Author's Note #1: So I just went to an anime convention, my first one! And of course I bought some One Piece stuff, including this AMAZING art of post-time-skip Zoro looking all badass with Sandai on his shoulder. Anyway, moving on. I did not become broke (I was so close, I was running out of money and was like, "I'll go to an ATM", thank God the line to the ATM was practically outside, otherwise I would've completely lost it). I don't own One Piece. I have all of this story planned now, and you won't believe how long it'll be. You will all want to murder me, but I hope I can make it worth it. I'm really testing it here, I think, I've never prepared something this long/big and I'm really anxious about response. So far you guys are pretty supportive and I really appreciate it. This time around I really WILL try to thank everyone who favorites/follows. I hope you guys don't get sick of how long it is. I GOT IT! Remember this, (because I might not), whoever reads the WHOLE story (once it's complete, it'll take at LEAST a year), and reviews to the last chapter can give me a request story and I will dedicate/write it for them. How's that sound?
if my heart was a house
by: Setkia
In front of him stands a boy. He's dirty looking, has green hair and his tear-stained cheeks and puffy red eyes make it obvious he's been crying. He clutches a white sword to his chest possessively and sniffles, snot dripping out of his nose.
"Eggplant, meet Zoro. He'll be staying with us from now on."
Chapter Three
Zoro has many things to complain about concerning his new situation.
He now lives on top of a restaurant that in and of itself is strange, but moreover it's loud and Zoro isn't used to the noise.
He can complain that now he sleeps in a room that is an obnoxious blue colour, or that the two men (one fat and tall, the other short and fat) who come in frequently always seem to stare at him like he's an alien and ask if his hair is natural.
He can argue about how the blond man taking care of him (who he will not call his guardian, only Koshiro gets that title) is scary or that the traffic is too loud and can be heard from the short blond kid's room (it is not his room, it will never be his room).
He can moan about how there's never any peace and quiet, that he doesn't have any room to practice, that the blond has too much energy, that he wakes up too early. He can say the tub is too small, or that the building in and of itself is confusing in layout.
He can even say that the worst and most annoying part of this whole arrangement (which has been done without his permission) is the blond with the weird eyebrows.
All are true, (well not the part about being scared of the old man because he's got a peg leg, how intimidating is that?) but the truest reason why this is the worst possible situation he could ever land himself in is this:
She isn't here.
And she won't ever be here.
Zoro isn't stupid. He knows that when they say she tripped and fell, they're lying. If by tripped and fell they mean she accidentally impaled herself on her sword while polishing it, then sure, he buys their excuses.
Zoro is young, but he is wise. He knows what being dead means.
It means they are never coming back.
Zoro cries a lot, but since he's come here he hasn't shed a single tear. Because she didn't cry and so he won't either. She used to make fun of him for always complaining and moaning about how she wasn't being fair to him. Now he's quiet. He's sure she'd be happy about it.
He is pretty sure the blond gets the wrong impression when he shows up. He probably thinks Zoro makes a habit out of crying, which he doesn't. He's stopped since. In fact, maybe he's crying a bit before he had enters the room but one look at that boy's ridiculous eyebrow and it shuts him up for good.
Maybe the boy thinks he's weak or something. Zoro doesn't care. Let him think what he wants to, so long as he doesn't touch his stuff, or hers.
Zoro knows she's gone but he doesn't like to think of it that way. He likes to pretend that he's just looking after her sword for when she comes back. He'll give it to her, telling her how he's kept it in tip-top-shape for her and she'll smile, ruffle his hair and then proceed to win against him using that very sword again.
She has beaten him two thousand times.
He has won a single fight.
He's still breathing.
He thinks victory should feel better than this.
Sanji, that's the eggplant's name with the weird eyebrows, is annoying to put things simply.
He's in Zoro's space too much, won't shut up, either whining and complaining or pouting or just being bratty.
After about a week of being at the restaurant, Sanji's guardian, Zeff, grabs him by the scruff of his neck and forces him into the kitchen.
It's loud and noisy and everyone is moving everywhere and going kind of crazy, screaming about orders or what table five wants or to get that scalding soup off the stove unless you want to be burnt alive.
"Time to earn your keep," says Zeff. He points towards a small stood where Sanji stands, peeling potatoes.
Zoro can accept that he has to sleep in the same room as Sanji, he is young and has been through "a traumatic experience" (geez, as saddened as he is about her death he didn't see it first hand so there's no reason to treat him like a doll), and therefore they think he doesn't want to be alone. He can deal with that. In fact, as annoying as Sanji is, his presence at night is nice. Knowing someone else is there, it's oddly comforting. However having to work alongside him? Zoro cherishes the times Sanji goes downstairs to help in the busy restaurant kitchen and enjoys his peace and quiet. Why does he have to join him? Besides that stool is way too small for the both of them.
