Kiza: Hi guys, here is chapter 21, please enjoy and review.
Zoro growls as he watches Law from across the deck. That morning everyone had woken up to the blond who had breakfast already set on the table for everyone. But the blond wasn't in the kitchen. After done eating everyone headed out to the deck only to be met with the sight of Law giving the blond's right leg a massage. Seeing that couldn't have made Luffy happier. To him it was a sign that Law was actually starting to like his crew mates and that Sanji was starting to trust people with physical contact. But Zoro on the other hand, felt as if Law was touching someone that didn't belong to him, well, Sanji didn't belong to him either, but he couldn't help but feel jealous that the man was able to get that close to him.
"Feeling alright Mr. Blackleg?" Law asks, the blond sighs and nods. "It seems your First mate doesn't like me." That causes the blond to pull his leg away and sit up, he had a small glare on his face. "Mr. Blackleg?"
"I don't care. He doesn't have a right to be mad. Not after what he put me through. Just ignore him, that's what I do." Sanji explains to him, Law then watches the blond satire out at the sea. He could see a hurt look in the blond's eyes. Reaching over, he gently cups the blond's cheek and turns his face so that he was looking back at him.
"What happened between you two exactly? You do not have to explain to me…but, it seems to have hurt you profoundly." Law explains, Sanji frowns as he leans into the older man's hand, the warmth that was radiating off of the man made me feel relaxed. Maybe it was because of all of the nights spent snuggled up against Zoro's warm body is why he would relax against the man.
"Let's just say….he got angry over nothing…" the blond says almost too quietly for the older male to hear. Law nods as he strokes the blond's cheek bone with his thumb. He could hear the blond purr slightly. He could tell that the man needed affection from another. After what he could only assume what happened, he knew the blond needed to feel loved and cared about. He had realized this not too long ago. "Besides, I don't even know why he's getting mad. It's not like you did anything wrong. I mean, last night he had that coming." The older man nods as he pulls his hand away and leans back on his hands letting his head fall back so that he was looking up at the sky. "Do…Do you miss them?"
"My crew? Of course, but with my new status, me being away from them is much safer for them. Perhaps once Doflamingo is dead I can return to them." Law explains, Sanji nods. He could only imagine how lonely the older male must be, even if he says that he isn't. Because he knew from experience that being away from your crew (And or family) was hard and lonely, two years away from his own crew nearly made him lose his mind with worry. "Why do you ask?" Sanji looks away.
"Well…because, I mean, I was away from my crew for two years…I got lonely so-"
"So you are implying that I am lonely Mr. Blackleg?" Law cuts in, Sanji frowns at him.
"I have a first name." Law chuckles at that. "You are aware of that right? I mean, Luffy doesn't call me 'Sanji' for nothing. It's not a nickname…"
"I am well aware of that. But then again, remember I am not a friend. I am merely an alliance to your crew, so I do not have to call any of you by a first name basis." Hearing that, Sanji nods slowly and frowns. He was somewhat hoping that maybe the older male was actually starting to like them, even if it was just a little bit. Suddenly, he is pulled up roughly, much to his dismay, he was being man handled by their First mate.
"We need to talk." Zoro states as he drags the blond away from the doctor. Once reaching the kitchen he shoves him into the room, closes the door and locks it, turning around, he ducks quickly seeing a foot almost hit him. "What the fuck!?"
"Don't you ever man handle me like that again! What the hell is your problem!?" Sanji asks, Zoro then sighs as he runs his hand through his short green hair. "Well? If you have nothing to say,-"
"Stay away from him." Zoro cuts in. that causes the blond to look at his ex-lover with confusion. Zoro noticing the look rolls his eyes. "That Trafalgar Law, stay away from him. Doctor or not. I don't trust him." Zoro explains, hearing that Sanji glares at him.
"And who are you to tell me what I can or can't do? I can careless if you trust him, I do. so mind your own-" Next thing the blond knew, he was pushed roughly against the wall with the taller male's fist planted into the wall next to him head, Sanji had to admit, he was slightly sacred at the moment, the swordsman never acted this way before so he was nervous.
