Politically Correct ch. 13
Turns out, summer school is more time consuming than my regular school year. Figures.
Title: Politically Correct
Rating: T
Word Count: 2,886
Pairing: Zoro x Sanji
Summary: AU set in the San Francisco Bay Area Nami has decided that she's tired of Sanji constantly chasing after girls only to be taken advantage of & decides to take a more active role in Sanji committing to a Real Relationship.
Disclaimer: One Piece = Eiichiro Oda =/= me.
Notes: This chapter is a bit short. And by 'bit short' I mean 'the length my first few chapters were'.
[Previous Chapters]
jfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjjffjfjfjjfjfjfjf
Robin could walk into the ruins of an ancient civilization and understand the most minute details of a life lived thousands of years before. She had spent her entire life observing and analyzing both past and present and it gave her a solid understanding on what the future held.
Understanding Zoro, on the other hand, had proven a nearly impossible task. He had been there at the beginning, when Robin and Franky had been on the worst of terms and Zoro had never fully dropped his suspicions.
It was a fact that she understood and accepted.
In truth, it had only made her more intrigued and, with the addition of Sanji, solving The Roronoa Enigma had come to be one of her favorite pastimes.
She stood at her porch banister and looked down at Zoro, who was napping in a patch of sun at the foot of the stairs. “We do have more comfortable places to nap, Mr. Swordsman.”
He didn’t move. She sat on the steps.
“It seems that your relationship with our dear Mr. Cook is progressing smoothly. And, actually, quite normally as well.”
Zoro’s eyes were still shut. Robin rested her chin on her hands. Zoro was surrounded by strong-willed people and Robin was no exception. “I don’t know what that red-headed witch told you in her nightly stalker report, but you’re both probably assuming too much.”
“Oh, now, Zoro, Nami didn’t tell me anything. Our house actually has windows and, sometimes, those windows are open.” Zoro cracked an eye open and looked at her in irritation. “Anyways, for us to assume too much still implies that something did happen.”
Zoro didn’t dislike Robin; in fact, he had an incredible amount of respect for the woman. But she was overly curious. And it wasn’t the Nami sort of curious where she was constantly sniffing out potential blackmail material. Robin’s curiosity was for something else. It was for understanding and getting to know you.
Neither of which being something Zoro was particularly interested in.
He slowly got up and brushed a few stray pieces of grass off his clothes. “Whatever’s going on with me and the cook doesn’t involve anyone except for me and the cook.”
Robin grabbed his arm as he passed by. “You may have forgotten, Zoro, but I’ve known Sanji just a bit longer than you have and I’ve seen him when he’s in love or thinks he is. And he has a tendency to…”
“Like I said. You’re assuming way too much. The reality of what happened last night is that he’s confused. The damn blonde’s got terrible defenses against women and you and Nami have been pushing him towards me for the past month.” Zoro had woken up when Sanji left for the soup kitchen much earlier that morning. He had been left with plenty of time to contemplate what had happened the night before. And Zoro realized that Sanji hadn't really confessed so much as admitted that he was beginning to consider Zoro as something more than a blow-up doll replacement.
“I have no delusions on the matter.” He stared at Robin’s hand and she let go.
Zoro headed back into the house and almost didn’t hear her words over the crunch of discarded wrapping paper under his feet. “You shouldn’t underestimate Sanji’s mental strength, Zoro. And you should watch out, your defenses are slipping.”
“I’m in complete control of my defenses.”
“This is probably the most you’ve spoken to me about yourself in all the time I’ve known you.”
“I’m already regretting it.”
Robin continued to smile as he walked inside.
That damn smile.
Zoro hadn’t, at any point in his life, actively made the decision to not talk about his past. It was simply something he didn’t see much worth in telling to others.
Zoro passed by Chopper, surrounded by a pile of books and headed to the backyard. Luffy was hopping around on his new pogo stick and Usopp was engrossed in his professional grade customizable slingshot set. Luffy bounced over to him, reaching surprising heights. Franky probably couldn’t resist tweaking it a bit. Zoro looked up as Luffy sat next to him. “Enjoying your presents?”
Luffy nodded. “I can’t wait to go skydiving and bunjee jumping.” He dropped to his back and stared up at the sky. “Sanji’s really good at giving gifts.”
