Chapter 4
I'm posting super early today, 'cause I have to go to the University for Marching Band practice... where I'll be for the rest of the week... slaving away. Ug... why can't there be some sort of chip that can be implanted in our brains with all the music and drill spots installed on it? *whines*
Title: Perchance to Dream Part: 4/11
Rating: From PG to R: This Chapter: PG
Words: 2,903
Pairings: Zoro/Sanji
Summery: “Because happy is what happens when all your dreams come true…well, isn't it?” -Wicked
Warnings: Everything from fluff to angst.
Spoilers: Takes place between Skypiea and Water 7, so…
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don’t own One Piece
Notes: Loosely based on and titled after an episode of Batman The Animated Series. If you’ve seen this episode…shhhhh…
Huge thank you: To bronzetigress for being my super-beta and putting up with my ellipses abuse and lack of commas. Thanks again my dear!!!!
Chapter 4
All clouds look the same.
Zoro had come to that conclusion a while ago as he watched yet another white fluffy mass pass over head. Anyone who could see different shapes in clouds obviously had mental issues. He sighed and shifted his head from where he had it rested on his arms. It had been about an hour since Sanji slammed the door of Zoro’s dojo, since his third fight in his first day of marriage. All in all…Zoro was having a bad day. He stared at the brick building for a while knowing it was only a matter of time before he had to suck it up and go in. He didn’t know how to get back to the house after all.
He sighed. Okay then.
Pulling himself off the ground he trudged toward the door. Looking briefly at the cracked wall, the dulled pain in his hand seemed to spark back to life. He stretched out his hand opening and closing it and watching as some dried blood flaked off to settle on the ground. It was nothing really…nothing to get all upset over anyway. He pushed open the door revealing a large empty floor.
‘The training area,’ he thought. It was a gray floor with two large green rectangles painted on for sparring matches. Regular mats lined the side of the floor and several bins filled with practice katanas were scattered around. The only real decoration in the building seemed to be a few real, and very old looking, blades being displayed in glass cases on the wall. It was very…practical, down to business, very him. It looked like something from a dream, something thought about only briefly before he reprimanded himself for dreaming too much at one time and pushed it out of his mind. But it was real now. He walked over to one of the bins and picked up a sturdy looking bokken. As real as the small wooden practice weapon in his hand. He tossed the wood from hand to hand, old exercises flooding back into his mind. Down, down, left, right, sweep up and down. His body followed his mind without a second thought, carrying out the beginner's move. The wood seemed so small and light in his hands now; he dropped it back into the bin. Turning, he startled a bit to see Sanji standing behind him leaning against one of the stacks of mats.
“How long have you been there?”
“Long enough to see the little flashback you just had.”
Silence carried rather strangely in such an open room.
“If you’re waiting for some type of apology there isn’t one coming,” Zoro stated, turning back to the bin of weapons. “I had every right to be upset.”
“Because what could be better than that right? You couldn’t possibly have anything else to look forward to. Didn’t you ever think beyond beating Mihawk?”
“That would mean assuming I’d win.”
“Didn’t you always assume that?”
“Assuming something like that would be foolish!” He spun around. “It leads to overconfidence and that leads to loss.”
“Loss…it can also lead to death. Interesting that you don’t mention that.”
“I’m not afraid of death.”
“Yes you are.”
Zoro stilled, hands clenching. The ‘matter of fact’ tone unnerved him.
“Don’t presume to tell me what I believe in. I’ve stared death in the face more than once in my lifetime. I’ve watched it close in and I’ve push it back.”
“I don’t presume; I know. Because a year ago, a year you don’t remember, I almost died in your arms. And you feared death then Zoro, because it wasn’t coming for you, because you couldn’t push it away for me. For once you were completely helpless as it reached out with its cold hands. You’ve discovered new things to fear…and that happens. Things change, Zoro. Hate turns to love, life turns to death, dreams shift. Can you deal with this change? Can you deal with how your dream shifted? Or is all of this going to go back in time? Are you going to try to go backward and fight all over again? I won’t be waiting if you do. I’ve lived that past and see no reason to repeat it; I might not escape death again.”
“Sanji-”
“I’m going to ask this just once: are you going to chase after your past alone or stay here and deal with the present? Because these kids need a teacher and I-” he paused, looking hurt in that way Zoro hated once again, “-and I need my husband.”