"I'm the First Mate! It's my job to make sure that not only the Captain is safe, but the crew as well! You should be happy I'm even going out of my way to try and look out for you." Zoro says, Sanji was no looking at the ground, his own fist shaking. How dare he! Zoro had no right to talk the way he was talking right now! Finally letting his temper get the best of him, he lifts his leg up and roughly kicks the taller male away. But, much to his dismay, Zoro had grabbed his leg and was now pushing up against the blond's chest causing the burning sensation to return at a whole new level. But Zoro either didn't notice, or just didn't care.
"Who are your to say that!? I never asked for you to care! I never asked you to care or worry about me! That was all you!" Sanji hisses with anger, he then closes his eyes tightly, the pain was becoming too much and he had to find another way to get the taller male off of him. "G-get away from me." Sanji says, Zoro smirks.
"Oh? But two years ago you practically begged for me to not leave your side."
"THAT WAS BEFORE YOU TURNED INTO AN ASSHOLE! LET ME GO!" Sanji screams, suddenly the kitchen door was kicked in and looking over it was only Usopp.
"Fighting again? Really guys? Can't you take a break?" he asks, not even noticing just how much tension there was in the air, appearing next to him was the man that caused the argument, Law. The said doctor had a glare on his face and was openly glaring at the swordsman.
"Can't you see that you holding his leg like that isn't helping him?" Law asks walking over and pushing the swordsman away from the blond who sighs in relief and sits down on the ground. "I need to give him another exam on his leg. So if you two would please leave and tell your shipwright that I'll assist him in fixing the door that would be greatly appreciated." Zoro growls. "Swordsman?"
"I don't think so. I'm not about to leave you alone with one of my crew members, just because Luffy and the idiot of a cook trust you, doesn't mean that I do. If you want to give him a physical, then do it out on the deck where I can see you." Zoro explains, his mood doesn't get better as he sees a dark smirk appear on the older male's face.
"Oh? Is that so? Do you just assume I'm going to cut your chef up into pieces? Because if that's the case, I would have done it while you're whole crew is watching," hearing that Usopp growls as Zoro pulls gets ready to pull out his swords. But soon the male's smirk disappears. "But, I've actually grown quite fond of your chef. He seems to be the only one on this ship with common sense, not only that he's not annoying like your navigator, nor does he see himself as more intelligent and cunning like your Archeologist. Rest assure, I understand as First mate, you follow your judgment on people then act on that for the safety of your crew. But if I haven't killed him, what makes you think I will?" Law explains, Zoro then turns his gaze to the blond who was sitting on the wooden floor.
"Get up cook." Zoro says, Sanji growls but listens either way. Walking up, Zoro grabs the blond's arm again and drags him out on deck leaving Law and Usopp alone. "I can't believe you trust him! Did you not just hear a word he just said!?" Zoro asks with anger once they reach the deck.
"At least he doesn't lie about what he says or tells me." Sanji reply's, Zoro then glares at the blond.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean shit-cook?" he asks, he's not as shocked as he thought he would be once the cook was actually openly glaring at him.
"You know exactly what I mean…I don't understand how I managed to fall for someone like you. To think that you actually thought that I would cheat on you with Ace of all people! For god's sake Zoro he's our captain's brother! He was just being nice giving me all of those things! I could openly talk to him with no problem! He was the only other guy who knew what happened to me while I was at the marine base!" Sanji yells, his whole body was shaking and he couldn't stop the words that where leaving his mouth. "He was the only one…the one person other than Chopper who knew about what those monsters did to me!"
"And you think that justifies!? Last time I checked, I was your boyfriend not him! What was so bad that you couldn't tell him that you could tell him!?"