Zoro followed his friend’s gaze to the clouds. The sky was lightening and the sun was peeking out. It was surprisingly warm for the end of December. “You’re just easily pleased.”
It was a lie. Luffy was actually terribly picky. He always expected gifts to be spectacular and had no reservations with letting someone know if he thought something was boring. But, then again, ‘spectacular’ for Luffy could be something as simple as a day at the zoo.
“A pogostick is fun, but Sanji’s good at giving gifts because he didn’t get us things.” Luffy pulled his strawhat over his face. “I’d rather go on an adventure. And that’s exactly what he got each of us.”
Sanji had gotten Franky tickets to Dr. Vega Punk’s extremely rare inventors showcase. For Robin, he had pulled in favors to get her on a researcher’s team for a recently discovered island ghost town which included a shipwreck exploration dive. Everyone else in their small circle of friends had received gifts of a similar nature and spirit.
Zoro and Sanji had decided not to exchange gifts.
Luffy folded his hands on his stomach. “How about your gift? Did you like the promise of memories that Sanji gave you?”
Zoro stared at his friend in silence. Luffy could seem childish and immature most of the time, but he was always there to do and say the right thing at all the important bits.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Good.” Luffy grinned.
And Zoro remembered why the kid was his best friend.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sanji hated working at the soup kitchen during holidays. It was overstaffed with inexperienced one-time holiday-only volunteers, there was always too much corn and not enough meat, and Sanji often had to settle for food not cooked to perfection.
But the worst part was being stuck in the kitchen for the entire day. And it wasn’t so much being in the kitchen that bothered him as much as it was being in the kitchen and not being able to see the people enjoying his food.
He watched the frantic bustling of the many volunteers. Everyone was sweating, unavoidable in a crowded kitchen with all burners on, but most also had a smile on their face.
Okay. So maybe I don’t hate working holidays. He reached out and caught a plate of cookies as one guy’s apron snagged on the edge of a counter. It wasn’t the first almost-casualty of the night and Sanji knew there would be more, but he had been sure to let all his workers know that any food that ended up on the floor would be the main course for all of their meals throughout the day.
“Sanji, it’s time for your break.” Sanji glanced at the teenage girl who had appeared next to him. She was one of the regular volunteers and had long become accustomed to Sanji’s rules in the kitchen.
He grabbed an unused pot and emptied several cans of clam chowder into it. “I’m skipping my break.”
The young girl grabbed his arm and shoved him towards the staircase leading to the offices on the second floor. “You’ve already skipped two of your breaks. Go upstairs and take a nap.” She continued to glare at him until he turned around and made his way up the stairs.
He opened a window and lit his first cigarette of the day.
My first cigarette since…
He looked out the window.
Sanji had spent much of Christmas Eve awake replaying the scene on Robin and Franky’s porch. He was still unable to rationalize what had happened, but he had stopped caring by the time his alarm had eventually gone off.
Sanji wanted to blame everything on Zoro, but Sanji had been the one to initiate everything. Zoro just followed through. And each time, Sanji had acted without thinking. And each time, Zoro had accepted without complaint.
The pattern was pissing him off.
Because he had initiated everything, he was unsure about what Zoro actually felt, and whether he was going along with Sanji out of convenience or actual feelings.
And this realization had pissed him off.
Because it meant that Sanji had easily accepted his own feelings for Zoro. And that they were in fact feelings. For Zoro.
And it wasn’t an issue of being straight, gay, or bi (though Sanji had spent a number of sleepless hours failing to solve this particular issue.)
It was an issue of ‘What happens now?’
Sanji shut the window and stretched out on the couch. He wondered if he’d get away with skipping the rest of his breaks on account of thinking too much.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Vivi looked at her clock. Nami would be by to pick her up any minute.
“Kohza. Has Zoro been cleared yet?”
Kohza looked wearily at Vivi. She had been asking the same question every day. “Would you really rather have a complete stranger around instead of me?”
She almost looked apologetic. “It’s not about wanting him around instead of you. He’s a friend and I’d like him to be around as well.”
Kohza watched as Vivi searched for her jacket. “Can’t you look at this from my perspective? Just humor me, Vivi. What’s a month if it means saving the Alabastan people from having to mourn the loss of their princess?” Vivi’s strength had always come from the idealistic love of her country, but that same love was her biggest weakness.