Zoro crossed the space in what seemed like record time and yanked the blond into his arms. He wrapped one hand around a slim back and the other was busy smoothing golden hair from where Sanji’s head rested on his shoulder. It should have felt awkward but it didn’t. He had moved almost without thought, and was surprised to get no resistance from the other man.
“You’re stuck with me. Whether you like it or not,” he murmured into the soft yellow. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Arms slowly slid away from where they had been pinned between two bodies and wrapped around Zoro’s shoulders tightly.
“I’m holding you to that.” was the muffled reply.
And in that moment everything just seemed- perfect. His arms were meant to hold this person. He was destined to be in this room. All the hardships of his life were over, now he could just relax and let himself be content. It was the happy ending that was always written about, always told to young children before they slept. He never, in a million years, thought he’d get one. His grip on Sanji tightened slightly as he realized it; as if thinking the thought would make it all go away. He could have stayed like that longer if his stomach hadn’t turned on him.
If there was one thing that would catch Sanji’s attention it would be an empty stomach- and during that perfect moment of silence his stomach made its emptiness known with a loud grumble. The blond head popped off his shoulder and pulled back to look at his face.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were hungry?”
“’cause I was comfortable. Stop movin'.”
Moment ruined, Sanji shook his head and pulled away. Zoro found himself disappointed at the loss of contact.
“It’s the perfect time for stop three on the tour then, let’s go.”
Zoro followed him out the door-
“Don’t forget to lock it.” The cook called over his shoulder as he fished out a smoke.
Grumbling, the swordsman fumbled for the key in his pocket and locked the door before catching up with the other.
“Lazy ass, could’ve done it yourself ya know.”
Sanji shot him a look. “No, I couldn’t have.”
“You’ve got a key.”
“I gave it to you, you moron.”
“Pfft no, the other one.”
“Zoro. You have the only key.” Sanji shot him the “stop being a dumb-ass” look.
The former first mate stopped walking.
“Then how did you get into the dojo before? I hadn’t unlocked the door yet.”
Sanji froze then slowly turned around to face him, an expression of confusion plastered on his face. “You didn’t?”
“No.”
The other didn’t respond right away, seemingly trying to figure it out himself.
“Must be a sensitive lock. Perhaps it unlocked without you realizing it. We’ll have to get it looked at.”
“Yeah…”
“Anyway it doesn’t matter as long as it’s locked now. So lets go.” He grabbed Zoro’s wrist and started to pull him away from the brick building. Zoro glanced back only once and had to wonder at a lock that unlocked before the key hit the hole.
He knew where they had to be as soon as he saw the building. It was an old structure restored with what looked like painstakingly tedious work. It had a dark wood outside with a perfectly slated tan patio beside it. The patio furniture matched the decorative flowers that were planted along the walkway. Large wooden pillars framed the front entrance and there wasn’t a sign except for the frosted writing on the double glass door that spelled out “Shades of Blue”.
“‘A business or two’,” Zoro repeated Sanji’s words from earlier with a grin. “Yours I assume?”
“Best around.”
“Modest.”
“Shut up. I had to close it for this week thanks to your fucked up brain.” He pushed the door open letting Zoro enter first. The swordsman noticed with amusement that the other man snuffed his cigarette out in the ashtray beside the door. Apparently even the owner followed the no smoking sign.
The inside décor was tastefully done in the same dark wood and reds. A plush red carpet covered the large open floor that was matched to the red tablecloths that were draped over the numerous wooden tables. Columns of dark timber held up the high vaulted ceiling and light flowed in through the large vertical rectangular windows. Sparkling chandeliers looked like they would offer appropriate light in the night hours to contrast the dark wood and there appeared to be a balcony above for even more seating. The first word that came to the swordsman’s mind was ‘classy’. It made up for Zoro’s lackluster dojo in heaps and mounds.
“What do you think?”
He turned and found Sanji’s face covered with a goofy grin, his eyes lit up just how Zoro remembered them on the Merry whenever the cook got the chance to talk about his dream.
“I think…” he paused pretending to be in deep thought, “That…” he glanced at the other man making sure he was in deep anticipation of his answer, “The room has…”
“Yes?” Sanji prompted.
