Another chapter and oh! So soon! (I am down with viral and have a lot of free time.)
Chapter Nine
Know You More
It was official. Sanji was ignoring him. It had been four days since the night he had told him about his mother. Zoro took off his glasses and leaned back on his cushioned office chair. Sanji had been uncomfortable that night. He tried to hide it but it became fairly obvious after a while and Zoro had not pushed him. They ended up cuddling together, Sanji taking his time in falling asleep.
First, Zoro had thought it was because Sanji had remembered his scornful past but when Sanji decided to be busy on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with no time to spare for Zoro, he understood it was something he did. He tried reflecting on his actions. He had stalked the blond, though that was not something Sanji had been irked about. He had tried to explore Sanji's body but he had been way too uncomfortable to give whole hearted reactions. So it had to be something he did before that... But no matter how much he thought over it, he couldn't point out where he had over-stepped.
He sighed. Zoro had been in three relationships. Like he had told Sanji, they were all casual. Bonney, Saga and Perona had been amazing partners but he had never actually felt a connection with them. And now that he was feeling one, Sanji seemed ready to severe it before it even solidified. He opened his eyes, understanding hitting him a little too hard.
Was he over thinking or did he finally get the hint? 'Well,' he picked up his phone and pulled out Sanji's contact, 'Why not just ask?'
Sanji flipped his head to the side, trying to get the fringe out of his eyes. He held the thin end of the separating comb in between his teeth and his hands were busy in giving a bounce to Nami's ginger hair. He didn't understand why she visited the parlour, she was a beauty and didn't need all those chemicals in her hair but she loved to try new hairstyle every time she went on a new date.
She was talking nonstop, updating Sanji on what he missed the past month he wasn't here and criticizing the other hairdresser. He hung on to every word she spoke, eyes sparkling and laughing at all the tales of how the kids teased each other at her Day Care.
"Now... This guy I am dating tonight claims to be some sassy rich dope." Nami reached for her phone as Sanji curled her hair "He isn't all that attractive but you get used to it in a while and the guy actually has an air of raw sex hanging around him... You know what I mean?" She scrolled through her Gallery pictures.
"I totally do, Nami Swan." Sanji's mind went back to Zoro... He had that raw sexy air hanging around him too. He felt his heart clench and he mentally cursed himself for letting his mind travel back to the moss head.
"Here... That's him." Nami held up here phone and Sanji spared it a glance, not wanting to burn her beautiful hair. He froze, staring at nothing for two seconds before removing the wand and looking at the screen again.
"Who...?"
"Oh... You liked him, huh, Sanji kyun?" Nami smirked "That's Eustass Kidd."
Sanji stared at the face of the man who Law cheated on him with. The red hair a little longer and eyes still holding the evil glare. He felt his mind numb and didn't realize it when he snatched the phone from her hand, glaring at it as if to burn a hole in it.
"Is something wrong, Sanji?" Nami's voice spoke from a distance and he jerked back to reality, whipping face around to look at Nami. "Do you know him?" Nami sounded a little concerned, her warm eyes trying to melt his shocked blue ones.
"I..." Sanji's voice shook. With anger or with sadness, he didn't understand himself. "I know him." He handed her phone back to her, getting back to work on her last strand of hair.
"Sanji...? What is it?"
Sanji shook his head, deciding speaking would be a bad idea. He took a deep breath, trying to breakdown the mess of thoughts clouding his mind.
Law and he had gotten together four years ago. Three years later, Sanji found him fucking Kidd in their living room. He had realized then that Law was in love with Kidd and Law had confessed to losing interest in the relationship a year earlier. The only reason he had held on was because he didn't want to hurt Sanji and had told Sanji with honest eyes that he still did love him but was no longer in love with him. Sanji had found it all overly dramatic but he understood what Law was saying and quietly excused himself from the doctor's life.
They never spoke after that conversation ended. A soft kiss on the lips and they had parted ways. He never called Law or texted him. Law returned the favour. It was a year later that Sanji found himself waking up in a hospital room to Zoro and Law. Law had seemed distant. But what else do you expect from an ex-boyfriend? He had told Sanji that Kidd had moved into town a few months ago and Sanji remembered how hesitant he was.
Law broke up with Sanji to be with Kidd without any further guilt and Sanji had let him because he was not one to force someone into loving him. But now it seemed like it was all worthless. Like all the pain he went through was for nothing. Law was sad and probably alone and it hurt Sanji that he never tried contacting him.
He shook his head. What was he thinking? Kidd was not the main reason behind the breakup. It was because the love between them was gone.
A tap on his shoulder interrupted his chain of thoughts and he turned around to see Camie smiling at him warmly. He tried smiling back but he was sure his mouth currently looked like a scrawled line.
"Sanji chin... Zoro is here for his haircut appointment."
Sanji's brows furrowed and he looked over her shoulder to see Zoro walk towards one of the lush chairs. He growled softly. What was Zoro doing here? He didn't have the patience for this. He had been trying to keep himself away from the officer to get some space but it seemed like four days was the stalker's limit.
"I can take him, if you want, Sanji. You seem a little... disoriented."
Sanji blinked and looked down at Camie. Was he being that obvious? "No... Camie. Sorry. I'll take him. Tell him to wait a few minutes while I finish Nami's hair."
Zoro sat in the comfortable sofa chairs, watching his reflection in the mirror and tried to ease some tension off his shoulders. He had tried calling Sanji but every call went to his voicemail so he had ended up calling his parlour to set up an appointment. He felt like a stalker again but he really needed to sort things out with Sanji.