She pursed her lips and turned away. “But I think living with me was good for Zoro. It forced him to actually spend time with his friends. He’s probably back to spending his entire day lifting weights and training.”
“What’re you talking about? Isn’t he living with your chef?”
“What?” She stood holding a heavy blue coat and looked at Kohza, confused. “Sanji lives alone. I mean, I know they arrived at Robin’s together and the other day Luffy was complaining about how it wasn’t fair that Zoro got to eat Sanji’s cooking for every meal. And I was wondering why Ace said that he was thinking about moving into Zoro’s apartment so it wouldn’t be a waste of rent, but…”
Kohza didn’t think he’d ever understand how Vivi could be so considerate for her people, noticing and fulfilling their every need, but still manage to be completely clueless about everything else. But Vivi’s cell phone rang and Kohza was saved from having to clue her in.
“I’ll be down in a bit, Nami.” She grabbed her purse and turned back to Kohza.
“I’m coming.”
Vivi sighed and headed out the door. When they reached the cool night air, Nami was nowhere in sight. Instead, a suit-clad figure was sitting on a bench in the shadow of the building.
“Sanji? Nami didn’t mention you’d be coming.”
The blonde head turned slightly towards Vivi. “We thought it’d be better as a surprise. Also, I realized that I have yet to give you your Christmas present~”
“But you already gave me a present at Robin and Franky’s?”
“That was just oooone present, my dear.”
Vivi put on a smile. Sanji had seemed troubled the past few days and it was comforting to see him back to his old, flirty self. Even if there was something about the way he talked that was creeping her out a little more than usual. “You really go through too much trouble, Sanji.”
Sanji stood up, still in the shadows. “No trouble at all, Princess.”
Kohza grabbed Vivi as she stepped forward. “Where’s Nami?”
“I’m right behind you.” Kohza and Vivi both turned turned.
Nami wasn’t there.
Kohza pulled out his knife. “Get inside, Viv->unghhh!”
Sanji pulled his leg back, twisting the sharp metal point of his shoe out of Khoza’s side in the process. “Stoooop joking aroouuund! You don’t even have a chance of stopping me~”
“Shit!” Kohza clamped a hand down on his wound and tightened the grip on his knife. “Go, Vivi!” He lunged forward.
Vivi watched in horror as the pointed shoe dug into Kohza’s chest before he could even get within arm’s length of the other man. Kohza collapsed on the ground, blood pooling beneath him.
“Kohza!” Vivi rushed to his side and attempted to staunch the flow of blood with her jacket.
“Nooow now, Princess. There’s really no point.”
Vivi felt around for the phone still in her pocket. “You’re obviously not Sanji. Who are you and what happened to Nami?”
The taller man pulled off the blonde wig and rubbed at his face, revealing a layer of heavy makeup. As he fully stepped out of the shadows Vivi realized he looked absolutely nothing like Sanji.
“You’ll be joining your friend in a moment so no need to fuss. You can call me Bon Clay~” He twirled and gave a bow. “I do hope you enjoyed the show, but we have a deadline to make.”
“Bon Clay? You’re Baroque Works…” Vivi was pulled to her feet. “At least let me call the ambulance. You’ve already got me. There’s no reason to let Kohza die here.” She suddenly felt the pressure of fingers at her throat.
“Ah! Mr. Pigeon. That little ventriloquist trick you taught me was a fantastic addition to my performance.”
Vivi glimpsed a top hat and long wavy hair as her vision went black.
“You’re taking too long and talking too much. Let’s go.”
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
It was nearing 3am by the time the soup kitchen volunteers released Sanji to go home. The actual kitchen had closed at midnight, but a group of workers had wanted to go out for a bit of holiday drinking and had insisted Sanji come along.
He staggered towards his apartment and hesitated at the door. Sanji wasn’t sure if Zoro would be inside and he wasn’t quite sure whether or not he wanted him to be. He slid to the floor, leaned his head back, and was abruptly reminded of the door behind him as his head made contact with the hard surface. He groaned and pulled his knees up to rest his forehead.
“Maybe I should send the apartment management a card of appreciation for their choice of carpet.” As Sanji continued to admire the softness of the hallway carpeting, his apartment door opened and he found himself flat on his back.
“Comfy?” Zoro looked down at Sanji in amusement.
“Quiiite comfy.” Only a dim hallway light was on in his apartment. “Did I wake you? How’d you know I was out here?”
