Title: Hungry Nights and Filling Sharks
Pairing:Zoro/Sanji
Topic:Toys
Words: 300
Rating:PG
Notes: Normally I'd post this story under Marimos and Eyebrows since this was written for Opyaoi100 too but since it won for the week and got awesome fanart (check my profile for link) I'm giving it it's very own entry.
The shark.
The shark on the floor by the hammocks.
A stuffed toy shark about the size of his forearm, a gray belly, the rest faded blue markings with threadbare patches. Old, worn, well loved.
Zoro picked it up all the while knowing he wasn't supposed to know of its soft, but lumpy and slightly misshapen existence.
Luckily, Sanji was already sleeping peacefully.
They'd run into some pirates a few weeks prior. They hadn't been too tough but it proved to be enough distraction to sneak into the galley and pretty much steal everything. They had their asses beat by the time they had the sense to retreat but in the end they got away with the food without the crew noticing until later.
There hadn't been an island since and the fish they were catching wasn't nearly enough to feed nine. Sanji was making it stretch but he was also shorting himself on the small rations. The cook blamed himself and the more vocal cries of crewmates claiming they were starving weren't doing him any favors.
Zoro noticed.
He'd also been awake the night the cook's nightmares turned into terrors. The moans, thrashing, clutching at his stomach. He was about to wake him when Sanji gasped awake, insanity still shining in his eyes. Moments later, Sanji hopped out of the hammock and retrieved the shark from some secret place before returning.
"It's been a while, Sushi." A less fitful sleep quickly followed as he squeezed the worn fluff under his arm.
Zoro sighed as he placed the shark back in Sanji's arms. He'd normally give the cook shit for keeping a toy, but Sushi was a nakama Sanji wasn't afraid or embarrassed to cling to when he needed it.
In that way, Sushi was his place holder for now.