I do not own One Piece or its characters, I only own this story.
Chapter 2: All Blue
After Nami and Vivi's engagement party in Alabasta, Zoro had spent the next few days getting back to Raftel. Mostly, he was just lost, but he preferred to think of it more as 'seeing the sights.' It wasn't like he was in that much of a hurry to get back home anyway. He didn't have any scheduled lessons until Tuesday.
He found himself lost in thought many times along the way. Zoro was convinced this was the reason why he was going the wrong way all the time.
I wonder if Sanji is back in Raftel yet… I doubt she would take more than a day off from work, she probably flew out to Alabasta. She owns the most popular restaurant in Raftel, she's probably got the money, and if she didn't I'm sure Nami and Vivi would've payed for her to fly. Whatever, it's not like it matters anyway… But there is something a little unsettling about not knowing… Huh, that's weird. Why do I care so much anyway? Marco did suggest giving it some thought… Kid thinks I like her, but I barely know her. And I don't want to just have sex with her—I've never even had sex! What the hell did Sabo say about Koala? That he fell in love as soon as he saw her? Wait—why did that just come to my mind?
Zoro was still trying to think and figure out how he felt about Sanji when he arrived back at his dojo. He parked in his garage and killed the engine, then sighed with content. However, he didn't feel content. In fact, Zoro felt a slight ache in his chest, a heaviness that was unsettling.
He decided to ignore it, assuming it would go away eventually, maybe once he was settled back home. Zoro brought his bags upstairs to his living area and into the bedroom to put away his things. It didn't take long and afterwards Zoro took a shower, happy to feel fresh after driving around for such a long time. He dressed himself in dark jeans and a black shirt; when Zoro looked at the clock he saw it was dinner time.
I could go visit Sanji…
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Zoro grabbed his wallet and bolted back downstairs to walk next door.
All Blue had opened a year after Zoro built his dojo. He never visited the place before, mostly because extravagance wasn't really his thing and this restaurant quickly became the most popular place in town for this very reason. Upon walking into the restaurant, Zoro's mouth fell open.
The place was fancy. Dim lighting, a soft lull of instruments in the background, fresh flowers at every table. The room was filled with deep reds and blues, dark wood and white fabric napkins. He felt like he had at the party, out of place. But this time he really felt underdressed.
As Zoro found himself being escorted to a table by the hostess, he was asked if he wanted anything to drink and he ordered a bottle of sake. Looking around, he noticed there was a stage with musicians, they appeared to be waiting for something, or someone. He was seated at a small table to the side of the room, but he had a view of the stage.
Is Sanji going to be singing?
Suddenly, a beat began to play and a few moments later Sanji sauntered out and made her way up to the stage, wandering through the tables along the way. When she started to sing her voice was powerful, full of passion, and had the same effect on Zoro as before. ("Bye Bye Bye" Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox version)
I'm doing this tonight I know that I can't take no more, it ain't no lie Don't want to be a fool for you Don't really want to make it tough
You're probably gonna start a fight
I know this can't be right, hey baby come on
I loved you endlessly
When you weren't there for me
So now it's time to leave and make it alone
I wanna see you out that door
Baby bye, bye, bye
Just another player in your game for two
You may hate me but it ain't no lie
Baby, bye, bye, bye
I just wanna tell you that I've had enough
It might sound crazy but it ain't no lie
Baby, bye, bye, bye
Just hit me with the truth I know that I can't take no more, it ain't no lie Don't wanna be a fool for you Don't really want to make it tough
Now, boy you're more than welcome to
So give me one good reason baby come on
I live for you and me
But now I really come to see
That life would be much better once you're gone
I wanna see you out that door
Baby bye, bye, bye
Just another player in your game for two
You may hate me but it ain't no lie
Baby, bye, bye, bye
I just wanna tell you that I've had enough
It might sound crazy but it ain't no lie
Baby, bye, bye, bye
I'm giving up I know for sure I don't wanna be your fool
I don't wanna be the reason for your love no more
I'm checkin' out, I'm signin' off
I don't want to be the loser and I've had enough
In this game for two
So I'm leaving you behind
I don't wanna make it tough
But I've had enough
Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye
Don't want to be a fool for you Don't really want to make it tough
Just another player in your game for two
You may hate me, but it ain't no lie
Baby, bye, bye, bye
I just wanna tell you that I've had enough
It might sound crazy but it ain't no lie
Baby, Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, bye, byeWoah
You may hate me but it ain't no lie
Baby, bye, bye, bye
Oh bye, bye, bye, bye
Bye, bye, bye
Yeah, ain't no lie
Baby, bye, bye, bye
