...
"-gonna be ok..."
...
"-care of..."
...
*THUMP*
"Zoro?
...
"ZORO!"
...
ZOSAN
A small bead of light pierced through the darkness. It grew bigger and bigger with every second. A voice could be heard as a slight muffle, then it became louder, and louder, until...
"SANJI!!" The cook bolted upright and felt his head ram into a hard surface. He yelped in pain and held his head in his hands, it throbbed and stung.
"O-Ow..." Sanji heard someone groan from above him. He looked up to see Franky leaning back in a chair and rubbing his head.
"Didn't expect you to sit up so fast." He groaned. Sanji winced.
"S-Sorry." He muttered. His voice sounding like he was being strangled.
"It's fine. I'm just glad that you're awake." Franky said. Sanji furrowed his brow, trying to remember what happened, but all he could see in his memory was darkness.
"Franky... what happened to me? Why am I here?" Sanji asked as he looked around. He seemed to be in the men's dorms on the Thousand Sunny.
"I don't really know what happened myself." Franky admitted. "All I know is that you were brought back here unconscious and your lungs were filled with water."
That was when Sanji remembered what happened. The fight with the Marines and then Hanic pulling the cook under the water. But that was when his memory went black.
One thing confused the cook however. He was certain that it was the end for him. There was no way he would be able to survive. So how was he still breathing lying in a hammock on the Thousand Sunny?
"Also, I'm really worried about Zoro... he's not doing to good and I wonder how much longer it'll be until the others return with the cure, it's already getting darker outside." Sanji bolted up.
"Wait... how did I get back here?" Sanji asked.
"You got back on that boat the Marines were using." Franky said. Sanji sighed.
"Yes, but WHO brought me back?" He asked.
"Well it was Zoro of course." Sanji's eyes widened.
"B-But... h-how?" He stammered.
"I was wondering the same thing." Franky said. "He was in really bad shape when he brought you back and collapsed moments after. I had to take him to the infirmary. Hopefully he's doing ok."
Sanji recalled being at least 100 ft underwater before he passed out. Had Zoro jumped into the water and saved him? How? Sanji was sure that Zoro had no strength left in his body.
Suddenly Sanji urged himself into a sitting position. He had to get to the infirmary. He had to see Zoro.
"Woah! Woah! Sanji hold on!" Franky gripped the cook by the shoulders to stop him from getting out of bed. "You're not well enough to get up yet, just wait a few more minutes." Sanji struggled against the cyborgs monster grip.
Something inside of the cook told him that he needed to see Zoro. He did not know what it was or why he felt that way, but he just needed to. No matter what.
"Franky please, just let me see him." The blue haired cyborg was not having any of it though and ordered Sanji to rest. Sanji would not give in.
"It's my job to take care of Zoro, so I'm not about to blow it off when I feel fine." He gave Franky a harsh stare to push his point further, and finally the shipwright gave in. He sighed.
"Fine, but don't push yourself ok?" Sanji nodded and proceeded in getting out of the bunk.
When he stepped down he wobbled on his feet a little, Franky stood up quickly to be there in case the cook fell over.
"I'm fine." Sanji said as he steadied himself. His head was pounding and all of his limbs were sore, but his need to see the swordsman trumped all other feelings in his body.
Sanji walked out of the dorms and to the main deck of the ship, continuing to make his way to the infirmary. As he walked, Sanji hoped that Franky was lying about Zoro being in really bad shape. Then again, he had been running around all day and was probably exhausted. But had anything else happened on the way back to the ship?
Sanji finally made it to the infirmary and slowly opened the door. As he did he saw Zoro sitting up in his bed looking out the window, seeming perfectly fine.
Almost immediately Sanji felt a wave of relief wash over him. His legs became weak, but they still managed to carry him to Zoros bedside.
The swordsman noticed the cook and he looked over. Zoro was about to say something, but was stopped by Sanji suddenly embracing him into a rib crushing hug.
Sanji felt Zoro flinch uncomfortably at the touch, but Sanji did not care. He just needed to be close to the moss-headed idiot, his body heat soothing all of the cooks nerves. He relaxed into the hug.
He had been so worried about the swordsman all day, even before they were caught by the Marines. It was good to see that he was doing better than before. Sanji could hear Zoro's heart beating softly in his chest. It was soothing.
Suddenly the cook realized just what he was doing and shoved himself away so hard that he nearly fell back. He could feel the blush beginning to creep up onto his face along with the terrible feeling of embarrassment as well. The cook shifted uncomfortably.