“It’s three in the morning, yeah I was asleep.” Zoro reached out a hand and Sanji took it. “I woke to something hitting the door. I’m assuming it was your head when you were on your way to the floor. And, not sure if you realized, but you were kind of talking to, I assume, yourself really loudly.” Sanji was still lying on the floor, hand clasped to Zoro’s and making no effort to move. Zoro sighed and dragged him into the apartment before closing the door. “I always thought Christmas was a sober type of holiday and considered New Years the night for getting fucked up.”
“Hey. I’m not wasted. I’m just tired.” Sanji kicked off his shoes and reached for his tie. Which was missing. “And I wouldn’t expect you to consider any holiday as being a sober holiday.”
“I’m not a light-weight, like you.”
Sanji finally found his way onto his feet with the help of a nearby wall. And looked straight at Zoro. “I’m lucid. I’m coherent. I’m tired. I may have had drinks shoved down my throat for the past few hours,” he met Zoro’s lips, “but I’m not wasted.”
“You taste like alcohol.”
“Your favorite flavor.” Sanji turned away and squinted into the darkness as he tried to make his way to his room.
“I wouldn’t say that.” Zoro caught Sanji as he tripped. “Couch. Shouldn’t you be able to navigate your own place in the dark? Especially since, you know, you’re not wasted.” Sanji grumbled at Zoro and eventually found his bed. He slipped off the rest of his clothes and crawled under the covers. He was asleep within a minute.
Zoro walked back into the kitchen and picked up the cup of coffee he had poured not fifteen minutes before and headed to the sink. I wonder if that idiot love cook would consider dumping coffee a waste of food. He could hear Sanji’s steady breathing drift in from the open bedroom door.
This is ridiculous.
Living with Sanji hadn’t been a big deal. But, somehow, the coffee stained cup was. It was Zoro waiting for Sanji to come home.
Zoro lying about waiting for Sanji to come home.
Zoro caring about wasting a cup of coffee that Sanji would’ve never known had gone down the drain.
He stared at the dark still-steaming liquid.
It’s when you hesitate that you lose.
Zoro tilted his head back and downed the remaining coffee.
He stared at the empty cup.
“Well. I guess that’s that.”
[ Chapter 14 ]
Title: Politically Correct
Rating: T
Word Count: 2,886
Pairing: Zoro x Sanji
Summary: AU set in the San Francisco Bay Area Nami has decided that she's tired of Sanji constantly chasing after girls only to be taken advantage of & decides to take a more active role in Sanji committing to a Real Relationship.
Disclaimer: One Piece = Eiichiro Oda =/= me.
Notes: This chapter is a bit short. And by 'bit short' I mean 'the length my first few chapters were'.
[Previous Chapters]
jfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjfjjffjfjfjjfjfjfjf
Robin could walk into the ruins of an ancient civilization and understand the most minute details of a life lived thousands of years before. She had spent her entire life observing and analyzing both past and present and it gave her a solid understanding on what the future held.
Understanding Zoro, on the other hand, had proven a nearly impossible task. He had been there at the beginning, when Robin and Franky had been on the worst of terms and Zoro had never fully dropped his suspicions.
It was a fact that she understood and accepted.
In truth, it had only made her more intrigued and, with the addition of Sanji, solving The Roronoa Enigma had come to be one of her favorite pastimes.
She stood at her porch banister and looked down at Zoro, who was napping in a patch of sun at the foot of the stairs. “We do have more comfortable places to nap, Mr. Swordsman.”
He didn’t move. She sat on the steps.
“It seems that your relationship with our dear Mr. Cook is progressing smoothly. And, actually, quite normally as well.”
Zoro’s eyes were still shut. Robin rested her chin on her hands. Zoro was surrounded by strong-willed people and Robin was no exception. “I don’t know what that red-headed witch told you in her nightly stalker report, but you’re both probably assuming too much.”
“Oh, now, Zoro, Nami didn’t tell me anything. Our house actually has windows and, sometimes, those windows are open.” Zoro cracked an eye open and looked at her in irritation. “Anyways, for us to assume too much still implies that something did happen.”
Zoro didn’t dislike Robin; in fact, he had an incredible amount of respect for the woman. But she was overly curious. And it wasn’t the Nami sort of curious where she was constantly sniffing out potential blackmail material. Robin’s curiosity was for something else. It was for understanding and getting to know you.
