts to break them up.

“you two sure like to always be touching each other,” robin noted with a laxed grin.

“what does that mean, woman?!” zoro snarled at her, glare evident on his face, “he’s the fucking idiot who constantly needs to have his head beat in for being so stupid!”

[name] was going to shoot back a couple of more insults, but nami was already quickly dragging him off by his wrists. he began complaining, kicking the ground he was being dragged through, “nami! nami! let me beat zoro up some more, the bastard allways has something to say and it’s pissing me off!”

“no, no, just keep getting walked like a dog, [name]!” zoro teased, looking at how he was letting nami drag him around even though he could have easily stopped her.

“don’t fucking call me a dog!!” [name] shouted, flicking his wrist forward and making zoro’s body fly back a couple of meters into the trunk of a tree.

zoro’s body left a comically large imprint into the bark of the tree at the pure force that was used in propelling his body forward.

“now, now, there’s no more need to be fighting like this, you two,” robin said, attempting to calm the nature of their fight down, “[name], it seems like nami had found a new discovery — more places for us to adventure. why don’t you help her navigate it?”

[name]’s face lit up at the word “adventure” and his attention turned away from zoro and instead to the orange haired girl. robin then looked to zoro and began saying some calming words to him (spoiler alert: they just pissed him off more than actually calming him down), words that [name] wasn’t in earshot to hear.

he was too busy in pestering nami in where they were going and what she had seen to make them go out adventuring in such a rush.

she only ordered him to carry her on his back, to make their trip faster. he obliged immediately, dropping to his knees and carrying her with ease. he followed her orders on where to go, robin and zoro following closely behind.

zoro was still annoyed with [name]’s behavior earlier, but was more interested in finding out what got nami in such a mood of adventuring farther onward — especially when she seemed so spooked earlier by their environment. they reached a point deep enough in the forest they were able to hear the waves of the ocean, which made nami tug on his h/c hair to encourage him to go faster.

“hey! don’t pull my hair, do you think i’m a horse or something?!” he scolded in annoyance, slapping his hand onto the grip she had on him, but she didn’t let up even a little bit.

while zoro and robin watched on as [name] ran in whatever direction nami ordered him to, the both of them realized that they were near the area of a major battle going on. the sounds of explosions going off was far away, but still audible if you focused.

honestly, [name] realized the battle as well, but wasn’t paying it any mind. it was far enough that he didn’t have to worry about it threatening their safety. he was well aware of the fight at hand. but with a click of his tongue, he easily brushed the thought of it away.

“see! right up ahead! keep going!” nami urged him, snapping him out of his own thoughts. he rushed forward, seeing a vague shape of what nami was referring to.

it wasn’t until they ran past the lining of trees did he understand nami’s need to see it up close. he let her off of his back with ease, gulping at the sight.

the other half of cricket’s house was up in the sky island territory. there was no doubt. that fake cardboard cutout that was covering the humble abode made sense now. their house was cut in half and sent up to the sky. as in explainable as it was, it was certainly interesting.

he unscrewed the top of his water container open and took in a couple big gulps before stowing it away. nami was examining it closesly while he just allowed himself to walk towards the edge of the island.

finally, after speed walking to catch up, zoro and robin had joined the two and were also gawking at the sight before them. [name] was standing over the edge, looking down at the calm white clouds in front of them with a stoic look on his face.

he was busy trying to piece all of the information together that he had completely zoned out of what the other three were saying. he smiled softly, though, imagining the possibilities of what the rest of the island had to offer. he thought back to the old story book from the north blue, rubbing his forehead in thought.

“[name], are you alright?” robin gently asked him, walking up to him and placing her hand on his shoulder. he turned around, startled, before calming down.

“no, i’m alright.” he replied easily, “i was just thinking,”

“yeah, the steam was practically coming from your ears-”

nami slapped zoro on the shoulder to shut him up.

“just thinking about what that old chestnut guy would say, that’s all,” [name] grinned, looking at the white sea once more before stepping away from the ledge. “i bet he’d start cursing his stupid ancestor or something,” robin laughed at his playful comment, the both of them rejoining the rest of the group.

“then…that means the city of gold never sank…” nami said, turning the attention to her as she theorized out loud, “that means, this is the city of gold, since this is technically apart of jaya! after all that trouble, we were finally able to make it to the city of gold!! this much be a reward after behaving myself, right, god?!”

everyone sweatdropped as they all were reminded nami’s end goal was always just to find some treasure. and seeing as they were actually given more answers to their questions, they all decided to head back to the merry.

[name] was humming the song that always played in his head, picking up whatever caught his eye from the ground and almost making a bouqet of whatever it was that he got. by the time they arrived back at merry, he had a whole bunch of sticks and odd looking leaf plants bundled together in his clenched fist.

“chopper’s gift!” he announced proudly to zoro, who very much did not care, “and when we get back, i’ll decorate his hate with these sticks — a proper adventurer’s crown!”

zoro only yawned in response.

to the adventure team’s shock, though, when they caught sight of the sacrificial altar and merry, it was very obviously in terrible shape. the mast was gone and, despite being so very far, they were able to clearly see that it was in bad shape.

[name] felt worried, but eased up a little when he realized that at least chopper’s body was still on board the ship. his frame and two other…creatures…were on merry.

“chopper!!” nami shouted, concern etched on her features.

“i hope he’s alright…” [name] said under his breath, walking forward.

“chopper, did something happen?! answer us! are you alright?!”

there was dead silence on chopper’s end. nami dropped her hands from cupping the side of her mouth and she looked up pleadingly to [name] for help. he stepped forward and projected his deep voice loudly, “chopper, answer us! come on out, i got you a cool gift!!”

it took a couple of seconds, but there was finally movement on chopper’s end. everyone breathed a sigh of relief to see that he was fine, awaiting for him to give an update on how he was.

he peaked out from the railing of merry and shakingly called back, “no-nothing…nothing scary happened!!” in a very unconvincing tone.

“that’s my strong man!!” [name] cheerfully answered back, waving the bouqet in his hands, “look! i got something for you, so you did a good job in protecting merry, okay?!”

“obviously not good enough, usopp’s gonna give us an earful for how bad the condition of merry is. i mean, look, the mast is missing…” zoro said under his breath, earning him a swift glare from [name].

just as he was about to lecture him for being rude, there was a loud splash that was heard. they all turned their heads to see that it was some sort of ship driven by usopp, luffy, and sanji.

“ah, it’s everyone else!” luffy said, his loud and boisterous voice echoing in the forest. “which means— [name]!!! are you there?!”

[name] grinned, waving his arms in the air to be noticed, “luffy!!! are you alright?! sanji, usopp, are you guys okay?!”

luffy’s laughter was heard next, along with usopp shouting about how he bravely fought against enemies and [name] didn’t need to worry about him. sanji, since the moment he laid eyes on the rest of the crew, was plainly singing praises of robin and nami.

”[name]!! i’m going over to you!!!” luffy shouted and before anyone could properly react, his arms were already stretched behind him and then shooting forward to grab onto [name].

the tall man groaned and prepared for impact, setting the bouqet down so they wouldn’t be ruined. and when luffy finally landed on his torso, with great force, they were sent tumbling backwards and into the trunk of a tree.

“i found you!!” luffy screamed in glee, nuzzling his cheek to [name]’s face, humming in happiness to be reunited with [name]. as if they were seperated for years.

“yep, like you always do,” [name] breathed out, looping his hands underneath luffy’s thighs and hoisting him up on his waist, “let’s get to merry, now. chopper was the one protecting it all this time, i hope he’s alright…”

luffy only hummed back in response, unconcerned as he just kept trying to sink further into [name]’s arms. luffy’s skin and hair were all wet from the splash they created upon their arrival, making [name]’s own hair dampen just a little bit.

“oi, you’re making a huge mess,” [name] commented, pushing luffy’s raven bangs aside to get them away from his face.

luffy grinned, shaking his head similar to how a dog would to dry themselves, and that grin only got wider when he saw the look [name] was giving him. not an ounce of being pitiful was on the captain’s face.

they all hopped onto the miniature ship sanji and usopp were waiting on, [name] expertly carrying luffy around with ease as he boarded with the others. when they finally reached the altar, [name] went over to chopper immediately and brought him into his arms.

“you’re alright?” [name] gently asked, making chopper’s eyes only well up with tears again.

“usopp!! i’m sorry, i’m sorry for letting merry get ruined like this!” he profusely apologized, the sniper’s expression being masked by the shadow over his face.

knowing how much merry meant to usopp, [name] would not have been surprised if the sniper snapped at chopper. well, at least for him personally, he wouldn’t know how he would react if something or someone so precious to him got so violently ruined. he imagined he would lash out in an aggressive way…

but seeing as usopp was very different from him, the man only turned around and looked at chopper in worry, “did you get hurt? you treated yourself to heal up to be all better, right?” which the reindeer nodded his head to, “well, then, everything’s alright! we can worry about merry another time, as long as you’re okay then it’s all good!”

[name] blinked at the calm reaction, feeling a smile make its way to his face. usopp and his ever selflessness shining through, [name] thought to himself. he grabbed usopp’s hand as the man was walking away, smiling at him gently. a silent “thank you” was exchanged, from the h/c haired man ot the sniper. and that gesture and expression on [name]’s handsome face made the sniper blush bashfully, briskly walking away once [name] released him.

that small interaction made usopp’s heart and mind calm down. the reassuring and thankful smile [name] had given him was comforting, especially after seeing the state merry was in. he was glad he was able to keep a level head to please both [name] and chopper.

“you did a good job, chopper,” [name] whispered to the reindeer, “and now, since you’re the merry’s protector, you get yourself a crown,”

laid out in front of them were all the leafy plants and sticks he had collected. he began explaining to chopper that he had to assemble the crown to be put on around the circumference of his pink hat, claiming that he needed to be wearing it proudly the rest of their stay at the sky island.

“my own crown?” chopper asked in wonderment, sitting in between [name]’s legs and letting the man work on his creation. with a simple string that [name] took from the kitchen (without sanji’s knowledge), he was able to tie everything together and gently nudged chopper to stand up when he was finished.

when chopper felt the added weight on his head, he ran to the railing of merry and outstretched his arms to proudly proclaim, “i’ll be a dependable man!!!”

[name] chuckled behind his hand at the endearing attitude. then he got up and joined half of the crew in looking at the old man’s condition. [name] was sat on one side of his body whilst luffy was on the other, the rest of the crew in the room standing more back to give the old guy some space.

chopper explained how it was really the old man that protected merry and saved his life, making them hum in acknowledgement. after assessing his condition, they all decided that it’d be best to stake claim on the shore of the forest rather than on merry.

it would be a safer option for all of them, but especially their injured protector. [name] helped move the essentials back and forth between merry and the land, grinning in excitement when he saw sanji bring along a skyshark to their camp.

“quiet, everyone!!” ‘everyone’ mainly meant [name] and luffy, who were carnivously tearing into the skyshark meat, “we’re in the middle of reports,”

during their reports, everyone learned what the crew was up to during their separation period. it seemed that the strawhat adventure team had the least amount of trouble, seeing as sanji, usopp, and luffy had to fight off one priest while chopper, the old man, and his weird bird (pierre) had to fight off another.

“dammit, i traded adventure with some good fights…” [name] sighed in disappointment, taking a large bite from the sky shark to comfort himself.

nami sweatdropped at his comment, sipping the coffee he had brewed earlier with an unimpressed look on her face.

“well!! thank you everyone for your reports!! it seems that, the most important finding of all is that — this here is the island of gold, the same one the saruyama alliance was searching for!!” usopp exclaimed, pointing at the chalkboard he was using to draw up all their information.

“gold, huh?! i’ve been waiting for an adventure like this!” luffy exclaimed, dropping the bone of the sky shark he was eating and clenching his fists in anticipation.

nami grinned, happy to see she was finally on the same page as her captain.

“hey, hey, luffy! have you forgotten the guerilla’s warning from earlier?!” usopp tried persuading their captain to back down, but his words didn’t even reach the energetic luffy’s ears.

“the guerilla?” [name] echoed in interest, “what did they say?”

“well, seeing as we are pirates, we can’t just back down when there’s a treasure so close by can we?”

“god’s gonna be pretty angry, right?”

usopp paled as the consensus seemed to be they would continue venturing out into the island, deflating when he heard luffy very excitedly proclaim they were going to go gold hunting tomorrow.

[name] stuck by luffy’s side, the two attached by the hip as they fooled around. as the rest of the crew were looking for ingredients for a proper dinner later in the night, they were left to their own devices in entertaining each other.

sanji had commanded luffy to take care of the distilled water, which by extensions meant [name] was taking care of the distilled water too. when zoro and chopper made it back with some other proteins to be added to their stew, they were finally getting more exciting news.

