Hi there everyone!

So I sat at my laptop, finally finished with coursework, and was about to write a new chapter of Split, and instead a small, adorable plot bunny attacked my brain and instead got me writing this.

For all the Split fans, I do hope to continue it as well, I just need to get back in the flow of the story having left it a month, so bear with me!


Hospital Beds

A fanfiction by Pamplemoose

Chapter 1

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It all began in the dead of night.

The muffled sound of shoes scuffing on linoleum as they shuffled past roused him from a pleasant slumber. At the worst time too; Nami-swan was about to take off her apron...

Recalling where his dream ended left Sanji all too aware of his current..."problem" caused by its content. Moving discreetly, Sanji rolled over to hide his arousal – the nurses had seen in enough times already, thanks to all their sponge baths.

Another scuff brought his attention back to the nurses, who were hurriedly preparing a bed on the other side of the empty room. Feigning sleep, he strained his ears to listen to their quiet murmurs.

"...in theatre now, though they had a time getting him in there, apparently."

"Did you see him in A&E?"

"No, I was dealing with that domestic. Did you?"

"Not him, but I did see some of the others that came in with him."

"Others? I thought he was the only one admitted?"

"He was the only one who made it..."

"...C'mon, we better hurry. Sister didn't know how long theatre would take. And quietly, we don't want to wake the Prince."

Sanji wanted to tell the lovely ladies that they could make as much noise as they wanted; it would still be rapturous, or at least enquire as to why they were preparing a bed. But those last pills make him drowsy and Nami-swan still had that apron...

-.-.-

The communal area of the ward had a soothing quality Sanji could never quite place. It still had the overwhelming smell and atmosphere of a hospital, but the long, tall windows that fill the room provided a spectacular view from the third floor, and filled the room with a reassuring warmth.

Sanji sat, as usual, on his sofa nearest the window. Ever since he'd first arrived at the hospital he'd sat there, and it'd become such tradition a lot of the other ward inhabitants would leave the seat alone; knowing it was his. Sanji appreciated the gesture; in a world where everything was laid bare, it was nice to have something to call your own.

It had been two months, since he arrived at the hospital. Sometimes, on bad nights, he can still feel the heat from the flames, the smoke that smothered him. Maybe that was another reason why he liked the window. The cool air was fresh and reduced the smothered feeling that sometimes threatened to overtake him.

There had been a fire at his home – the restaurant he lived in and co-owned, attacked through some dispute with his father and local thugs. The Baratie burned to the ground, his father was in another ward being fitted a prosthetic leg, and Sanji was here recovering from the burns on his body and two broken legs.

He sighed, wishing he had the energy to go outside for a cigarette. It was too much effort to push himself downstairs; that shitty wheelchair was heavy and his hands were precious. Sanji flicked through the paper the nurse gave him, waiting for his fellow ward friend to come and help him downstairs.

Luffy had been on the ward a little less time than Sanji, but had bonded with him instantly. Well, not instantly, as soon as Sanji said 'cook', Luffy was determined that one day he would taste him cooking. Indeed, for someone who had never eaten his food, he was his biggest fan. Luffy was brought in with his brother – who was healed and gone – after the pair was involved in some huge fight. As far as he could judge, it had something to do with the brother's involvement in some gang.

There was too much gang warfare in the city – he and Luffy were just two examples of what can happen to those caught in the crossfire. And they were the lucky ones...

"Sanji-san, are you okay there? You've read that paper twice now."

Snapped out of his reverie, Sanji gave his most gracious smile to the nurse who addressed him as he folded the paper on his lap.

"I was in my own world, just thinking. Wondering how a guy like me was so lucky to be looked after by a woman as beautiful as you."

The nurse blushed, taking the now rolled paper from his outstretched hand. Always one for the ladies, his chivalrous behaviour earned him his nickname amongst staff – Mr Prince. It always made his heart swell to be addressed that way.

"Are your friends visiting you today Sanji-san?"

"I'm not sure. I know Usopp was working, so I doubt he and Nami-swan will make it, but Vivi-chwan mentioned she'd try. Though I don't know if it's the best idea, what with this new roommate I keep hearing about."

The nurse looked uncomfortable.

"Ah, Roronoa-san. We brought him in a few hours ago, when you were upstairs. He's still resting, I think. Though he's lucky he made it out of surgery at all."

"Roronoa huh? What's his story?"

"Well I only know what other nurses had told me, but apparently he was very seriously hurt, and with all the blood he'd lost it was a miracle he was alive, let alone conscious. Surgery lasted 8 hours, but I don't know anything else; he hasn't woken up."

"Do you know what happened to him?"

"Not really, some kind of big accident or something? A policeman came round earlier, to talk to him, but obviously couldn't. He did say that Roronoa-san was the only one left alive from whatever it was that happened."

Sanji frowned as he processed the information. If he had to share a room with this guy he wanted to know his story; he didn't want to share a room with a psychopath.

"Well, I guess I'll just have to wait until he wakes up."

"Well, we're all hoping that'll be soon. I have to go finish rounds Sanji-san, I'll see you later. Bring you back a treat, ne?"

"Ahh, I am honoured to be cared for by one as lovely as yourself! Until later my sweet!"

Ginning as he watched the nurse hurry away, red in embarrassment from his words, Sanji leaned back against the chairs.

Yep, injured or not, noone could woo the laides like Mr Prince.

-.-.-

With no therapy that day, Sanji spend most of his time in the communal ward. Luffy had shown up around midday after his own meeting with the doctors, and promptly caused havoc for everyone else. It was a good thing their ward was rather empty, or the nurses would have far too many people to try and care for.

The energetic boy had used the chairs as a ship under attack, and ended up toppling half the tables and a curtain; not forgetting poor Mr Jenkins who got knocked over as Luffy fell 'overboard', hindering his recovering back. The pair watched the old man be carted out of the ward, glaring at Luffy as he was moved somewhere more peaceful. The young man grinned sheepishly in apology as Sanji yawned; he was a whirlwind of energy at the best of times and on days like this when the smoke still clung to him, it took a lot out of the injured cook.

"C'mon Luffy, take me to my room?"

"Kay! Now I can meet that guy the nurses are all talking about!"

"No, you can't. I can't sleep when you're chattering around."

"Mou, but Sanji I wanna meet your new friend!"

"He's not my friend, moron, he's just a roommate! I've not even seen him let alone spoke to him."

Pausing outside the room, Luffy peered through the small window in the door to investigate the new inhabitant, but the bed was obscured from view by half a curtain; foiling his fun. Giving up, he huffed and crossed his arms, making the cook chuckle. This heightened the kid's yo-yo mood instantly, and Sanji could still hear the cheery farewell even as he rolled himself into his room for a nap.

Hoisting himself up into bed, Sanji spared a glance across the room at his reluctant roommate. Machines beeped consistently – a good sign even if the nurses said he was badly injured. From here, with the man up to his neck covered in sheets he didn't even look very hurt; just a few bandages around his head and gauze on his cheek.

Fatigue took him again, and Sanji sunk slowly into the hard, hospital pillows. And just as he did, all hell broke loose.

Because with a jerk upright, and a loud scream, his roommate finally woke.