The crowd applauded at the end of the song, but Zoro couldn't. The song was sad, it made him feel like she was hurting. It made Zoro feel like he was hurting. Although he really didn't know her that well, he felt like something was wrong. But, he decided to just sit and listen as she started singing another song. ("Love Yourself" Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox version)
For all the times that you rained on my parade And I didn't wanna write a song Cause if you like the way you look that much When you told me you hated my friends And I didn't wanna write a song Cause if you like the way you look that much
And all the clubs you get in using my name
Oh you think you broke my heart, oh boy for goodness sake
You think I'm crying on my own, well I ain't
Cause I didn't want anyone thinking I still care
I don't but, you still hit my phone up
And baby I'll be movin' on
And I think you should be somethin'
That I don't wanna hold back
Maybe you should know that
My mama don't like you and she likes everyone
And I never like to admit that I was wrong
But I've been so caught up in my job, I didn't see what's going on
But now I know, I'm better sleeping on my own
Oh baby you should go and love yourself
And if you think that I'm still holdin' on to somethin'
You should go and love yourself
The only problem was with you and not with them
And when you told me that my opinion was wrong
And you tried to make me forget where I came from
Cause I didn't want anyone thinking I still care
I don't but, you still hit my phone up
And baby I'll be movin' on
And I think you should be somethin'
That I don't wanna hold back
Maybe you should know that
My mama don't like you and she likes everyone
And I never like to admit that I was wrong
But I've been so caught up in my job, didn't see what's going on
But now I know, I'm better sleeping on my own
Oh baby you should go and love yourself
And if you think that I'm still holdin' on to somethin'
You should go and love yourself, Hey
As Sanji danced around the stage, Zoro's heart was pounding in his chest. When she continued to sing, he listened intently to every word, wondering what could've made her sing something like this. For all the times you made me feel small Cause if you like the way you look that much
I felt in love, now I feel nothin' at all
And I never felt so low when I was vulnerable
Was I a fool to let you break down my walls?
Oh baby you should go and love yourself
And if you think that I'm still holdin' on to somethin'
You should go and love yourself
If you like the way you look that much
Oh baby you should go and love yourself
And if you think that I'm still holdin' on to somethin'
You should go and love yourself
Oh baby you should go and love yourself
Oh baby you should go and love yourself, oh
Someone had brought his sake to the table along with a glass, but Zoro didn't bother with it and took a swig straight from the bottle. Another song began, and Zoro smirked slightly when Sanji started to sing. ("You Give Love A Bad Name" Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox version)
An angel's smile is what you sell
You promise me heaven then put me through hell
Chains of love got a hold on me
When passion's a prison you can't break free
Oh! You're a loaded gun, yeah
Oh! There's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done
Shot through the heart and you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name
Zoro couldn't stop staring at the blonde woman, she was so passionate while she sang such depressing songs. It was even more intense than watching her a few days earlier at that party. As much as he was entranced by her voice, he couldn't help scowling as he listened to her sing. Paint your smile on your lips
With blood red nails on your fingertips
A school boy's dream, you act so shy
Your first kiss oh it was your first goodbye
Oh! You're a loaded gun, yeah
Oh! There's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done
Shot through the heart and you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name
You give love
Sanji swayed her hips side to side in a very enticing way, Zoro was getting flustered and felt slightly uncomfortable.
Shot through the heart and you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name
I'm shot through the heart and you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part, you play your game
You give love a bad name
You give love
You give love
Such a bad name
Zoro was enjoying listening to Sanji sing, but these songs were so different from the ones she sang the other night. Before she was singing love songs, and these were all basically the opposite. He preferred the love songs, and that was very unlike him. Still, he gave Sanji his undivided attention as she continued to sing. ("Same Old Love" Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox version)
Take away your things and go Mmmm I'm so sick of that same old love, that, it tears me up
You can't take back what you said, I know
I've heard it all before, at least a million times
And I'm not one to forget, you know
I can't believe, I can't believe it
You left in peace, you left me in pieces
Too hard to breathe, and I'm on my knees
Right now, Ohhhh
I'm so sick of that same old love, and my body's had enough
Oh-oh-oh, that same old love
Oh-oh-oh, that same old love
He was feeling very frustrated as he listened to her sing, but as the music took over Zoro couldn't look away. Sanji was swaying her hips to the music in a way that distracted him until the beat picked up again and she continued to sing.