“A lot of red.”
He could almost see the blond’s body deflating as all hope for a serious answer whooshed out of him.
“Why’d I bother asking? I should have known you wouldn’t appreciate it.”
“But seriously, why is it called Shades of Blue when the stuff inside is red?”
That smooth grin replaced the vacancy left when the goofy one vanished. “Because it makes people wonder…it makes people talk. And a lot of times they talk to other people…and those other people get interested and then they come and see for themselves. And then they talk to other people…and so on and so on. Comprende?” Zoro rolled his eyes. “Besides, it looks better with the wood.”
“There’s the real answer.”
Sanji ignored him and dragged him over to the far right wall where a massive curtain was drawn closed.
“I have to show you my second favorite part of this place.” The blond pulled aside the fabric to reveal the huge bay window that showed off a brilliant view of the coast, and succeeded brilliantly in momentary blinding the other man. “Not even you can say a bad thing about this.” The cook proclaimed proudly as he plopped down on the window seat that was probably custom made to fit around the edges of the piece.
“It’s nice.”
A heavy sigh, a bit on the dramatic side, fell from Sanji’s lips. “I guess I’ll take that.”
“You better 'cause that's all you’re getting.”
The blond leaned forward on the seat, an air of challenge suddenly around him. “Maybe I won’t feed you after all.”
Zoro cocked his head to the side for a moment before bending over, placing a hand on either side of the slighter man, and thoroughly invading the other’s personal space.
“Is that right? You're still a cook aren’t ya? Don’t you have an obligation to feed the hungry?”
“Not if the hungry are moronic marimo-headed muscle brains who wouldn’t know class if it bit them in the ass.” The blond sniped back.
“Uh. Ow. That hurt deeply.” Zoro said with mock pain.
And he should have been expecting it, really, but -Whoosh!- out swept Sanji's leg taking the swordsman out at the ankles.
“That was way too easy shitty-swordsman. Did you forget how to fight too?”
In one movement Zoro rolled himself off the ground pulling Kitetsu out of its red scabbard and swung a quick arc at the blond. As expected an adept foot blocked the blow, and then kicked the blade away. Zoro spun with the borrowed momentum using the turn to pull Yubashiri and clashed the two blades together to block the next kick. Sanji pushed off the crossed katana, executing a perfect back flip, giving himself some more room. The two circled each other twice before Zoro charged, which is what the cook was waiting for apparently. Just before the other man reached him he leapt into the air, flipped his body over Zoro and kicked the swordsman in the ass after he landed. Zoro stumbled forward, face narrowly missing a meeting with the ground. He reached behind him and rubbed the seat of his pants briefly before turning around a bit red faced.
Sanji laughed.
It was one of the few times Zoro had ever heard his real laugh…and it was for him.
“Oh, if that’s how we’re going to do things.” He sheathed both blades, lowered his head and charged bull style at the slighter man.
“Oi, Zoro! What are you-?” But Zoro grabbed him around the middle, tackling him to the carpeted floor. “The HELL!” Sanji yelled but not angrily…in fact he sounded amused. Tossing up a knee he hit Zoro’s stomach just hard enough to escape and start to crawl away, but the swordsman lunged forward and snatched an ankle to drag him back. The blond kicked at his hand with the other foot as he rapidly lost ground but Zoro simply switched hands when he decided one had taken enough of a beating, grinning like the devil they called him the whole time. Sanji reached up with a hand and snatched the side of a tablecloth desperately as he passed the last table, but only succeeded in pulling it down over both their heads. Zoro smirked in triumph as he yanked the last inch and flipped the blond over onto his back. Hands propping him up, fabric settling on his head creating a scarlet tent around them, he smiled down at his catch.
“Got yah. Now for my demands-”
“Oh what ever shall I do?” Sanji quipped, batting his eyelashes mockingly.
“For your freedom…” he continued, “I command food.”
“Shit, you sound like Luffy do you realize this?”
As if on cue Zoro’s stomach growled loudly. He looked down at it as if to scold its interruption then popped his head back up.