“sanji, sanji, don’t forget to include the fish i caught too, okay?!” [name] reminded, bounding over with a pout on his face, “if you don’t put it in then we’d just be eating vegetable soup!”

“i already added it, quit pouting like a spoiled brat!”

at that news, [name] went back to luffy while excitedly cheering about fish stew.

“alright, alright, everyone gather around for our strategy meeting!” nami called, making everyone come together in a wide circle.

[name] went up to sanji with his own bowl, grinning when he saw the delicious stew be poured onto his dish. he took it to his seat, grinning when he saw his vegetables were cut up in all sorts of shapes. mainly, it were carrots cut into the shape of stars that were floating around in his soup. but, funnily enough, it seemed sanji cut some up to be the shape of coffee beans (he also could have been imagining it, since they were just cut in an oval shape unlike the regular circle…sanji could have just made a mistake by accident).

it brought a childlike smile onto [name]’s face as he almost felt guilt for eating the stew and ruining sanji’s expert work. but the full feeling in his stomach after washed his guilt away.

nami began the recap quickly, eager to get their plan set, “it was 400 years ago when noland first discovered the city of gold. but when he returned to jaya years later, the gold ruins were gone! basically, during those few years, that island on jaya — which is this one, came up into the sky!”

“you mean it rode up the knock up stream?” chopper asked with a look of disbelief on his face.

“yeah! that’s the only explanation! cricket-san said the sea floor explodes at different places each time.

“but it’s hard to believe that forest on jaya is the same as this one…” zoro thought out loud, making [name] purse his lips in thought.

“at least there’s no swam of unreasonably large lady bugs chasing us around here,” he said in relief.

usopp only paled though, grabbing onto [name]’s shoulders and shaking him back and forth, “no! there’s only blood thirsty god ruled priests and warriors, along with other weird animals that are in these forests! [name], it’s still scary!!!”

[name] patted usopp’s head, saying a monotone, “there, there,” in an attempts of comforting the sniper.

“say, those south birds that helped us at the altar were thiiiiss big!” chopper said, extending his arms to show their size, but with how small he was, it was hard to get an idea of how big they actually were.

“yeah, they probably got bigger over those 400 years,” zoro logically explained, taking another bite of his bento.

“but it is weird,” sanji said, walking over and handing [name] another plate of stew before taking his seat next to him. [name]’s eyes turned into stars as he took big gulps from his bowl to finish the stew in one go, “why did those huge south birds save you?”

“well, i’m not really sure, but they all called the sky knight “god”!”

[name] choked on his stew, making sanji look at him in disgust.

“the old geezer is a god?!”

“then that means he’s the bad guy!!”

“you two don’t know how to put two and two together, don’t you?!” usop scolded the two, making luffy and [name] fall into silence.

“anyways!!! getting back to the story, remember what noland’s log said about the city of gold?” nami rhetorically asked.

“i know! he said it was a city of gold!” luffy answered back with confidence. this only made usopp scold him once more for his obvious answer.

“i recall there being a giant gold bell and that there were south birds…” sanji answered this time in seriousness.

“then there was an incomprehensible line on the last page of his log,” robin finished. “just before he died, noland wrote a passage in his book that said he saw gold in the “skull’s right eye.””

“that’s it! now, look at this!” nami unfurled some paper map she had been working on earlier, making the crew join her side and look at it in interest. “i matched the size of robin and [name]’s jaya map with the old skypiea map! it’s just an approximation, but when you put their locations of the beach house together…”

[name] hummed in interest, then grinned in delight to see that it was really all coming together in front of their very eyes.

“see! this is how jaya looked 400 years ago!”

“whoa it’s a skull!”

“well?”

“awesome!!” [name] and luffy said in unison.

“way to go, nami-san!”

“we did it!!”

“then “the skull’s right eye” is…”

“right here!” nami said, pointing at a portion of map that had what looked like a gold temple drawn into the middle of a circular white sea, “noland was referring to the shape of the entire island. but only half of it is left now so nobody could solve the mystery!”

“treasure!! treasure!!!”

“so we just need to go straight to this spot! we can’t leave the boat, though, so let’s split into two teams tomorrow! no doubt about it! there’s an enormous amount of gold waiting for us here!!”

[name] smirked, looking down at the map in interest. with how lively the forest was now, he definitely wouldn’t mind being part of the team that would search for the gold when the time came for it. maybe they’d run into those guerilla warriors too and understand what they were fighting for.

besides the near death run in they had with them when the first arrived, [name] had no idea what to expect. he chuckled, thinking back on how he had so easily threatened robin’s life upon their first meeting. and now look at them now!! practically two peas in a pod. maybe it could be like that with the warriors…

[name] did like people with a strong fighting spirits, anyway.

as he was thinking of their journey tomorrow, it seemed that sanji, zoro, luffy, and usopp were all thinking ahead of their campfire situation. after all, they couldn’t go camping without a fire to keep them warm!

funnily enough, a pack of wolves had joined them in their celebration. [name] had joined the dancing circle with two wolves being carried around in his arms. he easily lifted them up in his arms above his head, smiling and cheering with the rest of the crew.

“gold!! gold!! adventure!!” he shouted into the air, laughing as he felt the wolves on his arms howl in approval of their celebration. their rough tongues were licking at his skin affectionately, making his laughter only amplify even louder.

[name] and usopp were now pulling the wolves into making funny faces, stretching their fur faces to entertain themselves. their antics made everyone around them, including the wolves, to break out into laughter and hold their stomachs.

their rambunctious behavior lived on until the early hours of the morning, making them pass out soon enough for at least some time for rest. everyone’s faces as they were passed out were stuck in permanent grins.

[ .ᐟ ] fun facts: sanji purposely did cut the carrots in [name]'s stew into the shape of coffee beans ; in the original epsiode, he cut the carrots for the ladies into hearts while the others had their cut normally

[ .ᐟ ] song for this chap: sour grapes by le sserafim

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@skullr0se, @strawberrii-tea, @triangulartriangles, @anotherlovefool, @sinmp, @3v37773, @taru-nami, @disc0dild0s, @boredwithlifeatthispoint, @kaulitzer, @whotdefak @lcst-at-5ea @zforgottensniper @notplutos @violently-nerdy @cheetosins

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justanothersanjilover · 1 month ago

Text

One Piece Modern Gym Au Wip (Part 18)

“…ji? Hello?! Sanji!”

Sanji snapped out of his thoughts when a hand was waved before his face.

“Sorry, beautiful, what did you just say?” He looked apologizingly at Nami.

“That you maybe should start preparing some drinks.”

“Oh, yes…Yes! You’re right! Shit…I’m sorry, I’ll start right away.”

Nami smiled, shaking her head and muttering something about how he could stare at that green-haired hunk all evening long. Sanji’s face got hot as he realized she noticed him staring at Zoro - but he couldn't not stare, really! Zoro was sitting on a butterfly press and working his chest and shoulder muscles. He wore a loose-fitting tank top that showed his muscle-packed arms and parts of his massive back, paired with black shorts that also showed his strong legs. It was a miracle Sanji didn't start to drool.

Ripping his eyes from Zoro, he got started on the drinks for the ladies on the table beside the bar. They wanted some fruity cocktails for their after-workout talk. Not five minutes later, Sanji walked over to place them on the table.

“There you go. Sorry for the wait,” he scratched the back of his head. “I was a bit distracted…”

“Yeah, we could tell,” one of them said, smiling.

“I thought you’d forgotten about us, to be honest,” another one grinned.

Sanji placed a hand on his chest and acted offended.

“I would never forget about such beautiful ladies in my entire life!”

The three laughed and shook their heads. The redhead grinned up at him.

“We don't blame you. Zoro looks hot; we actually only take this table to watch her…”

“Him, to watch him,” said the blond girl - she sounded a little angry.

“What ever.”

“No! It’s not whatever. It’s people like you who make his life hell.”

Sanji glared at the redhead. Then he smiled.

“I‘m sure he didn't mean that,” he said in the round.

“Excuse me?”

The redhead looked at him, a little shocked.

“You heard me. Not that nice to be misgendered, no? As long as you misgender others, I’m doing the same to you.”

She opened her mouth and closed it again. Maybe for the better, Sanji thought. The rest of the group smiled shily or downright happy that he stood up against the redhead.

Sanji flashed her a toothy grin and walked back to the bar. It wasn't long for Zoro to come over and sit in front of it. He watched Sanji prepare some Snacks and smiled.

“You didn't need to do that, you know?” Zoro finally said as Sanji’s attention landed on him.

“What?”

“Correcting Cindy,” Zoro talked about the redhead from earlier. “She always was that way…I’m used to her comments.”

“That’s why I will always do this. You shouldn't be used to such things. It shouldn't be normal - it sure isn't the other way around! If I misgender her, she’ll flip every time!”

Zoro smiled fondly and reached for Sanji’s hand. Placing a shy kiss on top of it while looking into his blue eye. Sanji instantly flashed a bright red - the knife he was holding hit the ground with a short clatter. Chuckling, Zoro pulled back and watched Sanji closely.

“For fucks sake, Marimo! You can't just do that!” Sanji exclaimed after he found his voice again.

“Just did,” Zoro smirked and leaned back in his chair.

“You…I…This is…” Sanji was completely thrown off.

“Calm down, Curly. It was just a kiss,” Zoro chuckled.

“I know! That's the point!”

Zoro thought for a moment, then smirked downright dirty at him.

“I could do other things with your hands, you know?”

“Zoro!”

Now, Sanji slapped him on the head, but Zoro saw how his tongue darted out to wet his lips and how his pupil got slightly delayed. Oh, that was interesting! He would remember that!

“Sorry,” he laughed and got an annoyed look from Sanji.

“I know you’re not!”

Now Zoro laughed and didn't stop until Sanji casually pointed his knife in his direction.

“I’m gonna fight you if you don't stop!”

“Oh?” Now Zoro smirked and leaned forward until his throat was at level with the tip of the knife. “Please do. I want to see what you can actually do with a knife.”

“Fuck…” Sanji breathed out - almost moaned.

“Can you two stop fucking each other with looks and words in front of everyone?! Get a room, my god!” Nami’s voice roared from behind Zoro.

He growled…the moment was gone. Sanji snapped out of it and started to cut some fruits for a smoothie. His face was a deep, beautiful red, which made Zoro smile a bit.

“Where are we going tomorrow and when?” Zoro finally asked and thanked Sanji for the smoothie that was placed in front of him.

“That’s a secret, and I’d say about…four pm? Is that okay?”

“Sure, I plan my work around other appointments, so usually every time works for me.”

“Great,” Sanji beamed at him, and it was the best image of him Zoro had ever seen.

Prev/next

First Part

#one piece #roronoa zoro #black leg sanji #zosan #one piece sanji #zosan fanfic #one piece fanfic idea #one piece modern gym au

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akwolfgrl · 11 months ago

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LFT 26

“Shit that was hot. How many more orgasams do you think I wiring out of you tonight?” Zoro asked, watching as Sanji pants through coming down from his orgasm. His own cock was twitching with interest at the sight he had just beheld. “I know how short your refractory period is,” He bent to lick Sanji's nipples sothing the sting he must be feeling. Well that was one reason, the whimper coming from Sanji was another reason.

“Oh! Zoro!” Sanji moaned, his back aching. “Fuckkkkk, I could feel your cock! How many rounds are you planning?”

“Until you can't come anymore,”

“Not unless you can't cum anymore first!” Sanji snapped, wrapping his long powerful legs around Zoro's waist and flipped them so Sanji was on top. His long fingers splayed across his chest, groping and squeezing the muscles, a hungry look in his eyes as he rolled his hips against Zoro's hardening cock, he could feel as Sanji's own dick stirred to life once more. “One day I shuld try and fuck these titts of yours, ohh that would be so fucking hot!” Sanji moaned above him reaching for Zoro's cock.

“Shit Sanji if you want to go for it,” Zoro never thought about it before but it did sound pretty hot, not sure if it would work as well as a women's breasts but as long as blondie got off did it matter?

“Glad I got your permission marimo,” Sanji teased as he guided Zoro's cock to his waiting hole. Zoro grabbed him by the hips as Sanji sank down onto his cock. “Merde, je te jure tu es encore plus gros comme ça!" (Shit, I swear you feel bigger like this, it feels so good!)” Zoro still had no idea what he was saying because it was hot.

“Fuck curly I have no idea what your saying but keep talking,” Zoro bucked his hips upwards deep into to Sanjis heat, messy and wet from Zoros cum.