Zoro pushes a chair to stand a few feet away from Sanji.
"Oi, I don't bite," snaps the blond.
Zoro wants to challenge him on that, but he doesn't. Instead he stares at the potatoes he has to skin and the knife. Knives aren't all that different from swords, he can figure this out, right?
Just as he picks up the knife and is ready to start skinning he feels himself move. He hasn't moved, his chair is moved and Zeff is pushing him closer to Sanji.
"You brats better get used to each other," huffs Zeff.
Sanji grits his teeth and doesn't look up from his peeling.
Seems he's opting for silence.
Zoro is fine with that, he needs it in the loud kitchen. For all his faults, at least Sanji knows when to shut up.
He starts to skin the potato when he hears it.
Sanji's laughter. It's the first time the boy has heard the other laugh, or more accurately, snicker.
"You're doing it wrong," says Sanji.
Zoro glares at him as though to ask if he's such an expert then why doesn't he just do them all?
Sanji holds out his thumb proudly.
Zoro squints. Is he supposed to be seeing something?
"I have a scar," declares Sanji proudly. "It's a battle scar!"
Zoro snorts. "Fighting against potato skins, Curlicue? That's hardly a battle scar."
Sanji blinks.
What's Zoro done now?
"You talked!"
Oh. He supposes he did.
"So?" Zoro snaps.
"You were just so quiet before ..." The boy begins to grin. Clearly he's starting to get conceited, maybe thinking it's cause of him.
"Don't let your head inflate," Zoro snaps. "I just couldn't stand your stupidity. You can't talk about battle scars, your worst brawl was with a frying pan."
"Like you've been out to war?" challenges Sanji.
Zoro decides Sanji is hopeless and ignores him. The blade of a knife just doesn't feel right to him, not like a sword. He isn't even sure how to hold it. Does he just wrap his hands around its base? Is he supposed to use a certain finger to guide the motion?
"You're still doing it wrong, Marimo."
Zoro blinks. Marimo? As in, green moss balls? It takes a couple of seconds but then Zoro realizes Sanji is making a quip about his hair. "Hey!"
"You're slow," but Sanji is grinning.
"Your smile is creepy."
Sanji's eyes narrow. "Well excuse me! Your existence is creepy!"
"Your eyebrows are screwed up," says Zoro. "All swirly and whatever. Are you defective?"
"Do you not know how to hold a fork?" snaps Sanji. "If anyone's defective it's you!"
"Do you even know what defective means?" Zoro challenges.
"'course I do!"
"Yeah, sure."
"You think I'm lying."
"No, I believe you."
"You're sassy."
"No sassier than you."
Sanji frowns. "I thought it might be fun when you started to talk, but I just realized you don't shut up."
"Me? You're the one who's always talking while you're cooking or staring at the ceiling! Who talks to the ceiling?" Zoro demands. And Sanji calls him sassy? Has he looked in the mirror recently?
"Better than someone who doesn't speak."
"Ahou," Zoro growls.
"Well … well you're a b-baka."
Zoro raises an eyebrow. "No good at insulting?"
"I'm plenty good, moss-head!"
Oh, now he's done it.
"Bring it on, Blondie!"
"Idiot!"
"Oh, I'm really hurt, boke!"
"Teme!"
"Dobe!"
"SHUT UP!"
Zoro feels a strong tug at his hair and he's pulled back, almost lifted off of the chair he's standing on. He looks up to see Zeff staring at him with a frown. "Corner, now!"
Zoro gulps.
Okay, maybe he's just a tiny bit scared of the blond with the large moustache.
Author's Note #2: The thank-yous!
ougley: Thank you! I hope I do your favorite pairing justice. If you really want a feel for how I write ZoSan/SanZo (because I love couples who can switch/reverse), you could read Beautiful Disaster, if you've got the time. It's long.
lilcutieprincess: Thank you!
VeryFineAutumn4869: I'm scared to read works that are incomplete but I read Blacksmith and oh my God ... It tore out my heart and then mended it. A love letter written in steel. I spent forever staring at my ceiling just going, "how the hell do I top that?" and then I realized I just can't and I was jealous I hadn't thought of it first. New Neon really is amazing and one of my favorite ZoSan authors. Love me dead, Aural Pleasure, and don't even get me started with on alien shores. They just ... It's perfect, and Fluency ... Just waiting for the next chapter. Any other recommendations because that was frigging AMAZING?
Shizuka Taiyou (x2): Like I said, I just imagined Sanji to be a very bratty little kid.
Thank you for:
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Following: SagaE, ougley, lilcutieprincess, silverfox45, ecklumi