“Punishment for refusing my offer is…” he trailed off suddenly realizing his position. He was inches away from Sanji’s face, his body nearly covering the other’s, and Sanji wasn’t about to kill him…or kick him…or do anything but continue this bizarre little game that they had invented on the spot. He was just lying there, shaded in red, looking gorgeous, hair in disarray, trying to keep a grin from twisting his lips. His very tempting, soft looking lips…
“Zoro?”
…that just called out to him. If they didn’t move right now Zoro was apt to do something very stupid. Something stupid like kissing the son of bitch beneath him. Testing out those lips for himself.
“Hello? Earth to the swordsman?”
He wondered what the blond would taste like? Would it just be an overwhelming nicotine flavor, or something more exotic, something spicy and strong? He wet his lips reflexively. Only in his wildest dreams had he ever been this close to the object of his secret obsession. He dropped his head a bit…it seemed like there was no way out of this now. He was trapped in a cage of red being forced to come to terms with feelings that he suddenly realized he didn’t have to fight anymore. Dreaming of eyes the color of the sea and hair like the shining of the sun was no longer something to hide and deny because now…now they were his as much as he was theirs.
“Zoro, if you don’t move or something soon I’m going to call the doctor.”
He saw the lips move but didn’t register the words. The sense of perfection that he held in the dojo came rushing back and he began to lean ever so slowly down towards the other man’s face-
~flick~
-when he was flicked in the forehead.
Startled, and mood fully destroyed, Zoro retreated backward, falling over himself before finally ending up ass on the floor dragging the tablecloth off with him.
“What was that for!” he exclaimed, rubbing his forehead like it had hurt.
“Are you kidding me? I thought you had lost the rest of your mind!” Sanji threw the part of the tablecloth closest to him at Zoro’s chest. “Don’t do that to me!”
“M’fine, stopping worrying all the damn time. I was thinking.”
“That worries me more.”
“Shut up.”
“I mean really, what if you stumble on a thought so bewildering and immense that your head just can’t take it and implodes?”
“Well what if you talk so much that your muscles wear out and you're mute for the rest of your life?”
“Please, you know that the more exercise a muscle gets the stronger it becomes.”
“Don’t you have food to make?”
“Oh that’s right, as per Sir Zoro’s command.” He chuckled. “Wouldn’t want to be punished now would I?” He pointed at the tablecloth in the swordsman’s hands. “Put that back on the table would you?”
Title: Perchance to Dream Part: 4/11
Rating: From PG to R: This Chapter: PG
Words: 2,903
Pairings: Zoro/Sanji
Summery: “Because happy is what happens when all your dreams come true…well, isn't it?” -Wicked
Warnings: Everything from fluff to angst.
Spoilers: Takes place between Skypiea and Water 7, so…
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don’t own One Piece
Notes: Loosely based on and titled after an episode of Batman The Animated Series. If you’ve seen this episode…shhhhh…
Huge thank you: To bronzetigress for being my super-beta and putting up with my ellipses abuse and lack of commas. Thanks again my dear!!!!
Chapter 4
All clouds look the same.
Zoro had come to that conclusion a while ago as he watched yet another white fluffy mass pass over head. Anyone who could see different shapes in clouds obviously had mental issues. He sighed and shifted his head from where he had it rested on his arms. It had been about an hour since Sanji slammed the door of Zoro’s dojo, since his third fight in his first day of marriage. All in all…Zoro was having a bad day. He stared at the brick building for a while knowing it was only a matter of time before he had to suck it up and go in. He didn’t know how to get back to the house after all.
He sighed. Okay then.
Pulling himself off the ground he trudged toward the door. Looking briefly at the cracked wall, the dulled pain in his hand seemed to spark back to life. He stretched out his hand opening and closing it and watching as some dried blood flaked off to settle on the ground. It was nothing really…nothing to get all upset over anyway. He pushed open the door revealing a large empty floor.
‘The training area,’ he thought. It was a gray floor with two large green rectangles painted on for sparring matches. Regular mats lined the side of the floor and several bins filled with practice katanas were scattered around. The only real decoration in the building seemed to be a few real, and very old looking, blades being displayed in glass cases on the wall. It was very…practical, down to business, very him. It looked like something from a dream, something thought about only briefly before he reprimanded himself for dreaming too much at one time and pushed it out of his mind. But it was real now. He walked over to one of the bins and picked up a sturdy looking bokken. As real as the small wooden practice weapon in his hand. He tossed the wood from hand to hand, old exercises flooding back into his mind. Down, down, left, right, sweep up and down. His body followed his mind without a second thought, carrying out the beginner's move. The wood seemed so small and light in his hands now; he dropped it back into the bin. Turning, he startled a bit to see Sanji standing behind him leaning against one of the stacks of mats.