“Oh ? Tu aimes ça, hein ? Tu veux que je te dise à quel putain de point tu es bien au plus profond de moi ? Ou que tu es la meilleure baise que j'ai jamais eu ?"(Oh? You like this, do you? Want me to tell you how fucking good you feel deep inside of me? Or how about your the best fuck I've ever had?)” Sanji countries speak, putting those glorious thighs of his to work as he bounced and rocked on Zoro's cock. “Gonna make you cum first,” The blond grinned wickedly.

Zoro sat up and began to lick and suck Sanji nipples. There was no way he was losing this round.

“Not if I make you cum first,” Zoro shot back, determined to win.

Sanji grabbed him by the roots and pulled his head back. He licked a strip up Zoro's thought before attacking his Adam's apple, Zoro felt the press of his teeth scraping against his thought and shuddered bucking wildly under Sanji. The blond moaned and chuckled, sending vibrations down Zoro's thought.

“"t'as aimé ça Marimo ? Je devrais peut-être recommencer, mais plus fort, ça te plairait? Je parie que tu serais un chou si sale, n'est-ce pas? (Did you like that, moss? Maybe I should do it again but harder, would you like? I bet you would such a dirty cabbage, aren't you?)” Sanji bites his throat, not hard enough to draw blood but hard enough for Zoro to feel it.

“Oh fuck oh fuck! Shit I'm cuming!” Zoro shouted his hip stuttering as he pumped his load into Sanji again.

#one piece #fanfic #sanji #vinsmoke sanji #black leg sanji #roronoa zoro #zoro x sanji #zoro #smut #lust filled thoughts #french #zosan #sanzo

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salibadati · 3 months ago

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Title: The Goats of Goat Island

Warning: Long Post ahead

---

The Thousand Sunny sailed smoothly under a cloudless sky as the Straw Hat Pirates approached Goat Island, a place rumored to have the fluffiest goats in all the seas. Nami insisted on a stop, convinced they could trade goat milk for a hefty sum. The crew, however, had other priorities—especially Sanji and Zoro.

Sanji was in the kitchen, humming as he diced vegetables for the evening meal. Zoro, meanwhile, had decided it was time for a nap, sprawled out on the Sunny’s deck, one eye lazily opened to watch the clouds.

“Oi, moss-head! Don’t just lie there like a lazy bum!” Sanji’s voice rang out, sharp as ever.

Zoro grunted, not bothering to move. “It’s not like you’re doing anything important, cook.”

Sanji’s eyebrow twitched. “Nothing important? I’m preparing a feast worthy of our lovely Nami-swan and Robin-chwan!”

“Whatever,” Zoro muttered, closing his eyes.

Sanji’s blood pressure skyrocketed. “You ungrateful marimo! You wouldn’t know good food if it bit you on the nose!”

Zoro sat up, glaring. “At least I don’t spend my time fawning over women who couldn’t care less!”

“Oh yeah?” Sanji stormed over, knife in hand. “Care to repeat that, you sword-for-brains?”

“Gladly!” Zoro got to his feet, hand on his swords. “I’m not afraid of a scrawny twig like you!”

Before things could escalate further, Luffy came bouncing over, mouth wide open. “Oi, Sanji! Is the food ready yet? I’m starving!”

Sanji, momentarily distracted, softened. “Almost, Luffy! Just a few more minutes.”

Zoro smirked. “Saved by the idiot captain.”

Sanji shot him a look, but before he could retort, Chopper called out from the crow’s nest. “Land ho! Goat Island ahead!”

The crew gathered at the ship’s bow, eager to explore the island. As they docked, the sight that greeted them was indeed peculiar—dozens of goats, fluffy and round, grazing lazily on the verdant hills. The air was fresh, and the island seemed peaceful—a perfect place to relax.

The crew quickly dispersed. Luffy and Usopp ran off to find any hidden treasures (or snacks), Nami and Robin strolled off together, no doubt to gather intel, and Franky went to check on the ship’s repairs. Brook serenaded the goats with a cheerful tune, and Chopper excitedly examined the local flora.

Zoro and Sanji, as usual, were left behind, glaring at each other.

“Stay out of my way, cook,” Zoro warned, heading off toward the forest to train.

“Don’t get lost, marimo!” Sanji shot back, heading in the opposite direction to gather herbs and mushrooms.

As the day went on, the two found themselves unintentionally crossing paths multiple times—Zoro chopping down trees, only to have Sanji yell at him for nearly ruining a patch of wild vegetables; Sanji cooking over a fire, only for Zoro to complain that the smell was distracting him from his training.

Finally, they ended up at the same spot near a cliff overlooking the ocean, panting and glaring at each other.

“Why are you following me?” Zoro demanded.

“I’m not following you! You’re the one who keeps showing up where I’m cooking!” Sanji shot back.

“Maybe if you cooked somewhere that didn’t stink up the whole island—”

“Maybe if you trained somewhere that wasn’t directly in the middle of my ingredient hunting—”

Their argument was cut short by a loud bleat. They both turned to see a small goat, the fluffiest and cutest they had ever seen, staring up at them with big, round eyes.

“Aww,” Sanji softened instantly, kneeling down to pet the little creature. “You’re a cute one, aren’t you?”

Zoro, despite himself, couldn’t help but smirk. “At least it doesn’t talk as much as you.”

Sanji glared but was distracted when the goat nuzzled against his leg. “See? Even the goats know quality when they see it.”

Zoro rolled his eyes but didn’t move away when the goat wandered over to him, nudging his hand. With a sigh, he scratched its head. “Guess you’re not so bad, goat.”

The two stood there in a rare moment of peace, the setting sun casting a warm glow over the island. The sound of the waves crashing against the cliffs filled the silence, and for once, they weren’t yelling at each other.

“You know,” Sanji said after a while, his voice softer, “this place isn’t half bad.”

“Yeah,” Zoro agreed, surprising himself. “It’s…nice.”

Sanji glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. “You’re still an idiot, though.”

Zoro smirked. “Takes one to know one.”

Sanji chuckled, a sound Zoro realized he didn’t mind hearing. Maybe it was the calm of the island, or the fact that they were finally alone without Luffy’s antics or Nami’s orders, but something shifted in the air between them. They weren’t just bickering for the sake of it anymore. It was as if they were finally understanding each other in a way they hadn’t before.

“Hey, moss-head,” Sanji said after a moment, his tone more serious.

“What is it, curly-brow?”

“Do you…ever wonder what it would be like if we didn’t argue so much?”

Zoro raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by the question. “What’s the fun in that?”

Sanji laughed, but there was something different in it. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

There was another pause, longer this time, as they both looked out at the horizon. The goat, apparently content with the attention it had received, wandered off back to its herd.

“You know,” Zoro said, his voice unusually low, “for a cook, you’re not half bad yourself.”

Sanji looked at him, genuinely surprised. “Is that a compliment I hear from the great Roronoa Zoro?”

“Don’t get used to it,” Zoro grumbled, though there was a slight smile on his face.

Sanji smiled back, a warmth spreading in his chest. “Maybe we don’t have to argue all the time.”

“Maybe,” Zoro agreed, his voice softer than usual.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world in shades of orange and pink, the two stood side by side, the tension between them finally giving way to something else—something neither of them could name, but both felt deep in their hearts.

And though they’d never admit it to anyone else, on that quiet cliff on Goat Island, amidst the fluffiest goats they had ever seen, Roronoa Zoro and Vinsmoke Sanji found a new kind of peace—one where their constant bickering could turn into something much sweeter.

But that didn’t mean they’d stop fighting. After all, they were still Zoro and Sanji.

---

**End**

#op zosan #zosan family #zosan art #sanjionepiece #vinsmoke sanji #sanji vinsmoke #sanji x reader #with: zoro #op zoro #zoro x sanji #nami

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torao-chan · 2 months ago

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First post won't be connected with the other, which'll be a long chain, but here's the sketches that led up to me buying a new, proper notebook for sketching in.

This series of pages took place over, like, three or four (five? time's weird) months, until the frequency increased to the point where we felt our creativity was really beginning to find it's footing again.

This first batch was all built off of inspiration given to us by fanaticsnail's sub Kid fics asdlkjkgldjsfkg We never ended up finishing them might still finish the top kid on the second page though because none of them Hit The Right Vibe we were going for alkdsjlkgjkdf We were still fighting Perfectionism off at that point

Some specific notes:

Shoes are still a weak point of ours. Like a lotta human related things. We just gotta keep practicing until we get there 😿

We wanted to try and figure out drawing Bepo cause!! He's so cute alksdjlkgfdg Still trying to hit the middle ground between Oda's style and our furry art style asdgfdshf >w>;;

We did a lot of body and expression studies and I have a spare page that has since gone missing of more of these no idea where that went

Hands my beloved-beloathed. Love drawing them, suck at it.

Along with trying to nail the Kid that stuck in our head from this fic, we also tried to nail the Killer that came from discussions around this fic. Both we're not happy with, but neither we've given up on yet (　｀д´)9 they haunt us in our waking moments. lurking the back of our mind. we'll nail it eventually

These pages are when we started going 'but... what if we made keychains'. Still may end up using some of these sketches for keychains and/or stickers or something.

Some specific notes:

We wanna turn the rook-rook on the first page into a bookmark for Lil' Red >w>;; may not get it done in time for their birthday though

Also want to make a dangle Hot Cross Bun keychain so he may make a reappearance too!

Really, really still love the LuLaw-SunMoon dangle charm concept. That IS going to become something eventually.

Tobiuo on the second page is fanaticsnail's OC >w> we wanna make a something for her still asdlkjgflkd just still trying to find something that Hits Right

Really wanna make a NYEP Luffy sticker. Haven't given up on that concept yet either laksdjklgfdg

If you've seen one of those base sketches fully developed, no you haven't 😏 I'll come back and link it after a certain date lmao.

Also some base sketches for gift ideas for residual. I will find something that clicks (　｀д´)9 I swear ittttt

A mixture of maybe sticker? Designs? And some general furry warm ups alongside my dreams of a Friendly Flower Pal reversible keychain set, which still needs to be seen accomplished. Also also; Guard Point Chopper - Marimo Zoro - Puffle!Luffy as a sticker set is still Prevalent in my mind.

The base concept sketch for this reversible keychain which just needs to be printed out now! Along with the complete brainrot for this post that slapped me across the face that One Morning. And also. Booty short concept Lil' Red and I came up with after discussing my Birthday Cake that week lmao.

Last sketch before the new sketchbook was bought, which was the attempted drafts for this art born of the fanfic brainrot Minniaa gave me asdlkjglkfdj. Sexy and happy poses, apparently, I struggle with greatly. But angst? Can nail that in a heartbeat; an old friend, if you would aldskjglkfdg

#gonna compile the other one in a bit but here's a starter #personal #my art

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cha-lii · 2 months ago

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crumble and fall

Chapter 2

Zoro was sitting on the floor with his back against the infirmary wall, watching Sanji’s chest rise and fall as he slept. He’d apparently passed out not long after Luffy had deposited him on the infirmary bed, and had only roused slightly as Chopper had checked him over.

He had a truly nasty concussion, one that had Chopper wringing his little hooves together anxiously talking about seizures and epilepsy and memory loss. He had deep, black bruising on his ribs that was going to make breathing absolute hell for the next few days, or even weeks. He also had a bruise covering the space between his neck and his clavicle, ugly purple spreading out from a small point of red. Somehow, that was the one bothering Zoro the most.

Maybe it was because it had taken him several long seconds to even realise that must be where Jin had shot him that third time. Maybe it was that – the carelessness of Zoro not even knowing what had hurt his nakama, even though he’d been in the fucking room. Or maybe it was the memory of the cook’s pained, breathless words to them after Jin had finally left them; the way he’d tried his very best to offer them some kind of comfort even though talking at all must have been agonising.

Maybe he was angry at Sanji for allowing himself to be put in that position in the first place.

Or maybe he was angry at himself for still being so fucking weak, even now.

Sanji shifted slightly, and Zoro had started to stand before he’d even realised it – but the cook didn’t wake. His face creased a bit, and his arms moved towards his chest, his injuries paining him even in unconsciousness – but his eyes remained stubbornly closed, and Zoro felt pathetically grateful. He settled back against the wall with a short sigh, and resumed his vigil. Not that he really needed to – Luffy hadn’t moved from Sanji’s side once, not even to clean the blood from his fists. Zoro looked at his captain now, where he was stretched out so carefully along Sanji’s side, fast asleep. He had failed Luffy, too. Again.

His arm throbbed, every beat of his heart sending pulses of pain through the limb and up into his shoulder. Chopper had tried to give him something, to ease the pain. Zoro had barely managed not to shout at the little reindeer as he’d approached with the syringe. No drugs, he’d insisted, voice low and rough and just a little bit desperate. Chopper had taken one look at his face and set the syringe aside. He hadn’t offered it again since then.