"I-I'm sorry. I-I don't know what I was thinking. J-Just please forget EVERYTHING I did ok? And never mention this to-"
"Oi, cook!" Zoro interrupted. "Relax." Sanji looked at Zoro to see that he had a soft look in his eyes. He then quickly looked away, his face becoming red, worrying Sanji that his fever had come back until he spoke.
"Besides it... kinda felt a little... nice." Zoro muttered. Sanji gave Zoro a surprised look, making the swordsman very frantic "d-don't read too much into that!" He stammered. "I-I mean it... it like... it... ummm..." Zoro struggled to find the right words to say as his face grew progressively redder, it was kind of adorable. Finally he sighed and flopped down onto his bed.
"I'm tired." He mumbled. Sanji felt a small snicker escape through his lips until he was full on laughing. Zoro gave him a slight glare from the corner of his eye, but it was an empty threat and he knew it. Sanji kept laughing.
"Is there an actual reason you came here, or are you just here to mock me?" Zoro asked in an exasperated tone. Sanji calmed himself and looked at Zoro.
"I mean, that's part of it." He teased, Zoro rolled his eyes and sighed before coughing a few times. He groaned.
"Being sick fucking sucks." Zoro grumbled. Sanji pursed his lips and sighed. He walked over to the chair next to Zoros bed and took a seat, giving Zoro a reassuring smile.
"Just hang in there for a little longer ok? The others'll be back soon, I'm sure of it." Zoro sighed. He looked so tired. There were dark bags under his eyes and he looked really thin. Sanji wondered just how much weight he had lost.
The cook felt that dreadful feeling of guilt that he thought was long gone creep it's way back into his gut. Just looking at Zoro's awful state made him blame himself for everything again. What was wrong with him? He never usually did this. But just for some reason when Zoro was involved he felt as if it was always his fault. Like he was the one responsible for all of the swordsman's pain. But, that was not true... right?
"... Listen... Zoro," Sanji began, "I know that I have no reason to say this but... I'm sorry. I should've been more aware of my surroundings to stop the bullet. Then none of this would've even happened and-"
"Just shut up." Zoro mumbled with a sigh. Sanji closed his mouth, but glared at the swordsman anyways. He was trying to confess his guilt to him but the idiot moss-head was just waving him off. That bastard.
Zoro shifted in his bed and looked straight at the cook. His eyes stern.
"Stop blaming yourself for something that wasn't even your fault to begin with. If anything it was mine. I should've been the one paying more attention, but I'm not dwelling on it. It happened and that's it. There's nothing you or me can do about it. So stop blaming yourself. You did nothing wrong."
Sanji looked down when Zoro finished speaking, feeling slightly embarrassed. The swordsman was right. He was overthinking things. It was never his fault. He had to get over himself.
"Yeah you're right." He sighed. "I'm being a whiny bitch." Zoro chuckled.
"I guess you could say it like that." He laughed. Sanji chuckled nervously as he rubbed his neck.
"Thanks Marimo." Sanji muttered. "You know, I actually really appreciate what you've been saying to me recently and... I don't know... I feel like we've gotten closer since... the incident. And... I kinda..." Sanji trailed off when he saw that Zoro had fallen asleep.
The swordsman breathed evenly as he slept. His chest rising and falling slowly.
The cook breathed out a huge sigh of relief, praying that Zoro had not heard a word of what he had just said. He would never let him live it down.
Sanji stood up from his chair and walked closer to the bed. He then grabbed the edge of the blankets and pulled them over Zoro. He reached up and felt his forehead.
He's really warm. Sanji thought. His fever might be coming back. Sanji sighed and reached over to the bucket full of cold water. He took the soaking wet rag out, wringed it, and placed it on Zoros head. The swordsman flinched a little, but then relaxed and continued to sleep.
Sanji proceeded to watch the swordsman sleep as he was ordered to by Luffy. He watched the tinge of pink slowly creep up into Zoros cheeks and ears. He listened to his breathing become quick and harsh. But no matter how bad it got, Sanji was there for Zoro.
The cook thought about Zoro saving his life. Risking his own health to dive into the water and save him. Sanji smiled.
It seemed that both of them had changed their views on each other. At least just a little bit.
The cook blushed, but he did not force it away.
The sun began to set slowly as Sanji listened to the sounds around him. Zoros slow breathing. The lapping of the waves against the sides of the ship. The sounds of Franky continuing his work on the ship. Sanji sighed happily.
He changed the rag on Zoros head again, then again, then again. A task that should have been tedious, but the cook felt nothing but bliss.
Sanji looked at the swordsman. His initial gilt threatened to come back, but then Zoros words shoved them away. Sanji smiled again.
Hm... I think you'll be just fine Zoro.
I'm sure of it.
Sorry this took so long. Motivation is a bitch. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Make sure to like and follow the story, and comment if you did!