“How long have you been there?”
“Long enough to see the little flashback you just had.”
Silence carried rather strangely in such an open room.
“If you’re waiting for some type of apology there isn’t one coming,” Zoro stated, turning back to the bin of weapons. “I had every right to be upset.”
“Because what could be better than that right? You couldn’t possibly have anything else to look forward to. Didn’t you ever think beyond beating Mihawk?”
“That would mean assuming I’d win.”
“Didn’t you always assume that?”
“Assuming something like that would be foolish!” He spun around. “It leads to overconfidence and that leads to loss.”
“Loss…it can also lead to death. Interesting that you don’t mention that.”
“I’m not afraid of death.”
“Yes you are.”
Zoro stilled, hands clenching. The ‘matter of fact’ tone unnerved him.
“Don’t presume to tell me what I believe in. I’ve stared death in the face more than once in my lifetime. I’ve watched it close in and I’ve push it back.”
“I don’t presume; I know. Because a year ago, a year you don’t remember, I almost died in your arms. And you feared death then Zoro, because it wasn’t coming for you, because you couldn’t push it away for me. For once you were completely helpless as it reached out with its cold hands. You’ve discovered new things to fear…and that happens. Things change, Zoro. Hate turns to love, life turns to death, dreams shift. Can you deal with this change? Can you deal with how your dream shifted? Or is all of this going to go back in time? Are you going to try to go backward and fight all over again? I won’t be waiting if you do. I’ve lived that past and see no reason to repeat it; I might not escape death again.”
“Sanji-”
“I’m going to ask this just once: are you going to chase after your past alone or stay here and deal with the present? Because these kids need a teacher and I-” he paused, looking hurt in that way Zoro hated once again, “-and I need my husband.”
Zoro crossed the space in what seemed like record time and yanked the blond into his arms. He wrapped one hand around a slim back and the other was busy smoothing golden hair from where Sanji’s head rested on his shoulder. It should have felt awkward but it didn’t. He had moved almost without thought, and was surprised to get no resistance from the other man.
“You’re stuck with me. Whether you like it or not,” he murmured into the soft yellow. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Arms slowly slid away from where they had been pinned between two bodies and wrapped around Zoro’s shoulders tightly.
“I’m holding you to that.” was the muffled reply.
And in that moment everything just seemed- perfect. His arms were meant to hold this person. He was destined to be in this room. All the hardships of his life were over, now he could just relax and let himself be content. It was the happy ending that was always written about, always told to young children before they slept. He never, in a million years, thought he’d get one. His grip on Sanji tightened slightly as he realized it; as if thinking the thought would make it all go away. He could have stayed like that longer if his stomach hadn’t turned on him.
If there was one thing that would catch Sanji’s attention it would be an empty stomach- and during that perfect moment of silence his stomach made its emptiness known with a loud grumble. The blond head popped off his shoulder and pulled back to look at his face.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were hungry?”
“’cause I was comfortable. Stop movin'.”
Moment ruined, Sanji shook his head and pulled away. Zoro found himself disappointed at the loss of contact.
“It’s the perfect time for stop three on the tour then, let’s go.”
Zoro followed him out the door-
“Don’t forget to lock it.” The cook called over his shoulder as he fished out a smoke.
Grumbling, the swordsman fumbled for the key in his pocket and locked the door before catching up with the other.
“Lazy ass, could’ve done it yourself ya know.”
Sanji shot him a look. “No, I couldn’t have.”
“You’ve got a key.”
“I gave it to you, you moron.”
“Pfft no, the other one.”
“Zoro. You have the only key.” Sanji shot him the “stop being a dumb-ass” look.
The former first mate stopped walking.
“Then how did you get into the dojo before? I hadn’t unlocked the door yet.”
Sanji froze then slowly turned around to face him, an expression of confusion plastered on his face. “You didn’t?”
“No.”