Zoro closed his eye and leaned his head back against the wall. The pain was good. The pain meant he was present; it meant he had control of himself, of his body. He could handle the pain. Hell, he fucking welcomed it at this point.

He must have dozed off, because next thing he knew a voice was calling to him, so quiet and weak sounding that it shouldn’t have made his whole body tense – but it did. Because that voice belonged to–

“Cook,” Zoro opened his eye to find Sanji watching him. His face was pale, making the bruises stand out even more harshly in the dim light of the infirmary. As Zoro watched, he began struggling to sit, his unsteady movements jostling Luffy awake.

“Mn, Sanji,” the younger man grumbled, laying an arm across his bruised chest to gently, so gently, push him back down. Sanji struggled briefly, barely seeming to register Luffy at all, and Zoro opened his mouth to tell him to lie the fuck down. Sanji spoke again before he could.

“M-marimo,” he said, slow and slurred and still so fucking quiet. His blackened eyes were hazy, and his mouth twitched in pain as his movement’s strained his ribs. “Z-Zoro – what’s – what–” And he sounded so much like he did in that cell, when he woke up lost and confused and in pain only to be met with even more cruelty, that Zoro did the absolute worst thing he possibly could – he ran.

He passed Nami and Chopper as he stormed through the galley. Nami was lying on the couch, with the doctor curled up at her side. Clearly neither of them had felt particularly inclined to stray very far from Sanji either. Zoro prodded Chopper’s back until he opened his eyes and peered blearily up at him, blue nose twitching and snuffling.

“Cook’s awake,” Zoro said, keeping his voice low so as not to wake the sleeping navigator. Not that it mattered, because as soon as the words were out of his mouth Chopper jolted, and clambered clumsily over Nami’s legs to make his way to the galley. Nami moaned, sitting up and pressing her fingers to her eyes.

“What?” She hissed, then she looked at Zoro’s face and at Chopper throwing open the door to the infirmary, and within seconds she had joined him.

Zoro looked at the open door, and heard the low murmur of their voices. He didn’t follow them.

Robin cooked breakfast. She was moving slower than usual, still worn out from just those few hours’ exposure to sea-stone, but she seemed in high enough spirits. She kept it simple: a big pot of scrambled eggs (nowhere near as fluffy as the cook managed to make them, and just a tad too salty), and a tall stack of toast.

Sanji was still confined to the infirmary, so that’s where Luffy was, too. The rubber man didn’t even respond to the call for food. As everyone else settled around the table, Nami emerged from the infirmary looking fondly exasperated.

“Can someone help me take some through to them?” She asked the table at large. Brook stood agreeably to help her dish out Luffy’s ridiculous portion and Sanji’s much saner one. They took the plates through, moving carefully so as not to spill anything. As the door opened Zoro heard Luffy’s lively laughter, only slightly quieter than it normally would be for Sanji’s benefit. He heard the cook say something, something cheeky judging by his tone, and then the door was closed again.

“Zoro?” He snapped his eyes to Usopp, the sniper staring at him with raised brows and a spoonful of eggs in one hand. Zoro scowled at him, and at the rest of the crew as they all turned to stare at him.

“Fuckin’ – what?” Their eyes went sheepishly back to their food, and Usopp raised his other hand placatingly. Zoro tried not to stare at the splint on the sniper’s nose, remembering with sudden vividness the exact sound it had made as the marines had smashed his face against the deck of their ship.

“Relax, relax. I just asked for your plate, that’s all. A few times, actually. You were zoned out. You okay?” Zoro only grunted, offering his plate without another word. When Nami and Brook came back out of the infirmary, they both seemed in better moods than they had been a mere five minutes earlier. Nami was even smiling.

“They’re both okay?” Franky asked her as she sat. She nodded, scraping some butter and marmalade onto her toast.

“Luffy’s talking a mile a minute about fucking fish, of all things. And Sanji-kun is eating it all up. Dunno how he has the energy for it, first thing in the morning.” Franky grinned widely, and Zoro could actually see the relief spreading through everyone like a breath of fresh air. He wished he could share the sentiment.

“Hey, Luffy’s smarter than he lets on, sometimes,” Usopp said, squirting an unholy amount of tabasco on his eggs, and then a bit more after catching Chopper’s horrified expression. “He knows – if there’s one thing to talk about that’ll cheer Sanji up, it’s fish.”

“Or women,” Franky reminded him, and Usopp burst out laughing.

“Yeah, but imagine Luffy trying to talk about women! With Sanji!” They all laughed aloud at that, and even Zoro couldn’t hold back a smirk at the thought. His smile fell again as he looked down at his plate. He wasn’t hungry, not even slightly.

Between the pain from his arm, and the exhaustion of his sleepless night, and the after-effects of whatever drug the marines had used, he was feeling downright nauseous. But there was food on his plate, and he wasn’t going to waste it just because the cook was too hurt to fight him over it. He picked up his fork, and began shovelling eggs into his mouth before he could change his mind.

Breakfast ended, and the crew seemed to migrate as one in the direction of the infirmary. Franky and Jinbei stood pressed together in the doorway, their frames too large to fit into the small room, even without almost the entire crew crammed in it. Through the open door, Zoro heard Chopper’s bossy little voice insisting that Luffy “stop doing that, he’s hurt!”, and he heard the answering laughter from Luffy and Usopp and Brook. He heard Robin speaking gently, the low timbre of her voice so comforting. He heard Usopp saying something in that overconfident way he had that made it perfectly clear that he was lying, and he heard Nami calling him out on it in a deadpan voice that earned her hoots of laughter.

He heard how the whole crew had to fall silent just to hear anything Sanji had to say, because the cook could barely even seem to talk anymore, with his bruised throat. Zoro gritted his teeth, and stood from the table. Franky turned at the movement, wearing an easy smile. “You not coming?”

Zoro didn’t look back at him as he left the galley.

Sanji wasn’t allowed out of the infirmary for another entire day, despite his vehement protests that he was fine , he could still cook. As if he hadn’t fallen over the first time he’d climbed out of bed to go to the toilet. As if Luffy hadn’t had to practically carry him up the ladder to the restroom when his vertigo proved too much for him to handle. As if he didn’t still look – and clearly feel – like a walking fucking bruise.

By the time Chopper reluctantly, very reluctantly, allowed Sanji back into the galley, the cook was practically bouncing off the walls. A mixture of boredom, pain and nicotine withdrawals, Zoro guessed. He watched from where he was sat by the helm as the cook sucked down one cigarette after another, downright preening under the gleeful attention of his friends, all so happy to see him up and about again.

Luffy was smiling broadly, pressed against Sanji’s side even now. Zoro wondered, watching the cook sway slightly with Sunny’s movements, if it wasn’t more for the cook’s benefit than his own. Usopp was up on his crutches, looking a bit wobbly as well but grinning and gesticulating wildly as he spun some yarn about their grand escape from the marines, Chopper gazing up at him with clear adoration. Brook was tuning his guitar, and Franky and Jinbei were talking quietly together about something or other, and Robin and Nami were watching them all with smiles on their faces – and Zoro felt so fucking angry at the normality of it all that he could barely breathe.

Scoffing, he leaned back against the railing behind him, and closed his eye. It wasn’t their fault, he knew that. He was fully fucking aware that he was the one being unreasonable here.

It wasn’t that he wanted them to be angry too – he would never begrudge them their happiness. It was more the fact that none of them had addressed it, even once. The thing that was dominating Zoro’s mind; the thing that had been hounding him since he’d dropped his first sword. No one was talking about how weak they’d been. How weak he’d been. No one even seemed to fucking care.

And if no one cared about their weaknesses, then how were they supposed to get stronger? How were they supposed to avoid another situation like that, with all of them incapacitated and at the mercy of a completely psychotic, sadistic, power-tripping–

“Is your arm sore?” Zoro opened his eye to peer at Chopper, the little reindeer shuffling his feet nervously. “Do – do you want that painkiller now? I promise it won’t feel anything like what those marines did to you!” Zoro clenched his jaw, and tried to squash down his irritation.

“No,” he said, his voice sounding clipped and harsh even to him. Wincing at the way it made Chopper duck his head and begin to back away, Zoro reached out with his good arm and snagged the little doctor before he could leave. “Sorry,” Zoro murmured to him. “I’ll manage fine without it, Chop. Don’t worry about me.” Chopper looked back at him, and one small sniffle was all the warning Zoro had before he suddenly had a lapful of sobbing reindeer. “Chopper, what–”

“Of course I’m worried about you, stupid – stupid marimo!” Chopper’s words were muffled in Zoro’s shirt, his small hooves hitting him too lightly on his chest to hurt. “You’re so stupid! You, and Sanji too! Stop being so stupid when you’re so hurt!”

“What’s the cook done?”

“That’s not the point! Both of you are always a-acting like – like – like you don’t even feel it! But I know you do! And as a doctor – as a doctor, it’s my job to take care of you.” Chopper sat back a bit so that he could look up into Zoro’s face, and even though the downy fur on his face was matted with tears and snot, even though his blue nose twitched every time he sniffled, even though he was still sobbing with every other word – at that moment, he looked just as intimidating as that old witch he’d lived with on Drum Island. “I’m your doctor, Zoro, and I – I’m a good one. You can’t keep telling me you’re fine and expect me to believe it. I know you aren’t. Sanji, too. At least Usopp tells me when he’s hurting.”

Zoro took a moment to collect himself – to breathe deeply, and run his hands along Chopper’s back and relish the feeling of the soft fur beneath his fingertips – and then he managed his first smile in days. He hoped it looked more sincere than it felt. “Yeah, you’re right,” he said, and pulled Chopper in for another hug. Chopper leaned in eagerly, and wrapped his arms as far around Zoro’s torso as he could – which wasn’t very far at all.

“Then… can I–”

“I still don’t want it, Chopper,” Zoro insisted, gently but firmly. “I’m sorry, I know you’re only trying to do your job. But I just – I can’t surrender control again. Not now. I just can’t.”

“But – b-but–”

“Chopper,” Zoro leaned back, tucking a finger under Chopper’s chin and tilting his head up until their eyes met. “I’m fine. I promise. It hurts, but it’s nowhere near the worst I’ve ever had. You’re a good doctor – the best in the world. This isn’t anything to do with you. This is my choice. Got it?”

Chopper scowled a little, and opened his mouth around what was sure to be another argument, but whatever he saw in Zoro’s eyes stopped him. In the end, he only nodded in defeat. Zoro tried for another smile, and pulled him back in. Leaning back again, they both fell asleep in the warm sun.

“–sleeping, come and play!” Zoro was jolted awake by his captain’s eager shout, and the feeling of Chopper being wrenched off of his chest. He reached for his swords instinctively, before opening his eye and seeing the doctor safe in Luffy’s arms, looking completely and utterly confused at his abrupt awakening. Usopp was shaking his head fondly, leaning against the bannister as he watched them. Zoro swallowed back his uneasiness at the sight of the unsteady sniper standing so close to the stairs.

“Zoro, you too! Come play!” Luffy was grinning at him, and his eyes were bright as he secured Chopper under one arm and tickled him relentlessly with his free hand. Chopper was shrieking with laughter, kicking his little feet. Zoro wished he didn’t feel so irritated by the sound. “Go away, Luffy,” he growled, closing his eye again. “I’m trying to sleep.”

“Boo, you’re always sleeping. You should have some fun instead!” Zoro decided that didn’t deserve an answer, and kept his eyes stubbornly closed. Luffy seemed to watch him for another long moment, but eventually moved to sit on the stairs with Usopp. Zoro listened to them dealing cards for whatever dumb game they’d made up, and tried to loosen some of the tension in his body.

He was tired, so tired. But did he really have time for napping? He should be training, getting stronger. He should be meditating, strengthening his Haki. He should be–

He was so caught up in himself that he didn’t hear the footsteps approaching him.

“Here, marimo,” Sanji’s voice came from above him, still too fucking quiet, and a foot nudged his leg. Zoro felt his body stiffen even further, and his eye shot open to glare at the cook. Sanji frowned a bit at the look, puzzled at the unprompted hostility, and Zoro realised he was being shitty – realised it even before he saw the plate of onigiri held in the cook’s outstretched hand. He was being an asshole, he knew that, but still–

“Don’t want it,” he ground out, closing his eye again. But not before he caught the flash of emotions that crossed the cook’s battered face – surprise, irritation, confusion. Hurt.

“Just fucking take it, marimo, it’s lunchtime. You need to ea–”

“Fuck off, I said I don’t want it. Give it to Luffy, or somethin’.”

