18b
They walk to the Baratie together, it’s not all that far and the fresh air is nice. Zoro spots a few photographers along the way but he pretends not to notice them, if Sanji notices then he’s doing the same but Zoro can’t tell. They talk about how the interview went, bicker about whether or not Miss Doublefinger is a good person and both try to wipe the make up off of their faces. All in all it’s pretty pleasant.
Surprisingly Sanji doesn’t have any messages on his phone from anyone in his family, except for Perona who’s message simply reads “ZOMG! I JUST SAW U ON TV!!!!!1”, not exactly enlightening or angry. There are a few supportive texts and voicemails from Robin, Usopp, Brook and even Hina. It’s strangely quiet on the Prince front though, suspiciously so.
They arrive at the Baratie in less than half an hour, but as soon as its sign comes into view Zoro can simply feel the tension radiating off of Sanji. It’s as if he’s tensing to prepare for a horrible blow, but when they get inside the kitchen is the same as it ever was, which is to say that it’s full of swearing, shouting chefs and Zeff snapping out orders and commands. Sanji relaxes next to him. The steam of the kitchen warms Zoro’s cheeks and a million smells of spices and cooking touch his senses, he understands how this place feels so much like home to Sanji. Everything is okay.
Sanji falls into the rhythm of the place instantly, stepping in and cooking, shouting at his fellow chefs. Zoro pauses on the sidelines and imagines what a fifteen year old Sanji must have been like in here, free and untroubled by his real father, in a warm bustling building full of people who (begrudgingly at times) loved him. It makes Zoro’s heart ache a little and he wishes that Sanji could have that back. Still, at least he can visit, it’s better than nothing.
He starts helping out too, hefting things around and cleaning. Soon he runs out of that and Zeff orders him to go out into the front and wait tables, Zoro can do that. He comes through the door a few hours later, needing to get an order off of Sanji. The blonde smirks at him and hands it over with a kiss, the sudden boomingly loud laugh from Zeff makes Zoro jump so hard that he nearly drops the food, which makes Sanji laugh. Zoro flips the pair of them off and gets back to work, he ignores the way that Zeff grins and slaps the clearly embarrassed cook on the shoulder. He guesses that Zeff probably gets a kick out of embarrassing his semi adopted son.
He backs through the door carrying the plate for the lady sitting at the table that ordered the dish. Later, when she’s finished the dish she flags him down, Zoro assumes it’s to collect the money for her bill and is mentally running up everything that she had to eat in his head as he approaches her, just so he can make sure the amount tallies. He picks up the dish and a quick rush of mental arithmetic confirms that she’s paid, plus a generous tip, he opens his mouth to thank her but she speaks first.
“Could I pass my compliments onto the chef? It was divine.” She smiles up at him smooth as silk, her blonde hair falling across her shoulders.
“I’ll do that for you.” He nods, dreading to think of how huge Sanji’s ego would get if he was here in person hearing his from a pretty lady.
“I wondered if I might do it myself? I take it this was Sanji Prince’s work yes? He’s supposed to be the best here.” She says with a small smile and a look that has a hint of predator to it and starts setting alarm bells off in Zoro’s head.
“Are you a journalist or something?” He asks her suspiciously as he puts the money into the front pocket of the waiter’s apron that Zeff had thrown at his head as soon as he started waiting.
“No, but you’re his mate and you’re here, it doesn’t take an investigative journalist to work out that he must be. Don’t worry, I don’t work for the press, I just want to pay him a compliment is all.” She explains with a cheeky smile.
Zoro hesitates, he wants to tell her to get lost but he doesn’t know if she’ll actually leave if he does. He tells her to stay where she is and ducks back to the kitchen to find Sanji. He beckons the blonde over to the door to ask him what to do.
“Sir Prince?” The woman says suddenly from behind him, Zoro jumps, she’d followed him! But Sanji is already there and looking at the woman with some surprise in his eyes.
“Yes?” Sanji asks, blinking in surprise at the stranger appearing unexpectedly at the kitchen doors. Zoro shoots a hard look at her, it must look like he deliberately brought her to him, that sneaky woman!
“First of all I’d just love to compliment you on your food, the duck was absolutely superb. Genuinely the best I’ve ever eaten.” She purrs, causing Sanji to flutter and wiggle in glee at such a pretty woman complimenting him. Zoro instantly hates her and tries to resist the temptation to kick her and shout at Sanji, he’s never really be jealous before- it’s a new feeling and he’s not sure that he likes it at all.
“Secondly, you’ve been served. I hope I haven’t spoilt your evening, goodnight.” She says primly, handing Sanji an envelope from her breast pocket and neatly turning and leaving the building.
“Served what?” Zoro frowns in confusion as Sanji gawps at the letter in his hand.
“I’m… being sued.” Sanji stammers as he reads the letter.