Neither of which being something Zoro was particularly interested in.
He slowly got up and brushed a few stray pieces of grass off his clothes. “Whatever’s going on with me and the cook doesn’t involve anyone except for me and the cook.”
Robin grabbed his arm as he passed by. “You may have forgotten, Zoro, but I’ve known Sanji just a bit longer than you have and I’ve seen him when he’s in love or thinks he is. And he has a tendency to…”
“Like I said. You’re assuming way too much. The reality of what happened last night is that he’s confused. The damn blonde’s got terrible defenses against women and you and Nami have been pushing him towards me for the past month.” Zoro had woken up when Sanji left for the soup kitchen much earlier that morning. He had been left with plenty of time to contemplate what had happened the night before. And Zoro realized that Sanji hadn't really confessed so much as admitted that he was beginning to consider Zoro as something more than a blow-up doll replacement.
“I have no delusions on the matter.” He stared at Robin’s hand and she let go.
Zoro headed back into the house and almost didn’t hear her words over the crunch of discarded wrapping paper under his feet. “You shouldn’t underestimate Sanji’s mental strength, Zoro. And you should watch out, your defenses are slipping.”
“I’m in complete control of my defenses.”
“This is probably the most you’ve spoken to me about yourself in all the time I’ve known you.”
“I’m already regretting it.”
Robin continued to smile as he walked inside.
That damn smile.
Zoro hadn’t, at any point in his life, actively made the decision to not talk about his past. It was simply something he didn’t see much worth in telling to others.
Zoro passed by Chopper, surrounded by a pile of books and headed to the backyard. Luffy was hopping around on his new pogo stick and Usopp was engrossed in his professional grade customizable slingshot set. Luffy bounced over to him, reaching surprising heights. Franky probably couldn’t resist tweaking it a bit. Zoro looked up as Luffy sat next to him. “Enjoying your presents?”
Luffy nodded. “I can’t wait to go skydiving and bunjee jumping.” He dropped to his back and stared up at the sky. “Sanji’s really good at giving gifts.”
Zoro followed his friend’s gaze to the clouds. The sky was lightening and the sun was peeking out. It was surprisingly warm for the end of December. “You’re just easily pleased.”
It was a lie. Luffy was actually terribly picky. He always expected gifts to be spectacular and had no reservations with letting someone know if he thought something was boring. But, then again, ‘spectacular’ for Luffy could be something as simple as a day at the zoo.
“A pogostick is fun, but Sanji’s good at giving gifts because he didn’t get us things.” Luffy pulled his strawhat over his face. “I’d rather go on an adventure. And that’s exactly what he got each of us.”
Sanji had gotten Franky tickets to Dr. Vega Punk’s extremely rare inventors showcase. For Robin, he had pulled in favors to get her on a researcher’s team for a recently discovered island ghost town which included a shipwreck exploration dive. Everyone else in their small circle of friends had received gifts of a similar nature and spirit.
Zoro and Sanji had decided not to exchange gifts.
Luffy folded his hands on his stomach. “How about your gift? Did you like the promise of memories that Sanji gave you?”
Zoro stared at his friend in silence. Luffy could seem childish and immature most of the time, but he was always there to do and say the right thing at all the important bits.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Good.” Luffy grinned.
And Zoro remembered why the kid was his best friend.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sanji hated working at the soup kitchen during holidays. It was overstaffed with inexperienced one-time holiday-only volunteers, there was always too much corn and not enough meat, and Sanji often had to settle for food not cooked to perfection.
But the worst part was being stuck in the kitchen for the entire day. And it wasn’t so much being in the kitchen that bothered him as much as it was being in the kitchen and not being able to see the people enjoying his food.
He watched the frantic bustling of the many volunteers. Everyone was sweating, unavoidable in a crowded kitchen with all burners on, but most also had a smile on their face.
Okay. So maybe I don’t hate working holidays. He reached out and caught a plate of cookies as one guy’s apron snagged on the edge of a counter. It wasn’t the first almost-casualty of the night and Sanji knew there would be more, but he had been sure to let all his workers know that any food that ended up on the floor would be the main course for all of their meals throughout the day.
“Sanji, it’s time for your break.” Sanji glanced at the teenage girl who had appeared next to him. She was one of the regular volunteers and had long become accustomed to Sanji’s rules in the kitchen.