The other didn’t respond right away, seemingly trying to figure it out himself.
“Must be a sensitive lock. Perhaps it unlocked without you realizing it. We’ll have to get it looked at.”
“Yeah…”
“Anyway it doesn’t matter as long as it’s locked now. So lets go.” He grabbed Zoro’s wrist and started to pull him away from the brick building. Zoro glanced back only once and had to wonder at a lock that unlocked before the key hit the hole.
He knew where they had to be as soon as he saw the building. It was an old structure restored with what looked like painstakingly tedious work. It had a dark wood outside with a perfectly slated tan patio beside it. The patio furniture matched the decorative flowers that were planted along the walkway. Large wooden pillars framed the front entrance and there wasn’t a sign except for the frosted writing on the double glass door that spelled out “Shades of Blue”.
“‘A business or two’,” Zoro repeated Sanji’s words from earlier with a grin. “Yours I assume?”
“Best around.”
“Modest.”
“Shut up. I had to close it for this week thanks to your fucked up brain.” He pushed the door open letting Zoro enter first. The swordsman noticed with amusement that the other man snuffed his cigarette out in the ashtray beside the door. Apparently even the owner followed the no smoking sign.
The inside décor was tastefully done in the same dark wood and reds. A plush red carpet covered the large open floor that was matched to the red tablecloths that were draped over the numerous wooden tables. Columns of dark timber held up the high vaulted ceiling and light flowed in through the large vertical rectangular windows. Sparkling chandeliers looked like they would offer appropriate light in the night hours to contrast the dark wood and there appeared to be a balcony above for even more seating. The first word that came to the swordsman’s mind was ‘classy’. It made up for Zoro’s lackluster dojo in heaps and mounds.
“What do you think?”
He turned and found Sanji’s face covered with a goofy grin, his eyes lit up just how Zoro remembered them on the Merry whenever the cook got the chance to talk about his dream.
“I think…” he paused pretending to be in deep thought, “That…” he glanced at the other man making sure he was in deep anticipation of his answer, “The room has…”
“Yes?” Sanji prompted.
“A lot of red.”
He could almost see the blond’s body deflating as all hope for a serious answer whooshed out of him.
“Why’d I bother asking? I should have known you wouldn’t appreciate it.”
“But seriously, why is it called Shades of Blue when the stuff inside is red?”
That smooth grin replaced the vacancy left when the goofy one vanished. “Because it makes people wonder…it makes people talk. And a lot of times they talk to other people…and those other people get interested and then they come and see for themselves. And then they talk to other people…and so on and so on. Comprende?” Zoro rolled his eyes. “Besides, it looks better with the wood.”
“There’s the real answer.”
Sanji ignored him and dragged him over to the far right wall where a massive curtain was drawn closed.
“I have to show you my second favorite part of this place.” The blond pulled aside the fabric to reveal the huge bay window that showed off a brilliant view of the coast, and succeeded brilliantly in momentary blinding the other man. “Not even you can say a bad thing about this.” The cook proclaimed proudly as he plopped down on the window seat that was probably custom made to fit around the edges of the piece.
“It’s nice.”
A heavy sigh, a bit on the dramatic side, fell from Sanji’s lips. “I guess I’ll take that.”
“You better 'cause that's all you’re getting.”
The blond leaned forward on the seat, an air of challenge suddenly around him. “Maybe I won’t feed you after all.”
Zoro cocked his head to the side for a moment before bending over, placing a hand on either side of the slighter man, and thoroughly invading the other’s personal space.
“Is that right? You're still a cook aren’t ya? Don’t you have an obligation to feed the hungry?”
“Not if the hungry are moronic marimo-headed muscle brains who wouldn’t know class if it bit them in the ass.” The blond sniped back.
“Uh. Ow. That hurt deeply.” Zoro said with mock pain.
And he should have been expecting it, really, but -Whoosh!- out swept Sanji's leg taking the swordsman out at the ankles.
“That was way too easy shitty-swordsman. Did you forget how to fight too?”