“Sued? By who, for what?” Zoro frowns, not being able think who could possibly have enough against Sanji to sue him. It’s not like Sanji ever did anything illegal anyway. Sanji scowls and shoves the letter angrily into his pocket.
“By my father, for fraud and corporate espionage.” Sanji growls angrily, his fists shaking with rage.
It turns out that Igaram is a lawyer, and apparently a good one too, which is lucky for Sanji as suddenly all of his family's lawyers are refusing to represent him.
The court date that they're summoned to in the morning is actually a hearing to see if the case against Sanji for his mysterious fraud and espionage would be heard or if it would be thrown out. Sanji and he had come to the conclusion the night before at the Baratie that the espionage would probably be to do with the photos and the TV interview, but the fraud charge had them all puzzled.
Zoro is surprised that he's allowed in the actual court room at all, he isn't allowed to sit with Sanji of course, but he's allowed to sit in the gallery behind him as long as he keeps completely silent. Apparently him trying to talk is regarded by this judge in particular as inappropriate as someone letting their phone ring in court. It's not too bad though, he's sat next to Vivi right behind Sanji and Igaram, pretty front row seats, all things considered. The room is big and wooden and feels more like a church than it does a courtroom, the judge sits in a high up box, regarding them all with an air of distain from behind her glasses.
Warily Zoro looks across at Spandam who sits on the other half of the courtroom, he’s in a fancy suit and he’s acting very… formal. It’s very unlike the self-important Spandam that he’s got to know and loathe. He supposes that the lord is trying to impress the judge somewhat. His lawyer happens to be one Rob Lucci, according to Sanji, his father’s ruthless lawyer and number one lackey. He was one of the people there at his and Sanji’s ceremony, the man who discovered that his clothes had mysteriously changed thanks to Robin when he’d been left unsupervised by them. He gives off a real sinister aura.
The judge presiding over the court is a hard faced older woman with a fading blue rinse and she looks at everyone in the courtroom as if they had personally run over her dog or something. Zoro's uneasy feeling has worsened to a kind of all permeating nausea, whilst Sanji who has been convinced by Igaram that the case will be out in less than ten minutes seems visibly relaxed.
"It's a good sign really, it shows how desperate we've made him." Sanji says quietly to him as they sit down. The blonde is trying to be reassuring but Zoro remembers that the last time when he was truly desperate, when he had been defending Nami from Mihawk, he didn't care if he died as long as he took Mihawk out first. He isn't sure that Spandam being desperate is a good thing at all.
"Quiet down, this hearing is now in session." the judge says, banging her gavel and quieting everyone in the room. Sanji flashes him a bright smile that fails to kill the anxious wriggling things in Zoro's stomach.
"Plaintiff to put forward their case." the judge says, looking over her glasses at Spandam.
"The first charge is of fraud, specifically of the confidence trick variety. We can prove that the defendant has knowingly defrauded my client." Lucci says smoothly.
"Proceed." the judge nods.
"Lord Spandam's son Sanji Prince died nine years ago in a shipwreck with his mother, this man here is not Sanji Prince but someone who deliberately claimed to be Lord Prince's missing son many years after the fact." Lucci says with some flair of drama in his eyes.
"What?!" Sanji squawks in disbelief, Igaram shoots him a sharp look in warning. Zoro’s eyes widen, that’s right out of left field, he hadn’t expected that at all!
"Do you have something to say on this matter Sir Prince?" the judge asks with an intense look in her eyes, her expression conveying just how little she approves of Sanji interrupting. Sanji glances at Igaram who nods, giving him permission to speak again.
"I'm sorry for interrupting but this is ridiculous, I'm his son, as much as I wish I wasn't." Sanji mutters that last bit with some venom. Zoro cringes, Sanji needs to learn to shut up!
"You would say that your relationship with your father is poor?" the judge asks him with a raised eyebrow from her high up perch in her box.
"Yes." Sanji answers with a shrug.
"He's still my father though, you don't get to pick your family." Sanji points out reasonably.
"And were you in a shipwreck as the plaintiff asserts?" the judge continues, almost conversationally.
"I was." Sanji nods.
"How did you survive?" she asks. The hairs on Zoro's neck start standing up on end, this feels wrong. He shoots a look at Vivi and sees her wearing a similar look of unease, everyone else - including Igaram looks perfectly relaxed though.
"I was rescued." Sanji answers with a frown, he doesn't like talking about it, Zoro knows that.
"And where were you for the intervening..." the judge trails off waving an expectant hand as she looks at Spandam and his lawyer.
"Six years.” Lucci fills in instantly.
“Six years?” The judge finishes, glancing back at Sanji dubiously. Zoro’s fingers tighten on the wooden pew-like court bench that he’s sitting on. He really doesn’t like the sound of this… not at all. Was this supposed to be such a grilling, and from a judge no less?