I'm not spending any time, wasting tonight on you Mmmm I'm so sick of that same old love, that, it tears me up Mmmm, Yeah
You know, Mmm
So don't you try and change your mind
'Cause I won't be changing too, you know
And you can't believe, you can't believe it
You left in peace, you left me in pieces
Too hard to breathe, and I'm on my knees
Right now, Oh
I'm so sick of that same old love, my body's had enough
Oh-oh-oh, that same old love
Oh-oh-oh, that same old love
I'm so sick of that
So sick of that same old love I'm so sick of that same old love, that, it tears me up
I'm so sick of that, Hey
I'm so sick of that same old love, my body's had enough
Oh-oh-oh, that same old love
Oh-oh-oh, that same old love
Love, love, that same old love
Love, that same old love
Zoro hadn't ordered anything besides the sake he was nearly finished with, none of the waiters bothered him, either. They seemed to realize he was too engrossed with the music to care that he was at a restaurant. The next song began and Zoro watched as Sanji's smile brightened while she danced up on stage and began to sing. ("Grenade" Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox version)
Easy come, easy go Gave you all I had and you tossed it in the trash I'd catch a grenade for ya (yeah, yeah)
That's just how you live
Oh take, take, take it all but you'll never give
Should've known you were trouble from the first kiss
Had your eyes wide open
Why were they open?
Tossed it in the trash, you did
To give me all your love is all I ever ask
'Cause what you don't understand is
Throw my head on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah)
I'd jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah)
You know, I'd do anything for ya (yeah, yeah)
Oh-oh-oh
I would go through all of this pain
Take a bullet straight through my brain
Yes, I would die for you, baby
But you won't do the same
Black, black, black and blue Gave you all I had and you tossed it in the trash I'd catch a grenade for ya (yeah, yeah)
Beat me till I'm numb
Tell the devil I said 'hey' when you get back to where you're from
Mad woman, bad woman that's just what you are
Yeah, you'll smile in my face then rip the breaks out my car
Tossed it in the trash, yes, you did
To give me all your love is all I ever asked
'Cause what you don't understand is
Throw my head on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah)
I'd jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah)
You know, I'd do anything for ya (yeah, yeah)
Oh-oh-oh
I would go through all of this pain
Take a bullet straight through my brain
Yes, I would die for you, baby
But you won't do the same
If my body was on fire But, darling, I'd still catch a grenade for ya (yeah, yeah)
Ooh, you'd watch me burn down in flames
You said you love me, you're a liar
'Cause you never, ever, ever did, baby
I'd throw my head on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah)
I'd jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah)
You know, I'd do anything for ya (yeah, yeah)
Oh-oh-oh
I would go through all this pain
Take a bullet straight through my brain
Yes, I would die for you, baby
But you won't do the same
Die for you baby
But you won't do the same
Zoro's mind was racing.
All the songs she's sang are so sad. At the party, they were all love songs, so that must have been because of Nami and Vivi getting engaged. Well, what the hell? If she picked these songs, she might have gotten dumped… Or was she cheated on? the fuck would cheat on her?! She's the whole package! Wait—what? Why did I just think that?
She appeared to be done singing and cheerfully smiled to the customers in her restaurant. It was a bittersweet feeling for Zoro; on one hand he was sad that he wouldn't be able to listen to her sing—but these songs were depressing. On the other hand, Zoro felt warm in his chest as he gazed at her smile, and as her eye wandered through the place, she eventually spotted him and immediately her smile grew larger.
Zoro's heart was pounding in his chest as he watched Sanji say something to the musicians behind her, then wander through the tables until she sat across from him at his table.
With a sexy grin, wait, sexy? Sanji teased, "I see you found the place, marimo."
He scoffed, "What're you talking about? It's not hard to find."
She raised that curly eyebrow of hers, "Yeah, okay." Sanji waved her hand to a waiter who immediately came over, "Get this man a menu and a bottle of our finest sake, his meal is on the house." The waiter nodded his head, and left them alone, then Sanji turned back to Zoro, "So, what took you so long to show up?"
It took him a moment to realize she asked him a question, he was too surprised she was giving him a free meal and alcohol. He cleared his throat, "I've been driving back from Alabasta."
Sanji gave him a bewildered look, "You've been driving the whole time? It's been three days! Alabasta isn't that far!"
Zoro shrugged, "I stopped to sleep here and there."
"Well, did you eat anything~?" She questioned, almost appearing worried.
He felt embarrassed by her concern, "Yes, I ate." Zoro looked away from her accusing look, trying to stop himself from blushing.
The waiter came back with the sake and a menu. Sanji opened it and pointed to the section with seafood, grumbling, "Yeah, I'm sure you ate like shit, you stupid moss-head."
Zoro was irritated by her comment, and he had no idea how she knew he liked seafood, but he decided to get onigiri and sea king steak. He told this to Sanji when she asked, then she got up from the table and walked away with the menu.