“Mari–”

“Fuck. Off.” He laid a hand on his swords, and waited for the answering kick. Arguing was good, sparring was good. They were normal, they were expected. It didn’t matter that Zoro’s arm was throbbing, or that Sanji looked like a strong gust of wind would be enough to knock him over. Zoro suddenly, desperately needed a fight, an outlet for his anger, a way for him to get stronger–

The moment stretched. When Zoro finally gave in and opened his eye, the cook was looking at him with a strange expression on his bruised face. Zoro raised his eyebrows and began to nudge Wado out of its scabbard, a clear challenge. Sanji opened his mouth, to argue, Zoro hoped, or to throw back some insult. Instead, the cook let out a strange, shuddering breath, and shook his head minutely. Zoro frowned, irritation bleeding away. Something was wrong.

“Cook?”

“Whatever,” Sanji muttered, dropping the plate at Zoro’s side so clumsily one of the rice balls rolled onto the deck. He straightened up and turned too quickly, stumbling slightly. Zoro began to stand, and was aware of the others pausing their game to look over, but Sanji recovered himself enough to clamber down the stairs without falling, and Zoro watched him storm across the deck and slam the galley door behind him.

“Everything… okay?” Zoro looked over at Usopp. The sniper looked nervous. Zoro shrugged.

“Cook’s just being pissy again,” he scoffed, trying to pretend he wasn’t bothered by whatever the hell had just happened. That look in Sanji’s eye – it was almost like fear. Zoro frowned, dismissing the uneasy thought. Why would the cook be afraid of him? They spar all the fucking time, each always giving as good as they got. Sanji had never once looked at him like… like that . It made Zoro’s skin crawl. He stood, gathering his swords against his chest.

“‘M gonna train,” he muttered to the group on the stairs. “Luffy, eat that.”

“Ah! Zoro, no! You – you’re hurt, and your arm is–”

“Relax, Chopper, I won’t do anything that’ll strain it. It’s in a cast anyway, what the hell would I even be able to do to it?”

“You’ll find a way!” Luffy cackled at Chopper’s infuriated shout, onigiri already half gone, and Zoro took the opportunity to slip away to the crow’s nest as the doctor’s ire found a new target in their captain. Climbing up the rigging to the nest proved a challenge, but Zoro managed it without too much trouble. He shut the door behind him, and allowed himself to relax a bit in the privacy of the empty room. He laid his swords carefully against the wall, and paused for a moment to look at them.

He hadn’t allowed himself to falter when he’d picked them up again for the first time after their captivity. He knew that if he’d allowed himself any hesitation at all, the weight of them would have become too great. And he really would be weak, then. He’d forced himself to ignore the feelings of unworthiness as he’d lifted Enma, remembering the feeling of her hilt slipping from his fingers. He’d tried to forget the memory of Jin prying Wado Ichimonji from his jaws as if he’d had any right at all to even touch her.

He’d tried to apologise to them, his blades, his treasures, to convey to them that he would never fail them again, never lose them again. He wondered if he could become strong enough to fulfil that promise.

Gritting his teeth, Zoro picked up a dumbbell, and got to work.

Zoro only emerged from the nest hours later when Luffy called him down for dinner. He was, quite frankly, disgusting. His t-shirt was plastered to his back with sweat, and when he caught a whiff of himself as he climbed back down the rigging he was abruptly reminded of the fact he hadn’t bathed since before the fight that had gotten them captured in the first place. He was scowling again when he entered the galley, and his mood wasn't improved by the wrinkled noses of his crewmates as he took his seat at the table.

“Fuck’s sake, Zoro,” Nami complained at him, screwing up her face dramatically and waving an arm in his direction, as though to ward him off. “Are you an animal? Are you an honest to god wild animal? What the hell?”

“Shut up, witch,” he grumbled back, flipping her off. “What’s the point in training if you don’t even break a sweat? Get over it.”

“Easy for you to say, you’re not the one who has to smell you.”

“Stop whining, you’re giving me a headache.”

“You do smell really bad, bro,” Franky said, almost sounding apologetic. Chopper nodded next to him, both hooves held over his nose. “You shouldn’t be moving around so much yet,” the little reindeer added stubbornly. Zoro rolled his eyes, and began spooning curry and rice onto his plate, ignoring the exaggerated disgust on everyone’s faces every time he reached across the table. He settled back in his seat and lifted his spoon, but before he could begin eating there was a clattering from the kitchen, followed by a quiet curse. Everyone’s eyes followed the noise.

“Sanji?” Robin called out softly. “Do you need a hand?” Sanji’s head popped up from behind the kitchen island, trying and failing to hide a wince behind a tired smile. Zoro saw the way his eyes flashed nervously in his direction, and he turned back to his food.

“Ah – no, thank you, Robin-chan!” The cook’s voice sounded just a tad too chipper to be convincing. “My hand just slipped, that’s all.” No one looked reassured. Zoro began eating.

“Come sit, Sanji-kun,” Nami said, dishing out her own portion. “You’ve been on your feet too long.”

“You’re so sweet, Nami-san, but I’m fine.”

Zoro kept eating, watching Sanji from the corner of his eye. The cook swayed as he stood, the pots he had dropped before stacked again in his hands. Zoro watched as he left them in the sink and began carrying the rest of the platters, stacked with flat breads and chutneys and fried vegetables, to the already crowded table.

“Whoa, Sanji!” Luffy exclaimed as yet more food was laid out in front of him. “This is great! Are we having a feast?” And sure enough, when Zoro looked again, there was more food than usual. Far more. Sanji only laughed, a tired sound, and shrugged his shoulders.

“No, no,” he said, his voice still carrying that strange chuckle. “I just thought you’d be hungry, that’s all.”

“Always!” Luffy exclaimed, digging in eagerly. Zoro frowned, looking at the vast quantities of food spread out before them. The cook had outdone himself – even if he hadn’t been beaten to hell, this would have been a huge amount of work. Zoro turned to say as much to him, to remind him that he needed to take it easy, instead of exhausting himself and giving Chopper even more work to do – Sanji flinched under Zoro’s glare, and he quickly retreated back to the kitchen. Zoro blinked, reprimands forgotten. What the hell?

“Sanji, sit down,” Usopp finally said as Sanji approached with the, seemingly, final platter of food. He placed it on the table, and abruptly found himself with nothing left to excuse him. Usopp patted the empty chair next to him expectantly, and stared the cook down in a way he wouldn’t have dared to two years ago. “Sit.”

Sanji looked ready to argue, but quickly seemed to realise the futility of it, and finally sat with them. Zoro looked at the way his body immediately seemed to sag in the chair, and the way his face twisted in relief at finally being allowed a break. He ran his hands down his face, and Zoro noted immediately how they trembled. He caught Robin’s eyes across the table, and from the grim set of her mouth knew that she’d caught it too.

“Are you sure you’re feeling alright, Sanji?” She asked in a low voice, smiling at the cook when he looked over at her. He smiled, and it looked real enough. “I truly am feeling much better, Robin-chan. I appreciate your concern, though. Thank you.” He didn’t look over at Zoro again – in fact, he seemed to be actively avoiding meeting his eyes. Zoro scoffed, and returned to his food.

Neither of them said a word to each other for the rest of the meal.

Zoro knew Nami was waiting for him below as he finished the bath he’d been bullied into. He was almost tempted to wait her out, to stew in the lukewarm water until she gave up and retreated. But that wouldn’t be fair to her. He wasn’t being fair to any of them, he knew that. So instead, he struggled with his uninjured arm to climb into the soft trousers and jumper he’d stolen from Usopp’s locker, and draped his towel around his neck, and climbed down the ladder to the library as steadily as he could.

“Everyone is worried about you, you know,” Nami said quietly, without missing a beat. She was sitting on the library bench, staring out at the dark sea beyond the windows. She didn’t turn to him as he approached and sat beside her. He bit his lip against whatever sharp words he wanted to throw back, and waited until the flash of anger passed before trusting himself to speak. “I know,” was all he ended up saying.

“If you know, then stop avoiding us. It’s only making things worse.”

“You’re overreacting,” he dismissed, knowing full well that she wasn’t. “I’m not avoiding anyone, I’m just resting more. And training more.”

“You’re hiding,” Nami hissed, turning to him now. Her eyes were bright with anger. Zoro bristled, opening his mouth around an angry retort, but she wasn’t finished. “You feel like you’re weak, like you failed. And you feel like – like you should have done more – and instead of facing that head-on like the rest of us, you’re hiding away like a coward.”

“Fuck you,” he bit out. His fists were clenched in his lap, his broken arm throbbing in its cast, and his teeth were gritting together so hard he could hear them creak, and his eyes burned. “You don’t even – you have no fucking idea. You don’t – you’re fucking used to–” He cut himself off before that thought could finish, but he’d said enough. Nami’s face went white. Then it flushed red, and her eyes filled with tears.

“I’m ‘used to it’?” Her voice was low, dangerous. She stood, looming over him in a way that he shouldn’t have found so threatening.

“That’s not–”

“Yes, it is,” she interrupted him, tears spilling down her cheeks. The cook would have my fuckin’ head, Zoro thought, absurdly. “That’s exactly what you meant. So, what? I’m ‘used to’ being weak, so this isn’t a big deal for me, is that it? I’m ‘used to’ being weak, so seeing Sanji-kun get – g-get–” Her chest heaved as she faltered, and Zoro couldn’t blame her.

“Nami…”

“Seeing Sanji-kun getting shot in the fucking head is supposed to be, what, fucking easy for me?” Her voice had risen, and she was all but shouting now, but Zoro couldn’t bring himself to shush her. He met her eyes squarely, and tried to apologise in a way she could accept.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said evenly. She shook her head and turned abruptly to leave – but he snagged her wrist in his uninjured hand before she could. “Nami. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sorry.” She stood still, turned away from him, and the moment stretched for so long that he wondered if maybe she was just going to walk away from him after all. Eventually, though, she sighed, and turned back to him. She was still crying, but it seemed less angry, somehow. Now, it just seemed tired.

“I’m not used to it,” she whispered, and he slid his hand down to clasp her hand tightly. “I’ll never be used to it, Zoro.”

“I know.”

“I thought he was dead. I really – I really thought he was–”

“I know. Me too.”

Nami didn’t let go of his hand as she sat back down next to him. Her head landed on his shoulder, and he let her cry herself out. When she was done, he tried again.

“I just meant – I don’t know how to do it. How to lose and not – I don’t know, fucking fixate on it. Every time I lose, it’s all I can fucking think about. But you guys, you and Usopp and Chopper – hell, even Luffy – you lose and then you get back up again, and next time you fight you do it without even thinking about it. And you win. And you move on, just like that. But this time…”

“This time none of us won,” Nami said, understanding immediately. Or maybe she’d been thinking the same thing this whole time. Zoro sighed. He felt like an asshole.

“Yeah,” he whispered, letting go of her hand to wrap his arm around her shoulders. She made a surprised sound, but leaned into the touch gratefully. “Luffy showed up, and he took care of things the way he always does. And I didn’t – I didn’t get to do a single thing to that piece of shit. I didn’t get to – to hurt him. To kill him. I didn’t get to even say anything to him. It just – it doesn’t feel like it should be over. Not when I didn’t get to do a single fuckin’ thing to help.” Nami snaked her arms around his middle, and squeezed tight.

“I feel the same,” she admitted in a whisper. “I don’t know what I could have done, what help I could have even been, but I – I still wish that I’d done something. I get it, Zoro. And so do Robin and Usopp. They’ve been tearing themselves up over it as well, I can tell.” Zoro sighed.

“Luffy would beat us all up if he knew how dumb we’re being,” he muttered. Nami snorted, and Zoro liked the sound much better than her sobbing. “We’re okay, though,” he told her, and she nodded, her hair tickling his chin. “We’re all okay, and we’ll get stronger. I won’t – we won’t let anything like that happen again. Never again.” Nami nodded again. Finally, she sat back. Zoro squeezed her shoulder one more time before removing his arm and bringing it back to his lap.

“You need to say something to Sanji-kun, though,” she said, and he looked at her. So she’d noticed, too.

“Why do I have to?” Nami shook her head, frowning.

“I don’t know, something’s up with him. I mean, besides the obvious,” she turned back to the window, and chewed her lip for a moment, seeming to debate with herself about what to say next. “There’s – there’s something in his face, when he looks at you,” she finally admitted quietly, looking at him apologetically when he sucked in a harsh breath, her words confirming what he’d been trying to ignore. “I don’t know what happened, but he’s – it’s bad, Zoro. He looks – he looks like he did after Whole Cake Island. Like he’s – scared, and sad, all the time. He’s trying to hide it, because of course he has, but we know him too well. We can all see it.”

“What’s that got to do with me?” Zoro insisted.

“I don’t know, Zoro, but he looks – he looks scared of you! I swear, he does! You’ve been avoiding us, so you probably haven’t noticed – every time someone even mentions you, he goes all quiet and withdrawn. And the looks he gave you during dinner – it’s like he expected you to attack him or something. It’s bad – did something happen?”

