(Untitled)
Who: Roronoa Zoro (threesword), Sanji (baratiesbest), Umi Ryuuzaki (embracethewaves)
Where: Outside the Northern Lights
When: August 11th, During the party at the lights
Rating: PG-13 at least :|
Summary: Things finally reach their breaking point between the two Straw Hats.
the log: ( We can only go on like this for so long )
Where: Outside the Northern Lights
When: August 11th, During the party at the lights
Rating: PG-13 at least :|
Summary: Things finally reach their breaking point between the two Straw Hats.
the log: ( We can only go on like this for so long )
Nothing. The damage was already done, there was no way he could take that back and to be quite honest he wasn't entirely sure if he wanted to. He liked Anemone a lot and if she wasn't engaged this would have happened a long time ago, that much he was sure of. But as things were... there really was nothing he could do. Lay low. Pretend like nothing had happened. Talk it over with her, obviously, make sure she wouldn't get in trouble. But beyond that? Nothing.
When it came to Umi he could do even less. The three of them were locked in an impossible situation - Zoro wouldn't make a move for whatever shitty reasons he had, Sanji couldn't without risking his life and whatever friendship he could salvage with the idiot moss head. And Umi... he just didn't know. She seemed to like both of them, but how deep that ran only she could know. It was a pain, all of it and as long as things remained unchanged it would only get worse.
Either he had to give up the chase or Zoro had to, but something told him that they were far too long gone for that. It wasn't an option anymore - this had to be solved some other way.
Taking a deep drag Sanji stood silent for a moment, studying his rival. The cold night air did little to clear his mind and the frustration was hard to miss when he finally spoke again.
"That's none of your fucking business."
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But why should he expect an explanation? Because they were crewmates? When had that logic ever really made sense before?
It was boiling down to a point that Zoro wanted to deny. His jealousy of sorts was out of control. Sure, Sanji knew that, but there were things that wen along with it he didn't share.
The things Sanji knew: Zoro liked Umi. Zoro disliked Sanji's advances on her.
Things Sanji didn't know: If Umi knew about Sanji's feelings - or even if Sanji chose to seriously pursue it, he'd let it happen. This wasn't like his competitive spars, or his battles with Kuina as a child. It was about keeping someone important to him happy, and if that meant it was someone else, he'd find his way to deal with it.
So if he wanted Umi that bad, Sanji was going to have to do something about it. Zoro would fight for her, but he knew better. He knew that if it wasn't what she wanted, he would have to step back.
He could be stupid at times, but he wasn't completely inept.
"Well, whatever it is, make up your goddamn mind already." He spoke with a fierce intensity. It wasn't the loud, frustrated yells it usually was. It was serious - he meant what he said and the tone of his voice didn't lie.
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This was ridiculous. Was the damn swordsman actually encouraging him to make a choice..? He had expected a lot more screaming. Cursing. Vows that if Sanji ever so much tried to lay a hand on Umi he'd lose it. But even so, after everything that had happened that night Zoro still didn't tell him to back the hell off?
It was mind blowing. Either the damn moss head was more of a gentleman than Sanji had given him credit for or he was simply out of his fucking mind. This was his big chance. The cook had the disadvantage and he knew it - it wouldn't take a whole lot of persuasion to make him give up the blue-haired goddess. Not after tonight... and not just now, if he had to be completely honest. As bizarre as the thought was, Sanji had actually been holding back ever since he realized just how serious Zoro was about Umi. He had kept an eye on the clumsy bastard, reluctantly encouraged him and most of all - he hadn't gone all out in his romantic pursuits. The poor bastard deserved a fair chance and that was what Sanji had given him, even though it hurt like a bitch.
Instead this had turned into one hell of a mess. There was nothing he could do but laugh at it, so utterly at a loss for how to fix it. Zoro apparently wanted something from him - an explanation? Apology? - but Sanji wasn't going to just shoot blindly and hope to hit the right target. Oh no.
"You're fucking insane."
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Maybe he was. Maybe he really didn't know what the hell he was doing or why. Things had been so much easier back on the Grand Line. Well - in some ways. Sure, the constant struggles, the battles... and navigating the Grand Line itself weren't easy. But this? Things like this didn't happen.
Back home, there was one goal - to become the greatest swordsman. Everything Zoro had done up until coming to Discedo entailed things that would ultimately help him achieve that goal. There were no ifs, and or buts about it.
But Discedo... it had been different. The goal was... almost pushed aside, in a sense. He could still train to achieve it, but it wasn't the same. And just the entire way the city worked - the way death was worthless (unless of course, it happened to you), and how there was a certain intimacy that you never had on the Grand Line.
It had really screwed with Zoro's priorities. At home, there was never the distraction of falling for a woman. That wasn't to say it wasn't possible, but. He was a pirate. A swordsman. He was young. There would be time for these other things later, if he chose to walk away from his piracy to pursue these things.
He'd never expected to fall for Umi, but now that he had, it was hard to remember what things were like before. She'd infiltrated his priorities inadvertantly. It started with banter, and spars. And then the friendship followed. And then everything changed.
At this point, he barely knew how to deal with it.
Zoro shifted slightly, still gripping the sword tightly.
"What the hell have I done to be insane, you idiot?"
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To call this travesty of a conversation frustrating would be a gross understatement - Sanji for one couldn't stay still anymore, hands shaking with equal amounts rage and restlessness. The afterglow from the meeting with Anemone was starting to disappear and the relaxed bliss was giving way to restrained tension.
They were just going around in circles at this point. Name calling in all honor but it really didn't get them anywhere closer to a solution - hell, by now Sanji wasn't even entirely sure what the problem was. He had made a mistake. Zoro was being an idiot about it. And, like always, everything had to do with that one amazing girl they both had fallen so completely for.