Oh, sweet mother of—fuck! Her legs are so…but her ass.
He quickly shook his head, clearing his disturbing thoughts. There was no logical explanation for him to be thinking such thoughts. Zoro was really getting frustrated with himself and he already found himself missing Sanji's company.
She looked really happy to see me, why did she leave? Maybe she is just placing my order…?
As he waited for Sanji to return, he decided to open the bottle of sake he was given. He very rarely had such expensive alcohol, so he was excited to get drinking.
What's taking her so long? How long does it take to tell them what I want? I just want to talk to her again…
He sat at his table and nursed the expensive bottle of sake, grumbling to himself. After a while, Sanji reappeared with a plate of hot food that smelled and looked absolutely incredible. She placed it on the table and sat down in the chair across from him, expectantly.
He stared at her, then to the plate of food, then back to her, "Did you cook this yourself?"
"Obviously," she rolled her eye, "I am the head chef."
"Oh, so that's what took so long," he teased.
Sanji glared at him, still waiting for him to eat the food she made.
Zoro picked up his silverware and cut into the steak, which was cooked a perfect medium rare. He took a bite and decided it was singlehandedly, the best thing he had ever eaten. However, he didn't want to give Sanji that kind of satisfaction and said with seriousness, "I think you need to find a new head chef."
"HA!" She laughed sarcastically, "You lying sack of shit!"
He narrowed his gaze, then took another bite of the steak.
"See! You love it," she glared at him, but there was something glinting in her blue eye.
Zoro rolled his eye and took a bite of an onigiri, which was the most delicious onigiri he ever had. He closed his eye in content as he chewed the food, trying to keep his expression neutral.
"Geez, marimo, you don't have to hide it." She chuckled, "Everyone loves my food."
When Zoro opened his eye, Sanji was leaning forward with a smirk on her red lips. He tried his best to scowl, "Whatever, shit cook."
Sanji didn't react to his name calling, instead she raised her curly eyebrow and studied him.
To distract himself from her gaze, Zoro just ate his food and silently enjoyed every bite. He tried not to look at Sanji, who was still sitting across from him, watching him eat with a tight smile on her lips. Zoro found himself glancing up at her every so often and every time he did, Sanji would smile at him a little bigger. Her smile made him feel weird, just like it had a few days earlier.
Truthfully, Zoro wasn't entirely sure why she was the first thing he wanted to see after settling back into his place. He acted with his gut instinct, like he usually did, let his body do the thinking instead of his head. But now he found himself in a situation where he might need to explain something to this woman. Zoro had no idea what to say, he wasn't very good with words, never had been.
Once he finished his meal, a waiter came and removed his empty plates. Sanji was still sitting across from him, and Zoro wondered why she wasn't working. "I ate your food," he grumbled, "Why don't you leave me alone?"
Sanji scoffed, "Well, fine. If that is what you really want, I will leave." She looked rather offended, it made Zoro feel like an ass. As Sanji was standing to leave, he reached out and caught her wrist in his grip. She turned to him with anger in her blue eye, "Let go of me."
Immediately, Zoro released her. He didn't like the icy tone to her voice and the look in her eye gave him chills. There was something very unsettling about her sudden change in attitude.
While looking her in the eye, the words, "I'm sorry," escaped from his lips and he really meant it. Zoro was apologizing to her, something he never did. And even though he didn't know what exactly made Sanji upset like this, Zoro knew he was the one who fucked up. He just didn't know if it was because of what he said, that he touched her, or the fact he wanted her to stay. After a moment of silence between them, Sanji sat back down across from him.
Zoro released his breath, he didn't realize he had even been holding it to begin with. He wanted to get back on this woman's good side, if he had ever been there in the first place. He wanted to see her smile at him again. "Thank you for the food," he bowed his head, "It was delicious," he confessed.
Her blue eye met his gray one and the corner of her mouth turned upwards.
With his heart pounding in his chest, Zoro admitted, "I liked the songs you sang at the party more than these sad ones." Her frown returned, and she looked away, he had to ask, "Did something happen?"
"Yeah, I got dumped…" She paused for a moment and reiterated, "Well, I caught him cheating on me, so I left him."
For once in his life, Zoro was upset he had been right, "I'm sorry." This was the second time he apologized to her in the past five minutes. But this time was different, he wasn't the one who caused the hurt in her eyes.
His words managed to make her smile a little, "Thanks."
Zoro hated the look on her perfect face. It was pained and sad; how could he not feel sorry that this woman was hurting? How could someone do this to her? He muttered, "What a fucking idiot."
