Yay, I finally got this updated. Thanks so much to those who review! For those of you waiting, this will likely be the last chapter before the M rating is necessary for the fiction.
I own nothing and no one, and make no money off this fic (Pity me!!!)
Stopping near the cave entrance, Zoro propped his companion against the nearest tree so he could go in and make sure that no one and nothing had taken up residence within.
The cave was in fact both empty and cave-like, being a hollowed out area about ten feet in diameter, not exactly roomy, but at least it was dry, as well as being nearly hidden by overgrown foliage. He was pleasantly surprised to find that merchants might have used this island in the past, as a crate was pushed against the back wall. A brief search inside brought forth a blanket, some beef jerky, dried fruit and, thank god, four full bottles of rum. This would make the evening pass by with much less irritation than Zoro had thought possible. The rum would likely have no affect on himself, but if he could get Sanji good and drunk the other man could escape his current pain and sleep for a while. Then they could get back to the ship, Chopper could fix Sanji, and Zoro could fix the remaining bastard out on the island.
Zoro's keen hearing caught the sound of splashing outside and, pulling a blade, he rapidly exited the cave to meet any new threat. The swordsman's eyes widened as he saw that there was no physical threat, but that Sanji was at risk of freezing to death as he had apparently stripped off his shredded clothing and staggered into the nearby stream. The water didn't seem deep, just below waist level, so it was unlikely the blond fool would drown, but in his efforts to get clean, if the vicious scrubbing Zoro observed was any clue, the injured man was subjecting himself to frigid temperatures. Zoro might not be a doctor and couldn't understand the detailed terminology that Chopper rattled off, but the pirate hunter was pretty sure that wounds, plus cold, plus naked, equaled really damn bad.
"Oi, ero-cook! Get the hell out of the water, you want to freeze to death!"
Zoro could have smacked himself for being such an ass after all the crap Sanji had gone through this evening. Bellowing, while approaching the nude man with a sword drawn was clearly not the best way to coerce the other the other to leave the water. As it was Sanji jerked at his voice, then promptly toppled back into the water while grasping his midsection.
Sticking his sword into the ground as he went Zoro plowed into the river. The fighter moved with haste instilled by having half a crew who would simply die if no one saved them in water. Quickly honing in on the blonde's thrashing form, the swordsman trudged through the frigid stream to his companion.
Judging by the bubbles and flailing limbs Sanji was trying to stand and failing. As soon as Zoro reached the other man he grabbed the cook around the torso and hauled him upright, bracing himself as the cook thudded against his chest.
"God...::cough::...dammit..." Sanji didn't manage anything less abrasive for several moments as he choked on water and struggled to regain his footing. Likely unaware of his actions, the cook had latched on to Zoro's shoulders and was currently resting his head on the swell of the swordsman's chest.
As Sanji relearned to breath, Zoro took note of his physical condition. With the clothes, well rags, removed he could see the large bruise on the cook's side, probably from a kick, and if the ribs weren't broken, Zoro would be shocked. Beyond that the other's body was dotted with small wounds from the knife thrower. Though he doubted the other man realized it, he was lucky that the dagger wielding scumbag had used stilettos and not a heavier weapon, or Sanji would have likely bled out by now. Thankfully the small wounds caused from the blade seemed to have all stopped bleeding. The blond probably had wounds on his legs as well, but Zoro really didn't want to be caught looking at anything below Sanji's waist if he could help it.
When Sanji's breathing returned to normal, the blond straightened slightly and tried to back away. Of course in his current condition, this meant that he immediately went backwards to the water again.
Once again fed up with the irritating cook, Zoro latched on to the other man's arms and pulled the blond flush against his more stable body. He received a more subdued version of Sanji's usual glare and the blond began to struggle. Before the cook could injure himself further, Zoro removed a hand from one of Sanji's arms to clamp onto the other man's chin, forcing him to meet the annoyed swordsman's glare, he felt a pang of guilt at manhandling his injured crew mate but didn't let that deter him.