He grabbed an unused pot and emptied several cans of clam chowder into it. “I’m skipping my break.”
The young girl grabbed his arm and shoved him towards the staircase leading to the offices on the second floor. “You’ve already skipped two of your breaks. Go upstairs and take a nap.” She continued to glare at him until he turned around and made his way up the stairs.
He opened a window and lit his first cigarette of the day.
My first cigarette since…
He looked out the window.
Sanji had spent much of Christmas Eve awake replaying the scene on Robin and Franky’s porch. He was still unable to rationalize what had happened, but he had stopped caring by the time his alarm had eventually gone off.
Sanji wanted to blame everything on Zoro, but Sanji had been the one to initiate everything. Zoro just followed through. And each time, Sanji had acted without thinking. And each time, Zoro had accepted without complaint.
The pattern was pissing him off.
Because he had initiated everything, he was unsure about what Zoro actually felt, and whether he was going along with Sanji out of convenience or actual feelings.
And this realization had pissed him off.
Because it meant that Sanji had easily accepted his own feelings for Zoro. And that they were in fact feelings. For Zoro.
And it wasn’t an issue of being straight, gay, or bi (though Sanji had spent a number of sleepless hours failing to solve this particular issue.)
It was an issue of ‘What happens now?’
Sanji shut the window and stretched out on the couch. He wondered if he’d get away with skipping the rest of his breaks on account of thinking too much.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Vivi looked at her clock. Nami would be by to pick her up any minute.
“Kohza. Has Zoro been cleared yet?”
Kohza looked wearily at Vivi. She had been asking the same question every day. “Would you really rather have a complete stranger around instead of me?”
She almost looked apologetic. “It’s not about wanting him around instead of you. He’s a friend and I’d like him to be around as well.”
Kohza watched as Vivi searched for her jacket. “Can’t you look at this from my perspective? Just humor me, Vivi. What’s a month if it means saving the Alabastan people from having to mourn the loss of their princess?” Vivi’s strength had always come from the idealistic love of her country, but that same love was her biggest weakness.
She pursed her lips and turned away. “But I think living with me was good for Zoro. It forced him to actually spend time with his friends. He’s probably back to spending his entire day lifting weights and training.”
“What’re you talking about? Isn’t he living with your chef?”
“What?” She stood holding a heavy blue coat and looked at Kohza, confused. “Sanji lives alone. I mean, I know they arrived at Robin’s together and the other day Luffy was complaining about how it wasn’t fair that Zoro got to eat Sanji’s cooking for every meal. And I was wondering why Ace said that he was thinking about moving into Zoro’s apartment so it wouldn’t be a waste of rent, but…”
Kohza didn’t think he’d ever understand how Vivi could be so considerate for her people, noticing and fulfilling their every need, but still manage to be completely clueless about everything else. But Vivi’s cell phone rang and Kohza was saved from having to clue her in.
“I’ll be down in a bit, Nami.” She grabbed her purse and turned back to Kohza.
“I’m coming.”
Vivi sighed and headed out the door. When they reached the cool night air, Nami was nowhere in sight. Instead, a suit-clad figure was sitting on a bench in the shadow of the building.
“Sanji? Nami didn’t mention you’d be coming.”
The blonde head turned slightly towards Vivi. “We thought it’d be better as a surprise. Also, I realized that I have yet to give you your Christmas present~”
“But you already gave me a present at Robin and Franky’s?”
“That was just oooone present, my dear.”
Vivi put on a smile. Sanji had seemed troubled the past few days and it was comforting to see him back to his old, flirty self. Even if there was something about the way he talked that was creeping her out a little more than usual. “You really go through too much trouble, Sanji.”
Sanji stood up, still in the shadows. “No trouble at all, Princess.”
Kohza grabbed Vivi as she stepped forward. “Where’s Nami?”
“I’m right behind you.” Kohza and Vivi both turned turned.
Nami wasn’t there.
Kohza pulled out his knife. “Get inside, Viv->unghhh!”
Sanji pulled his leg back, twisting the sharp metal point of his shoe out of Khoza’s side in the process. “Stoooop joking aroouuund! You don’t even have a chance of stopping me~”
“Shit!” Kohza clamped a hand down on his wound and tightened the grip on his knife. “Go, Vivi!” He lunged forward.