“I don’t know,” he swore, shrugging his shoulders at Nami’s impatient sigh. “I really don’t. He was acting weird with me earlier on, for no fuckin’ reason. I don’t know why.” Nami searched his face, and seemed to believe him.

“Fine,” she said. “But you have to talk to him about it. Tonight. I mean it, Zoro,” she raised her voice over the beginnings of his objection. “You know what he gets like, when he’s all in his own head about something. This isn’t something that we can just leave alone. It’ll only fester, and turn into something ugly. Just, please – please go talk to him. I can’t have you guys not talking to each other, not after everything that happened. I really can’t.”

Zoro was tired – he wanted to sleep, to forget about everything that had happened over the past few days. He wanted to rest, not to dig up whatever insecurities were making the cook so pissy with him. But he looked at Nami’s face, at the deep bags under her red-rimmed eyes, at the way her lips were still trembling, belying the fact that she was still close to tears. He looked at her, and found himself nodding.

“Okay,” he said. “Okay, I’ll talk to him.” She nodded, and managed a small, shaky smile for him.

“Good,” she whispered, taking his hand again and squeezing it tight. “And then get some sleep, you look like shit.”

Sanji was on watch. He’d insisted vehemently at the dinner table that he was well enough to do his shift, turning down Brook and Franky’s offers to take his place, and shrugging off Chopper’s insistences that he needed to rest . Zoro was positive that the only thing that had stopped Chopper from locking the cook in the infirmary for the foreseeable future had been Luffy’s hand on his little head, and his gentle reminder that Sanji was free to do what he wanted. He knew they all saw the complicated array of emotions that had flashed over the cook’s face at their captain’s words, though none of them had mentioned it.

When Zoro opened the hatch to the crow’s nest now, he didn’t miss the way Sanji flinched. Nor did he miss the way the cook’s shoulders seemed to hunch, as though he wanted to make himself smaller where he was curled up on the bench. Zoro frowned, and forced himself not to hesitate as he climbed the rest of the way into the room.

“Cook, we need to talk about this,” he said, knowing that the cook was fully aware of what he meant. Sanji didn’t answer him, eyes fixed firmly on the horizon. “Sanji.”

“You don’t have to yet,” Sanji’s voice was strained, and it was shaking. Zoro clenched his fists at the sound. And at his words. “I’m still – I’m still me.” He finally turned to face him, and Zoro sucked in a harsh breath. Because Sanji looked ill, his face pale and his eyes red, his bruises standing out sickeningly in the light of the nest. But worse than that, he looked afraid, just like Nami had said. Afraid of Zoro.

“Cook, what–”

“I know that – I know my body is – is fucked now, but – but I’m still – I’m still me, Zoro. I promise. I promise I’m still me. It’s not – it hasn’t happened yet. So you don’t – you don’t have to – I’m not going to hurt anyone. I swear. I swear, I won’t hurt anyone–”

“Stop it,” the words felt forced out of him the way a punch forces air out of lungs. Zoro had taken the blade of the world’s strongest swordsman straight to the chest. He had accepted Luffy’s pain at Thriller Bark, his body taking a beating no normal human should ever be able to survive. Two years ago, he had failed his captain so thoroughly that he knew he would never be able to atone for it. Somehow this hurt worse.

Sanji flinched again. “Marimo. Zoro. I’m not a monster yet.”

“I never fucking said you were,” Zoro replied hoarsely, and something in his voice must have gotten through to the cook, because his face lost some of that defensive fear and edged a bit closer to confusion.

“I – I thought–”

“I don’t fucking care what you fucking thought, cook,” Zoro’s volume was increasing, but he couldn’t help it. Not when he’d done this. “I’m not here to – to fucking kill you. I – did you seriously think I was?” Sanji’s eyes flashed at the incredulous tone, and Zoro could only feel relieved as his own voice started to rise, his tone beginning to carry some anger in place of that horrible, horrible fear.

“Well, fucking – yes! Yeah! I fucking did, because what the fuck else am I supposed to think, huh?” His hands flew up to his head in that way they so often did these days. He tugged on his hair, even as the pull on his injuries made him wince. “You’ve been – you look at me like – what the fuck else am I supposed to think, when you can barely even look at me anymore? And – and you all saw it – you saw it. Fucking – shot in the fucking head, and I can just walk it off? What the fuck does that make me if not a fucking monster?”

“You call this ‘walking it off’?” Zoro bit out, feeling nauseous. “Look at yourself, cook, you’re barely even able to stand. And besides, we’re an entire crew of monsters, you’re nothing special. I’m not going to fucking kill you just because your skin got an upgrade.”

“An ‘upgrade’?” Sanji gestured to himself, his hands shaking. “How is this an ‘upgrade’? How is – fucking – any of this Germa bullshit –” His breathing was picking up, and his eyes were wide and staring blankly down at his hands. Zoro cursed inwardly, stalking across the room before he could talk himself out of it. He seized Sanji’s shoulders, his cast making it difficult to get a proper grip, and ignored the way the other man tried to back away from him.

“Cook – Sanji, listen to me,” he shook the cook’s shoulders until he looked up from his hands and met his eyes. “I’m not going to kill you. Because you’re right – you’re not a monster. And whatever the fuck is up with your body now doesn’t have to be bad – it can be an ‘upgrade’ if you let it, but only if you let it.”

“No, no,” Sanji was shaking his head now, as if Zoro agreeing with him on this was suddenly the last thing he wanted. “You don’t – you don’t understand. You don’t – it’s happening. It is. It’s happening. I can’t–”

“Nothing is happening,” Zoro insisted, squeezing his shoulders and shaking them again. “Hey. Nothing is happening, okay? We won’t let it. You’re fine. You are.” Sanji just kept shaking his head.

“Zoro,” he whispered, and Zoro felt his eyes burning at the utter hopelessness in his voice. “I don’t want to be like them. I’d rather be–”

“Don’t,” Zoro shook him so hard his teeth clacked together, and he couldn’t help the harshness of his tone, because that was – that was – “You’re not allowed to think that. Not ever. Got it? Got it?” Sanji looked at him, eyes wide as he searched Zoro’s face. Whatever he saw there – fury, or maybe terror – seemed to shake him out of his panic. He took a shuddering breath, and his hands came up to rest on Zoro’s forearms, squeezing the uncasted arm tightly.

“Yeah,” he whispered hoarsely. “Yeah, I’m sorry. Zoro, hey,” and now he was the one trying to sound reassuring, because Zoro felt very fucking close to falling apart himself. “I’m sorry.”

“Just – just don’t fuckin’ do that. Don’t ever do that, cook. Not to us.”

“I know. I know, I would never. I was just – I’m just scared, Zoro. This – this scares me.” Zoro nodded, and swallowed thickly. He squeezed Sanji’s shoulders one more time before releasing him and moving to sit on the bench. After a long moment, Sanji joined him. “It might get worse,” he said, still whispering. Zoro turned to look at him, but he was staring out the window again. “It might actually happen. Me becoming – one of them.” Zoro clenched his fists. He wished he could deny it, but that was the real kicker. None of them could.

“If it does, we’ll fix it,” he said instead, and was relieved to find that he believed it. “Luffy will fix it. He’s a fuckin’ god now, cook, remember? If anyone is capable of miracles, it's him.” Sanji scoffed, and then chuckled, a weary sounding thing that lifted a weight off of Zoro’s chest nevertheless.

“Yeah,” he said. “Yeah, I guess you’re right about that.”

They fell silent for a long while, watching the calm sea stretched out before them. Zoro was so, so tired. He’d experienced more pain and terror and bone-deep relief over the past few days than he had in a long time, and his body was begging him for a rest. But when he turned to the cook again after the companionable silence had stretched for over an hour, it was to find the other man one step ahead of him.

He watched the cook’s slender shoulders rise and fall with each breath as he slept. Watched the way his fingers twitched every now and then, the way his eyes moved restlessly under their lids. He looked at the bruises decorating his face, his neck. He remembered Jin’s hands, twisted in the cook’s hair. Jin’s smile, the way it had stretched wider with every noise of pain drawn from the cook’s mouth.

He remembered the hatred he’d felt coursing through his veins, and the absolute powerlessness to do a single damn thing about it.

“I’m going to get stronger,” Zoro said quietly. A promise, to his friends and to himself. “I’m going to get stronger. This will never happen again.”

Sanji slept on. Zoro kept watch.

#my writing #op fic #one piece fic #one piece #black leg sanji #vinsmoke sanji #roronoa zoro #pre timeskip zoro is the main reason for him being so soft in this #pre timeskip zoro contained a certain goofiness that i will forever adore and miss

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foxydivaxx · 11 months ago

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Zosan: Look What You Made Me Do Chapter 6

Sanji POV

I began to observe something about myself, something that I had been denying for years. I am not so different from Nami. I want the finer things in life. I want to be loved,I want to be free. That was why I became a Strawhat in the first place. But my approach to life is different.

Nami is Miss Independent, driven by a traumatic experience no thanks to a certain smelly fishhead. I on the other hand am driven by grief, neglect and sorrow. I lost the only support I had who happened to be my mother. Sure, I had Reiju but she could barely do much. I still love her though.

I was bullied, tortured and ridiculed for years. I was brought down to nothing for showing my emotions, for displaying what was seen as a weakness in the eyes of my brothers and fathers. As far as they were concerned, I was never a real man. I was a mistake.

All that time I spent all alone in that dungeon wearing that mask,I was begging for death. I never gave myself the chance to be selfish. I was always acting in service to others but ignored myself because as far as I was concerned, someone as messy as I was deserved none of that good shit.

So imagine my surprise when the others came to rescue me from the wedding plot. Like Luffy has saved everyone else so why me? I am just a mere cook. Well according to Luffy, no food equals no life.

No one has ever given me respect for jackshit or love. At times I wish I did become evil and destroyed the world and everyone else around me. Maybe that is why Zoro is with me now. Could be that the others have been sensing whatever dark energy that lay dormant within me and may be trying to distract and protect me from myself?

But why bother? I can barely keep myself together. One minute I am as sweet as sugar and the next I snap like a fucking fire breathing dragon. I act as though there are two people with me. No one knows what that’s about just yet. But there is a part of me that fears that whatever evil demon that is inside me is about to go on a rampage.

I have days when I am fine but there are days I lose my mind. Like I would wake up in the middle of the night and just start screaming. My heart begins to pound as I pant heavily. I look around and realize that I was back on the ship. Meaning that we have left that island a long time ago. A sharp pain hits me in the chest and then I remembered why we had to leave.

A couple hours ago, we were attacked on Greenville Island by none other than my father and the Germa army. Turns out Akuma placed a tracker on me during one of our sexual rendez-vous. Hmm…well played. Either way, Zoro destroyed that tracker once he found out and went feral almost immediately.

Either way, they attacked us and I immediately jumped into action and went to fight my father head on despite Marimo warning me not to do so. Perhaps I should have listened because once again, I was up short. I could not stand a chance against that bastard. Oh and he proceeded to stab me and slash my chest with that stupid sword of his, leading to me losing a lot of blood. How cute. Definite winner of the Father of the Year Grand prize. Pfft…yeah right.

I lost consciousness after that and we all fled the island. It seems my stunt with Akuma rattled the old fool and so now he is after us and wants us dead. Well, me more so than the others because I was the one that killed that old oaf’s guy.

I find it hilarious that the motherfucker would care about Akuma like that. Like Akuma was meant to be a means to an end. So why care about him? Unless my little theory about their relationship is true.

Now, I never met Akuma prior to our sexual relationship. But I also cannot help but suspect that father dearest might have been a closeted bisexual and only married mum because he needed heirs to his now tainted throne.

Germa has a very bloody history that spawns 300 years of bloodshed, slavery and racism which was why I stopped referring to myself as a Vinsmoke even though the world refers to me as such.

I guess Marimo is on watch duty today because he is nowhere to be seen in this room. I try to get up but thanks to the sharp pain, I decide to lay back down. All this time I have been trying to run away from my past, to discard parts of me that I thought never made sense because the world I found myself in never supported or accepted certain aspects of my personality.

Like me showing kindness to others for instance. Or my love for cooking. Or even me being attracted to guys. My deep internal turmoil is so great that I literally cry myself to sleep almost everyday because who would understand my pain?

“You okay Sanji?”

I look up to see my beloved captain Luffy sitting next to him, a caring smile on his face. I still cannot believe that this guy right here still cares for me and was willing to protect me back there. Him and the entire crew. I cannot believe that some people actually love me and are willing to help me regardless of my flaws.

“I…” I could not put m feelings into words because how could I? I just started sobbing. For the first time in a while, I felt like the little boy that was trapped in that dungeon. The kid Judge disowned and pronounced dead to the world because I was not good enough for him.