"Stop it, dammit. You're going to hurt yourself worse and Chopper's going to blame me for it. We both know just how tough you are, so stop trying to prove it. Let's just get out of this shitty river and try to get warm." He looked into Sanji's eyes, waiting to see if his words would penetrate the empty void where the other's brain should be.
"Whatever asshole, I'm going to kick your ass when this is over." Muttered Sanji, as he lightly tugged his hand free of the swordsman's grasp and slung it over Zoro's shoulder.
Slightly shocked but pleased that Sanji would ever cooperate with anything he tried to do, Zoro got one arm around the other's thin waist, trying not to further irritate the injured ribs, and ignoring the constant tremble in Sanji, as well quelling the chattering of his own teeth, Zoro trudged back through the water to the cave.
Entering the cave, Zoro lowered his shivering companion to the ground and handed the slightly dusty, tan colored blanket from the crate to the other man. Sanji attempted to unfold the cover, but it appeared the man's ribs were getting worse, probably from falling in the river, as he winced and let the blanket fall in his lap. Unable to see Sanji's face around the blond hair, Zoro was still able to clearly imagine the frustration that such weakness would cause.
Sighing, Zoro stopped unloading the crate and walked over to Sanji. With quick movements the swordsman knelt and yanked the blanket from the blond. Ignoring the other's wince and gasp as the nude man sought to pull his legs up in an attempt at modesty, Zoro quickly unfolded the covering. Sanji was once again hunched around his injured ribs, so it was easy for the green haired fighter to pull the blanket around the other man. Sanji looked up at the other's face, slightly shocked, while he was made comfortable.
Task accomplished, Zoro rose again and went to empty the crate, which he had concluded was likely the best source of flammable wood on the humid island. Setting the food and rum aside, and ignoring the eyes he could still feel following him as he worked, Zoro set about breaking the crate apart. Using his swords might have saved him a splinter or two, but unlike most swordsmen, who simply used a sword, like they would any other convenient tool, Zoro felt he fought with his swords, just like he fought alongside Luffy and the others. He smirked as he continued cracking boards with his bare hands, wondering what his crew mates would think if they new he considered the swords he wielded just as much his nakama as the people who comprised the word.
Zoro piled the wood in the center of the cave and gathered a few rocks to strike together. Luck was, for once, on his side as sparks flew and slowly set the wood ablaze.
Zoro's pant legs had nearly dried from his exertions, and a few minutes in front of the fire had him quite warm and relaxed. He had only glanced at Sanji a few times, but the other seemed to be settling in all right. Normally Zoro would have sat across the fire from the chef, or further away depending on the current hostility level, but he wasn't sure how well Sanji was doing and it would probably be better to be close, should the cook need something. Not that the other man would ever ask for aid, but as he was nearly brushing shoulders with his companion Zoro should be able to tell if something major was amiss.
"Why..." From the depths of the blanket, Sanji's voice reached his ears but was unintelligible after the first word.
"I didn't catch that ero-cook, try talking without your head buried in your chest... or whatever it's buried in." It was habit to try to irritate the chef whenever possible, and he succeeded as Sanji looked up and attempted to glare at him. The glare was fairly weak in comparison to the burning rage normally leveled at him, and the tone that reached his ears was subdued rather than irate, and just a little shaky.
"I said, why did you..." Sanji seemed to fumble around the word, "rescue me?" The cook had managed to meet his eyes at first, but stared at his feet as he croaked out the last few words.
Rescue? Zoro had thought this evening could get no worse for either of them, with Zoro starving and Sanji injured but he had been wrong, now the ero-cook wanted to talk. Oh well, at least this might be an easy way to help his nakama in the pride department.
"Geez ero-cook, you need to keep away from the girls' romance novels. I'm no knight in shining armor, and having been on the wrong end of some of your kicks I can attest to the fact that you're no delicate princess. I just helped out one of my crew mates, hell, I wouldn't have left anyone to those scum bags, would you?" That was going to end the longest conversation he had ever had with the blond when another thought, one he hadn't even been aware of voiced itself, "Would you have left me to those bastards, if you'd had the chance?"