"Excuse me?" Sanji asked with shock on her face.
Looking into her blue eye, Zoro said with complete seriousness, "Whoever cheated you is a fucking idiot."
Sanji shrugged, "I dunno, the guy's a surgeon," but she wouldn't look him in the eye and her cheeks were rosy.
Zoro scoffed, "I don't give a shit if he is the best surgeon who ever lived. He's a goddamn idiot." He took another gulp of sake, then shook his head, "No, a moron."
She softly chuckled, "You're a moron." The way she said it, although teasing, held endearment.
Zoro playfully rolled his eyes, then took another drink of sake, he knew it was helping him loosen up and actually talk. The look on Sanji's face bothered him, the woman looked troubled. He wasn't sure why, but he wanted to let her unburden herself, he wanted to be there for her to listen to what put a frown on her beautiful face.
Beautiful face…? She is fucking gorgeous! Fuck…her hair looks so soft, like golden strands of silk. I wish I could see it down instead of pulled up, I wonder how long it is…the curl on the end of her eyebrow is so unique and pretty and only makes me like looking at her eye more… I wish I could brush her hair aside and see her other eye too…see her other curly eyebrow… And her skin is so pale, so smooth and clear—not a single blemish or scar. Mmm, fuck, I want to make my own marks on her… I want to smear that lipstick she's got on her sexy mouth. Who the fuck would cheat on this woman? She is the entire—Fuck! I gotta stop and focus!
"Do you want to talk about it?" When she glanced over at him, Zoro smirked and added, "I'm a great listener."
That made her laugh. Zoro's smile grew as Sanji smiled at him, she looked relieved and also a little embarrassed. "It's stupid, really," she began and shook her head, "I'm a silly woman, I gave him my whole heart and all he did was break it."
Suddenly, Zoro's blood ran cold.
Sanji continued, "This guy—well he's a surgeon—so he works weird hours and I do too, so we couldn't see each other that much."
"So, he didn't make time for you?" Zoro questioned. He was happy that she was only mentioning one guy, she didn't seem like the type of woman who sleeps around—at least he hoped she wasn't that type of woman.
She turned to frown at Zoro, he frowned in return as she explained, "Oh, he made time for me—when he was horny—that's the only time I ever really got to see him." Sanji sighed, "We were together for two years, I guess we weren't really dating, but the sex was exclusive." Then she grumbled under her breath, but Zoro still heard her say, "He never did stick around until morning."
Sanji shook her head and turned away with a frown and a far-off look in her eye, "It was a couple weeks ago—the night I caught him with another woman." She took a deep breath, "He messaged me wanting to come over, but I was at work and didn't see it for a few hours. I ended up going to his place since we had each other's key. Anyway, I walked-in on him and his hot neighbor having sex on his diner table."
Zoro clenched his jaw, trying to control the wave of anger that washed over him. He didn't like thinking of Sanji being used for sex and left to wake up alone. He didn't like thinking about her being with anyone like that—especially this ungrateful, unworthy asshole.
Well, I do like thinking of her being with me…
He shook his head to clear his thoughts, "Forget about him, he sounds like an asshole."
Her blue eye snapped to his, she looked surprised, then looked away and muttered, "Well, thanks, I guess."
Inwardly groaning, Zoro cursed himself for being such an idiot. This woman had opened up to him about her shitty past relationship. She let him see her vulnerable, she didn't hide behind silence and was honest, bold, and expressed what she felt and thought. She was so unlike himself in that way. Sanji was good with words and feelings.
But Zoro wasn't. He didn't know how to describe the way he felt. But seeing her like this: sad and defeated, made him feel it too. He reached out and placed his hand on hers sitting on the table—to comfort her. Oddly, when their skin touched, Zoro thought it felt hotter than it should. Once their eyes met, he felt embarrassed and pulled his hand back, then he scratched the back of his head and looked away.
After a moment, he turned back to her with a small smile, "Thanks for the food and booze, curly brow."
She nodded her head, Zoro thought her cheeks looked flushed. He stayed staring at her like that, neither of them saying anything, until Sanji cleared her throat, "Well, I should get back to work. We'll be closing soon."
"Oh," he snapped out of his daze and pulled his wallet from his pocket, leaving a tip. Sanji eyed him curiously, so he gave her a smirk, "For cooking lessons."
He turned around and left the restaurant, thankfully without losing his way, and left behind a fuming blonde cook behind him.
AN: Hey everyone! Here is the second chapter! It's not as long as the first was but I promise chapter 3 is longer and will be out soon!
Please leave a review!
xoxoLadyLiberal