Something had to change. No more avoiding the problem, no more holding back or walking on eggshells. They had to settle this. Here. Now.
"What the hell do you want from me? Huh?"
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There was no way that Sanji could be this oblivious to what he meant. Either the cook was going to pursue Umi or he wasn't. It was clear he wanted to. But yet all he'd done was his normal routine.
Maybe that was a part of why it all pissed Zoro off so much. Zoro had never wanted to put Umi through anything unnecessary while in Discedo. He hadn't planned on telling her his feelings because it seemed pointless. If she felt the same, then what would happen if they left? Would one or both of them forget and it would be all for naught? Or would they remember and hate the fact that they had to be separated despite it?
There was already a lingering dread of knowing that when he left, he wouldn't see her. Friends... or more, it wasn't something he liked. She was practically a part of the crew.
Zoro didn't know what he wanted. And it wasn't that he didn't want to pursue the feelings either. But he didn't want to go through something like that here.
Confusion was definitely something that was coursing through him. All of it was too foreign for his liking and dealing with it was growing more and more difficult.
What would Sanji do in the situation? Would he pursue it? Would he even tell her how he felt in a way that wasn't just typical, ignorable banter?
For a moment, his eyes closed and he sighed. His tone was still serious. "If you like her, you need to do something about it. That isn't going to hurt her."
Like sleeping with other girls. Because if she did like Sanji, that would surely become a problem.
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Surreal, that was the word he was looking for. He had never imagined a day when Roronoa Zoro would be giving him a lecture on proper behavior when it came to dealing with women. The guy was practically asexual, had never shown the slightest interest in a girl before. And here he was telling Sanji what to do? Fucking hell.
The blonde was getting antsy though. Under normal circumstances the argument would have evolved into a full-blown brawl by now, effectively ridding them of all this tension and solving the problem at hand in the process. But this... so mature. So reasonable. It wasn't like them and he was almost itching for some sort of physical response by now. Motions still restrained he took a couple of steps in Zoro's direction, eyes dark with defiance.
"I like her. I haven't gone after her out of consideration for your sorry ass, but since that doesn't seem to be an issue anymore... I'll just go ahead and take her."
Talking about women like this (a woman he cared for deeply at that) left a bad taste in the cooks mouth, but he was so sick of holding back that it didn't matter. Give him five minutes to cool off and the shame of it all would be enough to kill him. Right now though... he was seeing red.
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If there was one thing Zoro wasn't going to accept, it was that Sanji backed off as some sort of.. pity. Sanji could call it consideration all he wanted, but it sure as hell felt more like a pity statement.
And here was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Without even a second thought, his arm shot up, raising Wadou Ichimonji to Sanji's throat.
It wasn't as if he was giving up all hope on Umi, and treating it as such wasn't something he was going to accept either. They would settle this like they settled everything else - the perpetual cock-measuring.
"Who the hell says it's 'not an issue anymore'?"
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So much for being considerate, so much for going out of his way, so much for not messing with Zoro for once. It had taken a lot of energy and all he got for it was shit in return - no more of that. He liked Umi, a lot. If the stupid fucking moron couldn't take a chance when it was basically handed to him on a silver platter then Sanji was definitely not going to hold back anymore.
"Sounds just like you're giving me the go-ahead here. Giving up, shitty marimo?"
A shift in his stance, hands shoved deep into his pockets. The cook didn't have a bandanna to tie or a strawhat to keep safe, but the way he moved right now signified just how serious he was about the upcoming fight.
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No. If there was one thing Zoro wasn't going to do, it was give up. He'd rather die... again than quit. It went against absolutely everything he stood for.
In a near instantaneous motion, all three swords had been drawn as he took his ready stance. His head lifted slightly, his eyes glowering in the shadows.
It all boiled down to one thing at this moment.
"I'll die before that happens."
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This was it. Nothing left to say, no excuses or apologies good enough to stop the inevitable battle. Those three swords signified that Zoro was just as serious about this fight as he was - there was bound to be bloodshed and if they didn't watch their step someone could very well end up dead.
It didn't matter though. It had to be done. Discarding the burnt down cigarette butt with one smooth flick Sanji attacked, a fast, low sweeping motion aimed at the swordsmans legs. The snow made the street slippery and if he could keep his own balance while knocking that green-haired moron on his ass he'd get the upper hand in no time.
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But Zoro had anticipated it. He had been ready for anything at this point. He made a quick, but slight dodge. It was enough not to take him out, but still left him close enough to Sanji to go in for a quick attack.
Normally, there was one warmup move he would have started with - but today was a different story.
The two swords in his hands raised, going just over the third sword as he lunched forward. "Tora Gari!"
He was out for blood, and starting with his normal, more signature move seemed out of the question.
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There wasn't a scrap of hesitation in the cooks movements. In their previous fights he had always been holding back a little out of respect for their status as nakama, but those days seemed so far away now. This was about honor, setting the record straight, picking a winner. Where their spars had been fun and friendly there was nothing but blood thirst - from both of them.
He'd show that shitty marimo that there was more than one demon in that clan.
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However, as he went down, he moved both arms swiftly and kept the sword in his mouth clenched tightly between his teeth. At the very least, he would make his attempt to nick Sanji in the process.
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Backing up a few steps Sanji smirked, a feral grin without a hint of pain or defeat. He still had a few tricks up his sleeve. Wiping his hand clean from blood he straightened himself up and prepared for the next attack.
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No fucking way.
He used those few seconds he had to come up with a semi-cohesive plan. There were a couple of new techniques he had in his reserves should he need them - but he was hoping he'd be able to suffice with what he had in store.
But it was the chef's move, so he took a defensive stance. He knew what his next move would be when that time came.
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