Luffy just pulls me into a gentle hug and does not say a word. It is almost as though he understands my pain. It was then that I feel another soul outside feeling worried about me. Marimo. Marimo and I have always had this strange emotional link with each other. Whenever one was endangered or was feeling blue, the other would know and would try and send as much caring energy to the other.

Marimo listened to my heart and understood my fears and worries and was trying to reassure me in his own way. Luffy probably felt it from wherever he was and came down here just to check on me.

“It’s okay Sanji. You are gonna be fine. You’ve got us.” says Luffy. I just nod and sob and pout. I do not have enough strength to face the old man now. But I will need to gather strength as soon as possible.

“That reminds me. Nami got in contact with Law. He said that we should go to the next neighbouring island and stop there. I believe there is something that could help you there. Who knows?”

I hope so because I need a lot of power to take down that old bastard and destroy him for good. I am sick of being hunted down by that bastard. I want him wiped off the face of this Earth. After spending Lord knows how many hours in tears, I eventually sleep off in Luffy’s arms.

#sanji #one piece #zoro #zosan

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that-green-haired-swordsman · 2 years ago

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I really don’t know why I had this specific headcanon. Maybe bc I was rereading the relationship between Sanji and his family. Plus on reddit I’ve seen an old post with someone saying „Apparently Oda said that if Sanji should die, Zoro would pick up his smoking habit to remember him“, dunno if this is true but now I’m imagining Zoro and Sanji sharing a cigarette. This story is canon-divergent and it’s also been quite some time since I read the WCI arc and my memory is shit, so bear with me. Also Zoro and Sanji are most likely slightly ooc lol. Anyway, this happened in my brain...

Sanji knows it was a bad idea to go after his so-called family on his own, but he’d rather die while trying to stop them than seeing his friends get in danger. He can’t stand the presence of the man who fathered him, his stench makes him sick to his stomach. Judge has told him all kinds of fairytales about his future power and influence in the world, once Sanji got married to that daughter of Big Mom, and Sanji wishes he could settle things with his family once and for all, but he knows the time isn’t the best, so all he can do for now is listen to his father’s ridiculous fantasies and hope that his friends would be alright.

Of course, Judge tried to ask Sanji about his connection to the Strawhat pirates, which Sanji tried to dodge and give the least possible information about, stating he was only the ship’s chef and nothing else, and his father eyed him suspiciously. „We’ll see about that“, he said and left it at that for the moment, but not without gifting his son with an icy smile that let chills run down over Sanji’s spine.

The door to the throne room opens and Sanji watches his older brothers Ichiji and Niji drag a figure along with them.

„Look at the rat we’ve got here“, Ichiji announces proudly, throwing the man on the floor like a shopping bag. Sanji gulps. Those clothes, short green hair, arms tied behind his back. Goddammit, how could that happen?

„He fell off a tiny ship or whatever that was when we attacked it. These idiots were dumb enough to think they could cross our territorial waters without our permission. Thought he’d look familiar.“

„Does he?“ Judge asks, and Niji grabs the man by the scalp and lifts his head up. A soft sound, metal jingling against metal, from his left ear that was covered in blood, so was his temple, and of course – Sanji already knew who he was when the men entered the room. A figure impossible to mistake for someone else, once you met him, eyeing his opponents with a dark glare like an angered tiger in a cage.

Niji approaches Sanji and Judge with a stack of papers in his hand, briefly says „this one“ and hands the paper on top to his dad. Sanji stares in disbelief at the face that stares at his father’s, full of hatred.

„Ah, Roronoa Zoro“, Judge loudly announces. „The Pirate Hunter. Quite a bounty. I guess you know this guy?“ Judge nugdes Sanji with a grin, but the only response he gets is a frown that’s reserved for Zoro. How could you let yourself get captured?

„What are you doing here?“ Sanji asks his comrade without any emotions in his voice, although there are many of them he feels. The timing of this couldn’t be any worse, Sanji thinks darkly. Shitty marimo is gonna ruin everything. An eerie thought crawls into Sanji’s mind, but he manages to pause it for the moment.

„Guess I could ask you the same thing“, Zoro gives back, husky voice, almost growling, with a suggestive undertone Sanji doesn’t like at all. Zoro is mad. But not solemnly at the Vinsmoke family - first and foremost at Sanji. „Quite a mess you put me in, you dumb cook.“

Sanji bites back the remark that lingers on his tongue, while Judge openly laughs.

„Seems like you boys have something to discuss. I’m afraid there won’t be time for that. But I have quite a few things to talk about with you.“ Judge slowly walks towards Zoro who’s still forced to kneel on the ground.

„Do you?“, Zoro replies, sly grin on his face. „Why would I waste my time talking to a bastard like you?“

„Guess we have to introduce ourselves, father“, Ichiji says, and swings his leg to kick Zoro in the face and the swordsman‘s head jerks to the side and he roars in pain. Sanji flinches and is about to lunge forward to attack Ichiji, but Niji holds him firmly in place. Zoro grunts, blood runs from his nose, and he stares at Ichiji, his brows sunken dangerously low.

„You’re gonna pay for this“, Zoro growls with a deep voice, „for that hit and also for taking away my swords earlier. You don’t seem to know who’s in front of you either….!“

Ichiji grins disdainfully. „You are scum. You’re not worth the ground I’m walking on. You made the mistake of challenging the Vinsmoke family. You might have earned yourself a reputation, but it’s not even close to ours. And you will learn about our power.“

Zoro scans Ichiji’s face, then knits his brows, then looks over to Judge and lastly to Sanji. He grins. And then, he laughs.

„You’re the stupidest looking idiots I’ve ever come across, I don’t know how to take you seriously“, Zoro chuckles, and Sanji shakes his head, both as to acknowledge Zoro’s idiocy and as a warning sign he hopes Zoro sees, in order to tell him to keep his damn big mouth shut.

„You’re not afraid of anything, aren’t you?“, Judge asks Zoro quietly as he crouches down in front of him, and Zoro recovers from his laughing fit and looks directly into Judge’s eyes.

„No.“

„That’s your first mistake“, Judge says, „but based on my work experience I can tell that the inability to detect danger usually is one result of a general lack of intelligence, and you really don’t appear to be smart. Just loud and boisterous.“ Judge watches Zoro from the corner of his eyes, and it’s a bait Zoro all too easily swallows.

„Oh yeah? You guys really think you’re a match for me? And you claim to be the smart one between the two of us.“ Zoro ends with another arrogant, lopsided grin, one of his many trademarks, and Sanji exhales audibly, shaking his head because he damn well knows where this is gonna lead to. He knows that crazy bastard in front of his father inside and out, but the same applies to his father, and he witnesses two men who won’t back down and bow down to anyone standing face-to-face, and that strange feeling he can’t quite grasp crawls back into his head, and Sanji feels the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He’s gonna ruin everything.

Judge eyes him with a cold stare. „You’re gonna tell me everything I want to know about your crew. Where they are, why you are here, everything.“

„What if I don’t?“

Judge looks into Zoro’s face for a moment longer before he stands up again, and he doesn’t move a single muscle in his face as he kicks Zoro in the stomach, enhancing the boot of his raid suit with electricity, and Zoro screams, and Sanji forces himself to watch his comrade go through the agony his own father put him in. Zoro doubles over, groans repeatedly, and Sanji’s whole body shakes and trembles. Niji eyes him suspiciously, and Sanji reminds himself that he has to keep his composure - he told Judge that he doesn’t care about the Straw Hats, none of them.

Zoro coughs as Judge watches him, addressing him one last time with a cold, vicious voice that freezes the blood in Sanji’s veins.

„I’ll put you through hell.“

Zoro remains silent for once, but his dark, if not murderous expression tells Sanji what’s on the swordman’s mind.

Judge crosses his arms behind his back. „Your decision. You can be a traitor and live, or you can be a moron and die.“ He turns around now and locks eyes with Sanji as he walks back to him and Niji. Sanji returns his gaze, and he doesn’t hide the hatred and abhorrence in his eyes.

Just as Zoro inhales and opens his mouth for a retort, Sanji beats him to it. „You’re right, father“, he says loudly, and Judge comes to a halt right in front of him. „He is a stupid idiot. He’s proven to be an idiot time and time again. Never uses his brain, always excited to get in a fight. The only things he cares about are his swords and booze. You can’t expect much from a guy like that.“ Judge eyes Sanji closely, but Sanji holds his gaze. „He’s as illiterate and crude as you expect him to be. We never got along with each other from the day we’ve met. And I don’t intend to change that. He’s the dumb musclehead he looks like. He doesn’t know jack shit. So whatever it is you expect him to know, you can be sure he doesn’t have a clue about it. He’s useless.“

Sanji’s putting much at stake, he knows it. But he’s not gonna let Zoro grant preference to destroy his father, if the odds turned out to be in Zoro’s favor, absolutely fucking not… however, and Sanji’s sure of it, Zoro would be no match to Judge. Not only because Zoro lacks some vital information about the Vinsmokes in general, but also…

The blonde cook feels his heart beating in his chest, and he hopes he actually didn’t manoeuvre himself into a corner like he suspects he did.

If Vinsmoke Judge wasn’t such a large and impressive figure, Sanji would have been able to see Zoro steaming now, but Judge blocks his view on the swordsman. But he can very well hear Zoro yell „You son of a bitch!“, for which he earns a punch from Ichiji. Sanji tries to be calm and collected, and to emphasise his demeanor, he pulls out a cigarette and his lighter and starts to smoke. Niji lets go off him, and Sanji tries to calm down his shaking hands.

„Well, that brings me in some kind of inconvenience“, Judge muses. „I was hoping that my sons would bring me some big enough fish who could enlighten me, but you say otherwise. I guess I have to change my plans then.“ Judge turns around again, and Sanji exhales the breath he’s been holding.

His father walks over to Zoro again.

Fear. That’s what it is. Not uneasiness, not insecurity, not that anxious feeling you experience when you know something bad is likely going to happen. It’s fear. It’s a primal instinct, and Sanji grew to learn it, grew up with living with it, a long time ago.

Judge suddenly speaks up, and he startles Sanji.

„Pardon me, son, but I’m right to assume that, if you despise this man as much as you claim to, you don’t mind if we‘re going to torture him a little bit – just for the hell of it?“ Judge flashes Sanji a vicious grin, one of those that causes the chef’s blood to boil in his veins. „And it’s your decision if you tell me what I want to know instead, and then we’ll stop, or you just leave this roach to his demise and join us, we’re going to destroy the Strawhat pirates anyway. But be informed that, should you comply and sing, in order to stop the torturing, I’ll just count this as another sign of your weakness, as another proof that you’re a failure and an miserable excuse of a man. Because a real man doesn’t care about those who stand in his way, and a real man doesn’t back down. In some way-„ Judge grabs Zoro’s head now and forces him to look into the tyrants‘ face „-it’s a shame that we’re going to kill you piece by piece. A fierce brute like you would’ve fit in my army just fine. But, like I said, you’re not nearly smart enough for that.“

„You’re gonna regret the day we’ve met“, Zoro growls, before Judge gives him a hard push that shoves Zoro over the floor and Sanji watches Ichji and Niji taking a hold of Zoro again, dragging him out of the room while his crewmate throws insult after insult at them.

Sanji feels nauseous. Everything would have been under control, if Zoro wouldn’t have lost against his brothers. A knot forms in his stomach as he thinks about the rest of the crew, the ones who were travelling with Zoro and whose fate he doesn’t know about, as well as the others who stayed on Tottoland Island with Luffy. Sanji damn well knows how much his older brothers love to torture people who they think little of, and parts of his own childhood force their way back into his mind, and he smokes his cigarette quicker. His father’s laughter echoes in his head, a sound he hasn’t heard in such a long time, but which still feels horribly familiar.

Zoro‘s going to tell him a thing or two, once they’ve been able to escape the place, that’s for sure. Sanji feels that crippling fear again, that imminent sense of danger, as he thinks about the swordsman, the image of him after they’ve met Bartholomew Kuma on the Thriller Bark creeps back into his mind, how Zoro was standing there in his own blood only being alive by sheer willpower. Sanji wondered how Zoro was even standing on his own feet, and he wondered what it would take for him to collapse. He survived shit he should have died on for so many times. He is throws himself into life-threatening, suicidal situations without so much as batting an eye, reckless, careless, senseless, batshit crazy. The cook wipes a strand of his blonde hair out of his face, wondering if he’s gonna be present on the day when Zoro will finally meet his maker. But today’s not the day, and the place is not the place, and Vinsmoke Judge won’t be the last man in whose face Zoro would look and smile before he goes down.