Vivi watched in horror as the pointed shoe dug into Kohza’s chest before he could even get within arm’s length of the other man. Kohza collapsed on the ground, blood pooling beneath him.
“Kohza!” Vivi rushed to his side and attempted to staunch the flow of blood with her jacket.
“Nooow now, Princess. There’s really no point.”
Vivi felt around for the phone still in her pocket. “You’re obviously not Sanji. Who are you and what happened to Nami?”
The taller man pulled off the blonde wig and rubbed at his face, revealing a layer of heavy makeup. As he fully stepped out of the shadows Vivi realized he looked absolutely nothing like Sanji.
“You’ll be joining your friend in a moment so no need to fuss. You can call me Bon Clay~” He twirled and gave a bow. “I do hope you enjoyed the show, but we have a deadline to make.”
“Bon Clay? You’re Baroque Works…” Vivi was pulled to her feet. “At least let me call the ambulance. You’ve already got me. There’s no reason to let Kohza die here.” She suddenly felt the pressure of fingers at her throat.
“Ah! Mr. Pigeon. That little ventriloquist trick you taught me was a fantastic addition to my performance.”
Vivi glimpsed a top hat and long wavy hair as her vision went black.
“You’re taking too long and talking too much. Let’s go.”
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
It was nearing 3am by the time the soup kitchen volunteers released Sanji to go home. The actual kitchen had closed at midnight, but a group of workers had wanted to go out for a bit of holiday drinking and had insisted Sanji come along.
He staggered towards his apartment and hesitated at the door. Sanji wasn’t sure if Zoro would be inside and he wasn’t quite sure whether or not he wanted him to be. He slid to the floor, leaned his head back, and was abruptly reminded of the door behind him as his head made contact with the hard surface. He groaned and pulled his knees up to rest his forehead.
“Maybe I should send the apartment management a card of appreciation for their choice of carpet.” As Sanji continued to admire the softness of the hallway carpeting, his apartment door opened and he found himself flat on his back.
“Comfy?” Zoro looked down at Sanji in amusement.
“Quiiite comfy.” Only a dim hallway light was on in his apartment. “Did I wake you? How’d you know I was out here?”
“It’s three in the morning, yeah I was asleep.” Zoro reached out a hand and Sanji took it. “I woke to something hitting the door. I’m assuming it was your head when you were on your way to the floor. And, not sure if you realized, but you were kind of talking to, I assume, yourself really loudly.” Sanji was still lying on the floor, hand clasped to Zoro’s and making no effort to move. Zoro sighed and dragged him into the apartment before closing the door. “I always thought Christmas was a sober type of holiday and considered New Years the night for getting fucked up.”
“Hey. I’m not wasted. I’m just tired.” Sanji kicked off his shoes and reached for his tie. Which was missing. “And I wouldn’t expect you to consider any holiday as being a sober holiday.”
“I’m not a light-weight, like you.”
Sanji finally found his way onto his feet with the help of a nearby wall. And looked straight at Zoro. “I’m lucid. I’m coherent. I’m tired. I may have had drinks shoved down my throat for the past few hours,” he met Zoro’s lips, “but I’m not wasted.”
“You taste like alcohol.”
“Your favorite flavor.” Sanji turned away and squinted into the darkness as he tried to make his way to his room.
“I wouldn’t say that.” Zoro caught Sanji as he tripped. “Couch. Shouldn’t you be able to navigate your own place in the dark? Especially since, you know, you’re not wasted.” Sanji grumbled at Zoro and eventually found his bed. He slipped off the rest of his clothes and crawled under the covers. He was asleep within a minute.
Zoro walked back into the kitchen and picked up the cup of coffee he had poured not fifteen minutes before and headed to the sink. I wonder if that idiot love cook would consider dumping coffee a waste of food. He could hear Sanji’s steady breathing drift in from the open bedroom door.
This is ridiculous.
Living with Sanji hadn’t been a big deal. But, somehow, the coffee stained cup was. It was Zoro waiting for Sanji to come home.
Zoro lying about waiting for Sanji to come home.
Zoro caring about wasting a cup of coffee that Sanji would’ve never known had gone down the drain.
He stared at the dark still-steaming liquid.
It’s when you hesitate that you lose.
Zoro tilted his head back and downed the remaining coffee.
He stared at the empty cup.
“Well. I guess that’s that.”
[ Chapter 14 ]