He waited, tensed for fifteen whole minutes, watching Sanji set up the hair of a woman whose face he couldn't see. He seemed to be in a bad mood as he bustled around her tugging and tucking the ginger hair. When she left, Sanji walked over to Zoro and gave him a dirty look in the mirror, totally contradictory to the soothing music playing on the speakers.
"What do you want it to be, Marimo?"
Sanji's behaviour oddly reminded Zoro of Tashigi when she got angry. She usually puffed up like a chipmunk and refused to look at him till her anger had dissipated. He couldn't help the grin that pulled up on his face and his heart did a back flip when Sanji gave him an unimpressed look.
"Anything you think suits me."
Sanji raised his eyebrows at him but he shrugged and unfurled the black apron around his neck. He picked up the spray bottle from the side vanity and started spraying water in his hair, skilled fingers brushing through his hair and making sure they were wet to the scalp. He set that aside and smoothly started to comb through his hair.
As angry as the man looked, he made sure that he was gentle with Zoro's hair and combed through his hair with great caution before sectioning them off. He reached for the scissors in his pocket but before he started, Zoro spoke up.
"Sanji, are you interested in ending this?"
Sanji felt through the soft texture of Zoro's hair as he sprayed it with water. He felt his heart flutter at their silkiness and the length was actually pleasing, so he decided to give it a short trim. He sectioned off the hair, mind still travelling back to Law and Kidd but somehow finding himself distracted by the smile on Zoro's face as he touched his head. It made him want to kiss the man but the thought only made him want to run and live in a forest. He gritted his teeth, angry on the stupid emotions confusing him and was about to start the trimming when Zoro suddenly spoke. "Sanji,are you interested in ending this?"
Sanji looked up at him in the mirror, surprise etched all over his face as they locked eyes. "What?" He snapped.
Zoro sighed and repeated the statement slowly and Sanji bristled inwards. What the hell? He didn't need this right now. He didn't want to deal with any more drama and bizarre shocks today. He deadpanned Zoro who regarded him with a humble, serious look.
"What is making you say that?"
"Oh... Not much really. You're blatantly avoiding me since the past four days, so it made me think a little on the issue." He gave Sanji a sweet smile and Sanji blinked.
"Well you thought wrong." Sanji looked down and started cutting off the required amount. "Don't stress your tiny brain."
Zoro's hand came out of nowhere and held his wrist, pulling him so he stood facing Zoro.
"You mind telling me what's going on?"
Sanji glared at him, anger starting to bubble inside him for no reason. "Nothing's going on, Marimo head."
Zoro gave him a cold calculating look.
"You are hiding something from me. I don't know what it is that is troubling you and I don't know why you won't tell me but I won't be able to do anything about it if you don't tell me."
"I don't need you to do something for me." Sanji all but spat out. It was near the closing time so they were practically alone in the parlour if you excluded Camie who seemed to be absorbed in her laptop screensaver. "I don't have to tell you anything I don't want to." Sanji didn't know who he was trying to justify himself to, Zoro or he? "You don't have to worry about me."
Zoro let out a sigh and ruffled his hair, mixing all the sections, pulling his hair away from his face to set them way they usually did. He stood up and grabbed Sanji's hips, pulling the stunned man closer and kissing him. It wasn't soft or caressing. It was wild, with a meaning behind it. He attacked Sanji's unresponsive lips; the blonde too surprised to react. Before he could, Zoro pulled away and left his hips.
"I don't look down on you, Sanji. I do not look at you as someone who needs my help or support. But, I am willing to be the one to give it to you when you need it and even be on the receiving end when I need it." He picked up his keys from the panel behind Sanji, his lips brushing against his ear as he did. "I just want to know you more."
To Be Continued
A/N:
1)I will be uploading the next chapter quite soon as well! Like I said, I got viral fever and I got loads of time to kill!
2)Reply to your kind reviews:
Crimson Fox 19: Thank you so much! Hope you liked this chapter as well! ^_^
Michikuni Mayu: Thank you sooooo much! I do agree, you always drop a review when you like a chapter and I really appreciate them! You don't have to be sorry or angry about not reviewing (Chopper wiggle).
Ummm... Sanji's mom was basically a victim to extreme domestic violence, i.e. beating, rape, trauma... It affected her mentally and she got older (brain wise) sooner than she should and it also left an impact on her memories. Sanji's past is dark, yes. Parents fighting and then Law and not to forget Violet (whole story will be revealed later).
I was laughing so hard when Franky started strangling Usopp... I mean, his robot is one of my favourite things in One Piece. I agree that Sanji has been ignored in the New World but we all know that is because Oda is creating a huge suspense around his powers. He hasn't really had the chance to prove himself but he'll come up soon! Like you said; Luffy, Zoro and Sanji are the Monster Trio after all ;) . Ummm... Usopp's hakki of perception can't be undermined either... It's definitely a strong point for the crew and he might come up as Zoro's or Sanji's right hand man. Sanji will beat his bounty pretty soon though, I am sure of it. (Try the theory where Sanji is Corasan's son... It's plausible.)
And, I was telling a friend of mine few days ago that Oda is a sadist and we are masochists (the non-sexual type). He just luuurrvvveeessss to give a few teases and then leave us hanging, craving for more! I fully agree with you! It's about time he drew Sanji again...
Looks like I talked alot too. :P .
Hope you enjoyed this chapter as well! ^_^
Blackpiece: Took the words right out of my mouth. You're a gem. You get me. You're an amazing reader! Please keep reading and reviewing! I hope you liked this chapter as well! And I won't worry... (Wipes a stray tear) :D