In one movement Zoro rolled himself off the ground pulling Kitetsu out of its red scabbard and swung a quick arc at the blond. As expected an adept foot blocked the blow, and then kicked the blade away. Zoro spun with the borrowed momentum using the turn to pull Yubashiri and clashed the two blades together to block the next kick. Sanji pushed off the crossed katana, executing a perfect back flip, giving himself some more room. The two circled each other twice before Zoro charged, which is what the cook was waiting for apparently. Just before the other man reached him he leapt into the air, flipped his body over Zoro and kicked the swordsman in the ass after he landed. Zoro stumbled forward, face narrowly missing a meeting with the ground. He reached behind him and rubbed the seat of his pants briefly before turning around a bit red faced.
Sanji laughed.
It was one of the few times Zoro had ever heard his real laugh…and it was for him.
“Oh, if that’s how we’re going to do things.” He sheathed both blades, lowered his head and charged bull style at the slighter man.
“Oi, Zoro! What are you-?” But Zoro grabbed him around the middle, tackling him to the carpeted floor. “The HELL!” Sanji yelled but not angrily…in fact he sounded amused. Tossing up a knee he hit Zoro’s stomach just hard enough to escape and start to crawl away, but the swordsman lunged forward and snatched an ankle to drag him back. The blond kicked at his hand with the other foot as he rapidly lost ground but Zoro simply switched hands when he decided one had taken enough of a beating, grinning like the devil they called him the whole time. Sanji reached up with a hand and snatched the side of a tablecloth desperately as he passed the last table, but only succeeded in pulling it down over both their heads. Zoro smirked in triumph as he yanked the last inch and flipped the blond over onto his back. Hands propping him up, fabric settling on his head creating a scarlet tent around them, he smiled down at his catch.
“Got yah. Now for my demands-”
“Oh what ever shall I do?” Sanji quipped, batting his eyelashes mockingly.
“For your freedom…” he continued, “I command food.”
“Shit, you sound like Luffy do you realize this?”
As if on cue Zoro’s stomach growled loudly. He looked down at it as if to scold its interruption then popped his head back up.
“Punishment for refusing my offer is…” he trailed off suddenly realizing his position. He was inches away from Sanji’s face, his body nearly covering the other’s, and Sanji wasn’t about to kill him…or kick him…or do anything but continue this bizarre little game that they had invented on the spot. He was just lying there, shaded in red, looking gorgeous, hair in disarray, trying to keep a grin from twisting his lips. His very tempting, soft looking lips…
“Zoro?”
…that just called out to him. If they didn’t move right now Zoro was apt to do something very stupid. Something stupid like kissing the son of bitch beneath him. Testing out those lips for himself.
“Hello? Earth to the swordsman?”
He wondered what the blond would taste like? Would it just be an overwhelming nicotine flavor, or something more exotic, something spicy and strong? He wet his lips reflexively. Only in his wildest dreams had he ever been this close to the object of his secret obsession. He dropped his head a bit…it seemed like there was no way out of this now. He was trapped in a cage of red being forced to come to terms with feelings that he suddenly realized he didn’t have to fight anymore. Dreaming of eyes the color of the sea and hair like the shining of the sun was no longer something to hide and deny because now…now they were his as much as he was theirs.
“Zoro, if you don’t move or something soon I’m going to call the doctor.”
He saw the lips move but didn’t register the words. The sense of perfection that he held in the dojo came rushing back and he began to lean ever so slowly down towards the other man’s face-
~flick~
-when he was flicked in the forehead.
Startled, and mood fully destroyed, Zoro retreated backward, falling over himself before finally ending up ass on the floor dragging the tablecloth off with him.
“What was that for!” he exclaimed, rubbing his forehead like it had hurt.
“Are you kidding me? I thought you had lost the rest of your mind!” Sanji threw the part of the tablecloth closest to him at Zoro’s chest. “Don’t do that to me!”
“M’fine, stopping worrying all the damn time. I was thinking.”
“That worries me more.”
“Shut up.”
“I mean really, what if you stumble on a thought so bewildering and immense that your head just can’t take it and implodes?”
“Well what if you talk so much that your muscles wear out and you're mute for the rest of your life?”
“Please, you know that the more exercise a muscle gets the stronger it becomes.”
“Don’t you have food to make?”
“Oh that’s right, as per Sir Zoro’s command.” He chuckled. “Wouldn’t want to be punished now would I?” He pointed at the tablecloth in the swordsman’s hands. “Put that back on the table would you?”