“I was with the man who rescued me.” Sanji answers, his tone suggesting that he too is starting to realise that something is amiss.
“That was… a Mr. Zeff Red, correct? The owner of a restaurant in this city?” She says, flicking through the notes in a file on her desk.
“Yeah, the Baratie. I worked there with him. I don’t really see what this has to do with fraud, I’m still Spandam’s son.” He says leaning forward in his chair as he looks up at the old lady judge.
“You intend to tell me that as a child you nearly died, lost one parent in a tragic accident, miraculously survived thanks to a complete stranger, only to return to the same city that you were from and within that time until you turned sixteen you never once tried to contact your only surviving parent? That seems more than a little implausible. The claim is accepted, you can argue that in court if you’re so certain, or so stupid, Sir Prince.” The judge declares, banging her gavel.
“Hey!” Sanji exclaims, rising out of his chair indignantly. Igaram instantly grabs him and forces him back into it before the judge spots him. The judge looks to Lucci and Spandam again expectantly.
“The second charge is related to the first. This imposter’s mission was to defraud my client as much as possible, taking as much of his money as he could through the form of stocks, shares and expensive gifts. We believe that recently this imposter has received offers from outside parties to bring down my client’s company from the inside.” Lucci declares.
Sanji stands up so suddenly and sharply that his chair topples behind him loudly.
“That’s ridiculous! I’ve never wanted a damn thing that you’ve given me and I was happiest without your money and without you! You were the one who made me come back!” Sanji snarls, slamming his palms on the table.
“Liar, you’d throw a hissy fit if even one thing that I bought you got taken away.” Spandam says coolly, his lips curling into a sick grin.
A shock of terror shoots up Zoro’s spine as he sees where this is going, he looks up at Sanji but the blonde is too hot headed, too enraged to see!
“Sanji!” He hisses urgently.
“Enough shouting in my court, and control your mate, I won’t have them speaking in my courtroom!” The judge snaps, pointing her gavel menacingly at Zoro. Sanji makes a shushing gesture at Zoro with his hand, without taking his eyes off of his father, Zoro shuts his mouth.
Spandam looks like a horribly disfigured cat with the cream, this couldn’t be going better for him. He looks over at Vivi in a panic, he has to do something but what? She looks equally helpless and tries to subtly kick Igaram to get his attention but this too only earns them a dismissive wage from Igaram and a fierce glare from the judge.
“I don’t want a damn thing of yours!” Sanji argues vehemently.
“Please, all you do is take the things that I buy you. You wouldn’t give up the things that I bought you for anything, that’s how we know you’re a con-artist and a fraudster.” Spandam says bitingly. Zoro catches the sick man’s gaze as it flicks for a split second to him.
“FINE! Would that help?” Sanji demands, looking up at the judge.
“Giving up the things you’re supposedly conning your father out of would certainly weaken their case, yes.” The judge remarks, raising her eyebrows.
“Sanji!” Zoro hisses urgently, Sanji waves him away.
“Like you would.” Spandam laughs, with an air of uncertainty in his tone. Zoro can hear it’s fake though, oh god. Zoro’s hands tighten on the wooden bench, he feels like he’s in one of those old west movies, tied to a train track and watching a freight train hurtle towards him.
“Oh, you don’t think I would? Fine. Have it all back, the house, the stocks and shares that you’ve given me, everything. I never wanted any of it, or you!” Sanji declares. Zoro’s jaw hangs open.
The judge stares at them in silence for a second before banging her gavel.
“Agreed, the defence will surrender all items and assets gifted to him or belonging to Lord Spandam.” She declares finally.
Zoro feels like he’s going to throw up, he whines and leans forward, resting his head in his hands. Vivi’s gentle touch rests on his shoulder. He hears Lord Spandam’s sick laugh, it has an edge of mocking mania to it, and why wouldn’t it? He’s won.
“What’s so funny?” Sanji demands angrily.
“You idiot.” Zoro says weakly, barely able to believe that this is happening at all. He looks up to see Sanji looking at him in irritated confusion, Spandam looks deliriously happy, Lucci looks smug.
“You didn’t buy him, I did. That’s also how I know you’re not my son, no child of mine would be so stupid.” Spandam laughs from across the room.
Sanji’s skin pales instantly, now he gets it. Zoro glares at him, he’s a fucking idiot, that’s what he is. How could he fall for such an obvious trap and why on earth didn’t Igaram see it either?!
“Just win this, okay? And do it quickly.” He says quietly as he looks up into Sanji’s horrified expression.
“Wait- no, you can’t- Zoro doesn’t count! He’s not a thing, he’s a person!” Sanji exclaims, spinning on his heel to face the judge.