„This is a waste of time“, Sanji murmurs, taking another drag from his cigarette. „I can’t believe y’all are dumb enough to fall for that moron‘s mockery. Guess you’re even dumber than him.“ Judge turns around to look at him. „It’s true“, Sanji shrugs. „That dumbass always wants to get in a fight. Whatever he gains from it, I don’t even wanna know. Shit probably turns him on or something.“ Judge chuckles while Sanji puts out the cigarette he’s been smoking down to its butt.

„You’re too soft“, Judge remarks with a voice that reminds Sanji of a meat grinder. „You don’t stand behind what you’re saying. You’re weak and pathetic and you obviously think I’m dumb. You didn’t really think I’d let go of that jerk because of your little act, did you?“ Judge bends down to get closer to his son’s face, and the latter presses his lips together in anger. „I know he won’t say anything“, Judge continues. „And you know that I just love to see him suffer. I want to see if you suffer then as well. Let’s say, seven days.“

„What?“

„Seven days. I’ll keep him tied up and torture him for seven days without food and water. If he survives and you don’t do anything to free him and really remain unimpressed by his treatment, I shall set him free. Not you, of course. You will have to stay here and marry Charlotte Pudding.“ Judge cups his hands behind his back and saunters in a circle around Sanji. „You get to see him once a day. And you will tell him to sing. You will tell him that if he gives us information, his suffering will end. If he refuses, he’ll have to wait until those seven days are over to be executed. Not that he’s going to make it that far.“

„But you said that you want me to-„

„Boy, boy, boy.“ Judge shakes his head slowly. „I can torture this guy all day long if I want. But you? You have to stay all pretty of course for the wedding! I’m curious, I have to say, what he thinks of you. He’s going to think you’re a traitor, and that you will talk, right? If he doesn’t think you’re rat already, for crawling back to your father on your knees.“

Sanji’s body shakes on its own account again, he’s fueled with rage. He wishes he could end his father’s life right here and now, and he seriously contemplates doing it. If that shitty marimo wouldn’t be held captive in the catacombs, he wouldn’t hesitate. But as things are now, it’s too risky. He needs more time. He needs a plan. As if he already hadn’t enough shit on his hands.

„I don’t think it’ll work, but I try“, Sanji says then. „But do I have your word that you’ll set him free when he talks?“

„Of course“, Judge grins, and he doesn’t even try to hide that he’s lying.

~~~

Sanji waits until Ichiji and Niji return from the catacombs. He grinds his teeth upon seeing their gloves and boots bloodied, upon them laughing and shouting, bragging about what they did.

„Did he say anything?“ Judge wants to know.

„Nah“, Niji replies. „Aside from a few insults and threats here and there. Took my right hook like a champ, though.“ He laughs. Sanji wants to rip his stupid laugh right off his fucking face.

„Give us two more days, three at most. He’ll beg uns on his knees to spare his life. If he’ll have remaining knee caps to kneel down on then, that is.“ Sanji hears the men roar with laughter, and he grinds his teeth harder to remind himself to stay in place, play along, and not to run downstairs immediately. He knows he’s still alive, and they want to have something to do for the remaining days. However, it gets harder to ignore the growing knot in his stomach and the dryness in his throat and the boiling blood in his veins. He waits for the brothers to calm down and find something else they can keep themselves occupied with, and then, with a growing sense of dread, he descends the stairs.

~~~

The hallway is dark and cold and humid. A few torches here and there prevent Sanji from wandering around in complete darkness. He walks until he sees a silhouette in one of the cells, sitting at the bars.

„Mosshead“, he greets the figure. „How stupid of you to let yourself get captured.“

Sanji sits down at the bars as well.

„You traveled into that bastard's territory alone and you have the audacity to call me stupid?“, the silhouette rasps, followed by a wheezy, weak laugh.

Sanji exhales. He’s not able to see Zoro properly due to how dark it is. „They roughed you up quite a bit, haven‘t they?“, he asks the swordsman.

A bit of silence, then: „Shut up. It’s nothing.“

Sanji reaches into the pocket of his vest to get his cigarettes. He uses the lighter and in the glim of light, he sees Zoro’s face: the swelling above his remaining eye, the bruises, the dried blood under his nose, how he sits there cross-legged in front of him, arms on his knees, back hunched. Sanji knows he’s worse than he claims to be. Yet, he says nothing, swallows the sudden feeling of anger, closes his eyes and lights the cigarette. When he closes the lid of his lighter, Zoro disappears into the shadows again.

Sanji takes a drag and inhales deeply. He needs a clear mind, for the both of them.

„Care to share with me?“

Zoro’s question startles Sanji a bit. He opens his eyes and tries to perceive Zoro’s face. After his eyesight adjusts to the darkness, he recognises Zoro staring at him.

„You mean… this?“ Sanji holds the cigarette higher and when he doesn’t get an answer, hesitatingly brings his hand closer to Zoro between two of the prison cell bars. He feels Zoro’s fingertips brush against his own as the sturdily built man takes the cigarette from Sanji’s lean fingers. Sanji watches in curiosity how Zoro brings the butt of the cigarette to his lips and takes a drag, and he fails to suppress the cough that fights its way up his throat. Sanji snickers.

„Damn it. That was embarrassing. I’m not used to this anymore“, Zoro croaks, his deep voice sounding even more husky than usual.

„You used to smoke?“ Sanji asks incredulously.

„Back then when I was growing up. Thought I’d be cool, but I actually hated it.“

Sanji was surprised to hear himself laughing softly with a hint of affection. Zoro hands the cigarette back to him.

„Turns out my old sensei hated it too, when he caught us one day.“

„Bushido is all about discipline, isn’t it? Did he kick you out?“

„Me? Nah.“

Sanji takes another drag and shakes his head slightly at how offended Zoro just sounded. That arrogant sack of shit. There’s no chance he’ll ever meet a man more full of himself than Roronoa Zoro, he thought.

„Typical Scorpio right there, aren’t we?“ Sanji mumbles.

„You believe in that bullshit?“

„So far much of it has proven to be true.“

Zoro snorts. „Whatever, curly brows.“

Sanji fumbles with the cigarette a bit before he reaches it back to Zoro. „Quite a welcome my family provided to you“, Sanji says while doing so. „They’re pretty shitty hosts. They should’ve lived on the Baratie. Zeff would’ve taught them some manners.“

Sanji looks down on the floor, ashamed, angry. He sees the cigarette glimmer from the corner of his eyes and hears Zoro exhale a moment later, a wave of smoke washing over his face.

„So what’s your plan, cook? You’re gonna let me rot here and marry your dumb little princess?“, Zoro asks with a crooked grin.

Sanji puffs. „Oh no no, that shit’s not working on me. You can stop being a provocative asshole. I’m gonna tell you everything you want to know.“

„I don’t give two shits about your family or that girl“, Zoro rumbles. „If you think you can earn my sympathy with a sob story of your upbringing, you should know me better.“

„I don’t want your sympathy“, Sanji snarls. „I just want this to be over with and help you escape, if not for you, then for the sake of the others.“

„And what is it you‘re going to do? With them?“

„They laid hands on one of my nakama, they gonna pay for this.“

Zoro sneers. „We’ll see about that. I don’t think you’d stand a chance. Those armours they wear seem to give them great power. They were holding back.“ Zoro takes another drag and Sanji tries to scan Zoro’s body for any more damage.

„What did they do to you?“ he asks then as he fails to see anything.

„Doesn’t matter“, Zoro simply replies as he gives back the cigarette.

„To me, it does. These absolute shitheads are my brothers. They‘ll reap what they sowed.“

„Revenge is a fool’s game“, Zoro calmly states. „If you get invested in revenge, you’re gonna lose your focus.“

„Yeah, I’m sorry I’m not a cold, unemotional bastard like you.“

Zoro watches Sanji taking another drag, but remains silent, and his blank expression makes Sanji indescribably angry.

„What the hell is going on with you?!“, he shouts. „You just sit there and don’t talk back to me. You just sit there and practically wait for them to come back and beat the living shit outta you! How‘s that supposed to help anyone?! You wanna die a hero? Go ahead then, just do it! I don’t even give a fuck! I can just go back upstairs then and tell them to rip you apart, if that’s what you want! You’re begging for it! I came here to see if you’re alright and to make plans how to get you outta here, but if that’s not what you’re interested in, I might as well not give a fuck about you then either!“ Sanji angrily takes another drag and waits impatiently until the nicotine kicks in.

„You’re so fucking stupid“, Zoro blares, and Sanji feels the sudden urge to punch him and under other circumstances, he would. With his fist, and that means something.

„I don’t think so“, Sanji growls through gritted teeth.

„You are. And also, you talk too much.“ Zoro reaches through the bars to snatch the cigarette from Sanji’s fingers. Sanji lets him do it, Zoro looks away and Sanji feels another emotion washing over him suddenly. He gulps, feeling the after-effects of what he just yelled into Zoro’s face, and maybe for the first time ever, asks himself if they still have to be this way, after every thing. He realises that Ichiji, Niji and Yonji aren’t the ones he should call his brothers.

Maybe, one day….

Sanji fumbles with the buttons of his sleeves. He needs to stop that spiral of violence before it’s too late, no matter for whom.

„I’m going to beg him to stop. I can’t just sit here and watch you getting hurt“, Sanji then says. „I’ll tell him what he wants to know.“

Zoro’s head snaps around to look at Sanji. „If you’re gonna do that, I’ll kick your ass the minute i get the chance to do it. You won’t say a single thing. We’re not going to put the others in danger.“

„They’re going to seriously hurt you. You don’t know my bro… these guys.“

Zoro doesn‘t miss the pained expression that slips through Sanji’s masquerade for a short moment.

He shrugs. „I don’t care. I can take it.“ He ponders for a moment to tell Sanji about what happened at Thriller Bark, but decides against it. „The longer I’m here, the longer I’ll drag the attention off the others who are still on the boat. These idiots won’t go after them as long as they got me to play with. If it helps to grant them enough time to reach Wano - fine by me. You worry about your own business. I can take care of myself just fine.“

Zoro takes a long pull before he returns the cigarette that’s almost finished. „Here. You can have the rest.“

Sanji shakes his head, thinking about Zoro willingly act as a distraction. „That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.“, he then says, accepting the cigarette. He watches it, rather than looking at his nakama, who always had a unique way of showing that he cares.

And so, Zoro smiles, almost genuinely this time. „Hey, if the both of us would be going to beat their asses, that would be unfair.“

That took Sanji by surprise, but he recovers quickly and agrees. „We’d stomp them into the ground, big time“, he laughs, until he notices that he let his guard down and he stares at Zoro to check if he noticed as well. Sanji can’t tell. He’s caught off guard by the intense gaze of his crewmate that comes along with a mismatching neutral expression which most likely actually carries more emotions than Zoro lets on. It’s his gaze, the way he looks at Sanji, for a moment. They usually don’t get the time to talk to each other like that, and if they do, they rather spend it on physical fights, bickering and hurling insults at each other. But there it is again, that inner voice inside of Sanji telling him that maybe it’s time to move on from their immature act. Maybe not ultimately, but on occasion. At this moment, he doesn’t feel like bickering. He feels the need to avenge his comrade, not because he was hurt, he apparently doesn’t even care – but because his so-called brothers and father laid their hands on him. Sanji suppresses the range of emotions, the absurd moments of his past, the multiple flashbacks that threaten their way back into his mind, memories he thought he’d forgotten about years ago, but he knows he’s been lying to himself all the time. There is no way he could ever forget what they have done to him, he can only continue to live in the best way possible. Their abusive behaviour damaged him permanently and he thought he knew how to avoid the triggers. Then, he watches Zoro, the prime example of an alpha male, and he wonders.

„You know, I really hated you, when he first met. And for quite a while after that“, Sanji confesses. „And now, I finally know why. Thing is, some people change and some don’t.“

„I have absolutely no idea what the fuck you’re talking about“, a confused Zoro gives back.

Sanji smiles to himself, kills the cigarette and stands up, wiping the dust off his pants.

„Do me a favor and refrain from dying, I can imagine they’d force me to clean up the mess and I really don’t wanna get rid of your stinking corpse.“ Sanji shoves his hands into his pockets, turns around and starts leaving.

„Oi, cook.“

Sanji stops, but doesn’t turn around.

„These guys. They hurt you back then, didn’t they.“

A ruthless, cold bastard, but not as cold and unemotional as he told him he was.

And the only thing Zoro hears from Sanji is the sound of his shoes on the ground, getting quieter with each step, and the swordsman lays down, with his hands behind his head, wondering if he could take the time for a little bit of revenge after all.

#Repost bc this bitch just won't appear in the tags #roronoa zoro #vinsmoke sanji #One piece #Not ZoSan sorry #But as close as they could get #I love their dynamic so much

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