"No!" The immediate and vehement denial caught the swordsman off guard and he leaned back as the other's words crashed over him. "I'd never leave anyone to those scum bags! Who would? And you...you're my nakama for crying out loud, I'd help you even if you didn't need it, hell, even if you didn't want it, if I thought you were going to be...to be abused or killed." Sudden rage spent, Sanji continued in a near whisper that Zoro had to strain to hear, "I-I know we all have our dreams to chase, and that you might actually get killed fighting another swordsman one day, but if it's anything else I would step in...and if they did kill you, well I would beat their asses...then I'd beat yours for losing."
Sanji was panting from the exertion that speech had cost him, but Zoro was glad the other had gone through the effort. Maybe there was something to be said for the cook's flowery speeches, at least those that didn't begin with 'Mellorine!' because the swordsman felt warmth that didn't come from the fire grow inside of him. Sanji's words voiced what he himself felt, but would never have been able to say aloud. It was a good feeling to know that, despite their occasional, okay constant, mutual irritation they weren't the bitter enemies that Zoro had feared they might be.
Looking at his...friend, Zoro smirked as he realized that Sanji probably surprised himself with what he'd just said, as the blond seemed to be rapidly becoming embarrassed, if the averted eyes and flushed face were any clue. Knowing that under normal circumstances Sanji would never be so open, Zoro decided to show some mercy and grabbed two of the bottles of rum, along with the food, that he had set nearby. Knowing Sanji couldn't manage, he pulled the cork from one bottle out with his teeth and handed it to his companion, he then did the same with a second bottle.
"I couldn't have put it better myself, ero-cook, and the sentiment is worthy of a toast...or ten." Zoro took a long pull on the bottle, downing nearly a fifth in one go.
Looking over at the cook as the blond pulled the bottle from his lips, Zoro was shocked that the bottle still looked full. Sanji caught his stare and explained.
"Liquor is for cooking, Marimo, not chugging. Tasting it for quality is all that's necessary to ascertain that a certain flavor of alcohol will blend well with the food it's prepared with." Zoro spared a thought to wonder what cookbook the chef had memorized that from when the reality of his words sank in.
"Wait, you mean, you don't drink alcohol?" Zoro questioned.
"I just said I do, moron. Where were you at Loguetown when I was draining bottles? Outside of parties though, why would you get drunk? But when cooking a bad bottle could ruin a meal so I check-"
"No, I mean, you've never drunk alcohol just to drink while we're sailing?"
Sanji's nose wrinkled in disgust. "Of course not, what a waste of both alcohol and brain power. Unlike certain narcoleptic seaweed people, I have better things to do with my time than lay about in a drunken stupor."
"Oh, like spewing stupid nonsense at every girl we ever come across?"
" I don't spew nonsense! The beautiful doves that cross our path are worthy of every praise I can give them, and of course our dear Nami-swan and Robin-chwan, deserve to be treated as queens."
Zoro just shook his head as the ero-cook once again had hearts in his eyes while he dreamed of their female crewmates. "Whatever, pervert, less talking and more drinking. You're going to finish that bottle or I'm tossing you back in the river."
"Keh! Bet I'll drink you under the table, Marimo." Sanji said, as he took a slightly deeper swallow.
It took several moments to process the cook's last statement. He didn't... Yes, yes he did! Sanji must have lost his mind to have just challenged Zoro, Zoro, to a drinking contest.
Zoro pulled the other two bottles closer to them. "You're on, curly-eyebrow, drink up."
Authors Notes:
Long time no see people! But for anyone who cares I am back and updating. One thing to mention from the previous chapter, I personally don't think Sanji would drink while sailing beyond the tasting for quality and occasional glass of wine. I have no proof of this, but creative license is all.
Hope you enjoy and review. Flames will be used to melt snow.