“No he’s not. And I’ve had enough of this, get that out of my court- bailiff!” She judge orders and Zoro sees and hears several heavy booted men make their way towards him from around the room. He should probably be panicking, thinking of a way out. Like that bailiff walking towards him now, he could punch him in the throat, leap the next one, dodge and then- but no. They’d shock him, shoot him or anything else. And if he manages to escape they can track him, they will find him, they’ll hunt him down. There’s… there’s no point in fighting, he’s powerless.
“No! Please! Anything but Zoro, he’s not- please!” Sanji begs, throwing himself to his knees, but the judge is having none of it.
Zoro eyes the closest bailiff and turns his gaze to the furious looking Vivi.
“Please keep an eye on Sanji, stop him from doing anything dumb- or… dumber than this at least. Nami’s alive, she’s with Robin.” Zoro hisses urgently in her ear. The surprise registers on her face but she quickly disguises it, clever girl.
“I’ll do what I can.” Vivi nods. Slowly her elegant hand rises up and touches the ring on her collar as her sad eyes meet his. A gesture of respect for the doomed.
Zoro’s skin crawls as thick fingers wrap around and under the back of his collar and haul him bodily off of the bench by it like a goddamn animal. He pulls against gravity and gasps in pain as the hard metal and plastic collar cuts sharply into his trachea. The bailiff drops him on the floor and subtly takes the opportunity to kick him as he bends down to grab Zoro roughly under the arm from where he lies coughing on the floor and haul him to his feet with the aid of another. He offers no resistance and starts to walk with them, what good would resisting do anyway?
“Zoro! No!” Sanji yelps.
Zoro looks up to see the blonde sprinting for him but another bailiff steps in the way and tries to stop him. Sanji’s face contorts into a picture of fury as Zoro is pulled ever further away. Sanji spins in a graceful arc and kicks the bailiff clean across the room, to gasps from the room. The other bailiffs draw weapons and advance menacingly on him, all the while Spandam is watching like a kid on Christmas morning.
“Sanji, don’t!” Zoro urges, he doesn’t want the blonde getting hurt, not for him! There’s nothing that Sanji can do anyway!
“I’m not letting them take you!” Sanji yells, grabbing his hand and pulling. The bailiffs grab Zoro around the middle and pull back, he feels like he’s going to rip. Sanji’s eyes are desperate as he tries to pull Zoro away. A bailiff grabs Sanji and tries to pull him apart from Zoro but the blonde is not letting go.
Against his better judgement Zoro grabs Sanji’s wrist back tighter and shakes from the inside out- as if an earthquake is ripping through his heart, he doesn’t want to go, he doesn’t want to be apart from Sanji. As he stares desperately into Sanji’s eyes he feels overcome by the terrible premonition that this may be the last that he sees of him, that Sanji might lose this court case and never get him back.
Sanji is screaming and shouting, kicking at the bailiffs and Zoro is doing the same, never taking his eyes off of Sanji. The whole court is in uproar, the judge is screaming for Sanji to be arrested, the gallery of people are all yammering excitedly and Spandam’s twisted laughter echoes through the room. The bailiffs pull Zoro outside, dragging Sanji and the other bailiffs with them.
His grip on Sanji’s wrists starts to slip and he feels the blonde’s fingers slide ever so slightly down his hands, there are three bailiffs pulling at Sanji now and a third has joined the ones pulling at Zoro.
“Please! NO!” Sanji screams, his fingernails digging into Zoro’s skin and scratching into it. Tears are streaming down the blonde’s face freely and Zoro is certain that he’s doing the same. He can’t lose Sanji, he can’t! Sanji has been so kind to him, he’s been strong when Zoro’s been weak, he’s healed parts of Zoro’s soul that he thought would never heal. He’ll never have that again, if he’s forced to be someone else’s mate they’ll never be anything like Sanji, he’d rather die!
Sanji’s fingers are tangled with his now and both of them are straining to hold on, but it’s futile, they’ll never manage to hold on. Zoro struggles, kicks one of the bailiffs in the jaw and tries to claw Sanji back.
“I LOVE YOU!” He shouts at the top of his lungs. He shouts because it’s true and because he may never get another chance to say it, he may never see Sanji again and he can’t just leave without ever saying it. Why had he not said it before now? He supposes that he was scared, scared that saying it would ruin everything, worried that is wasn’t the right time, or fearful that Sanji would back off and say that he was interested but not that interested. He’d thought that they had all the time in the world to get around to it. He was so stupid!
Sanji kicks hard enough to knock one of the guys clean off of him and uses the momentum to lunge forward and grab Zoro’s arm hard in a grip that feels unlikely to let go. The blonde pulls close so that their faces are almost touching.
“I love you, I’ve always loved you, I’ll always-” Sanji insists desperately. Suddenly a sharp pain flashes in the back of Zoro’s head and the world goes dark, his grip on Sanji fails and the last thing that he hears before everything falls away is the agonised heart-wrenching howl of his name from Sanji.
Then there’s nothing.