"And what the hell makes you think I'll tell you now!? If I told you then, you would have thought me filthy, disgusting!" Sanji screams, tears where not falling freely from his eyes, that causes Zoro to stare at him with shock. "You would have thought me as weak…pathetic… you would have left me without a second thought! But that doesn't matter now because of the fact that you left me anyway right before we hit Sabaody…so what does it matter now if I tell you whether I tell you or not!?" Sanji asks, he then covers his face with his hands and lets out broken sobs. Zoro was now staring down at the blond with sadness. He hadn't meant to make the blond cry, he still loved him, that wasn't going to change, but he knew that the blond no longer wanted anything to do with him. Reaching over, he tries to put his hand on the blond's shoulder in an attempt to comfort him, but the blond flinches back from him. "Don't touch me!" the blond screams. "I don't get you! One minute you treat me like shit, and the next you're trying to comfort me! I don't get you at all!"
Sighing, the swordsman walks away to the crow's nest. He wasn't going to deal with him, he wasn't in the mood and he wasn't going to try and comfort him if he didn't want it. Watching from the door way, Law's gaze followed the swordsman until he was gone. He then looks back at the blond he and he could see the two females from their crew trying to calm him down without much success. Walking over to the blond he grabs the blonds arm gently and leads him away below deck to the aquarium room. Once there he sits the blond down on the couch that was there. He wasn't going to try to get him to stop crying, he was just going to let the chef cry until he fell asleep.
But, much to his shock, he could see the blond regaining his composure and was whipping away the tears. He could hear the blond growling, at him, he doubted it, at himself, more than likely. Once his sobs where reduced to sniffles, the doctor relaxes (When had he become tense, he didn't know).
"You….you somehow keep catching me crying….I'm sorry…I must be pathetic to you…" Sanji whispers, Law shakes his head, slowly he reaches over and whips away a stray tear gently. That action surprises both of the males, law; because he has never been this comforting with another human. And Sanji; because one, he hadn't had someone be this way with him in a while and two; because Law always carried himself as a person who didn't like other people who were not on his crew. Or anyone for that matter. "I'm sorry…."
"Stop that. I have already told you not to apologize for something that you were not at fault for…Sanji, I believe your First Mate…still loves you. The look in his eyes when you broke down like that, was one of hurt, and worry. He had no idea how to help you when to you, he is merely a friend...Believe me when I say, you both still love each other very much." Sanji then glares at the man.
"No I don't…I don't want anything to do with him…" Law then rolls his eyes.
"Mr. Blackleg, I am no fool. Even the blindest person out on the seas, can see just how much you miss and need him." Law explains to him, Sanji shakes his head. "Is that so? Then why do-"
"I react the way I do to physical contact because of what was done to me, and because he was the ONLY person physically THERE. Law….I don't and wont love a man who thinks I would run off with another while I am with him…that's not healthy for me…" Law sighs nodding. He understood where the blond was coming from he then sees he chef lay down and turn his back on him. He must have been tired after all of today's events. He reaches up and gently begins to pet the blonds head, he could feel the blond relax and turn to look back at him. "Law…can I ask you something?"
"I suppose."
"Why and how did you grow fond of me….i mean I heard you explain to Zoro why…but…i.." he trails off, Law chuckles as he lets his hand run down the blond's neck, he lets his hand rest there. He didn't feel the man tense so he knew that the blond trusted more than a normal person should have trusted someone such as himself seeing they still didn't know one another to well.
"To tell you the truth…I'm not entirely sure just how I grew fond of you…there was just something about you that…drew me to you. Maybe it was your cooking," he tells him in a teasing manner, which causes the both males to laugh. Sanji knew the male was teasing him and he was a little shocked that the man was being to open with him. "But, I'm not sure. Like I said something just drew me to you…" nodding the blond closes his eyes. He wanted to go to sleep, but he still had a crew to feed and he wasn't about to let his ladies cook. "You seem tired."
"I am…but I have a crew to feed throughout the day and I can't just go to sleep and take a nap." Sanji explains. Law nods as both sit there in silence. That us until they see Nami walk in. "Oh, was there something you needed my beloved Nami?" he asks kindly, she shakes her head.
"We just spotted land. So…get ready to head ashore. I'm sending Law and Zoro with you." Before he could protest, she walks away he knew that she was doing that on purpose. Sighing the blond buries his face into the pillows, he could feel Law pat his back as if in a way telling him it was going to be okay.
Once reaching the island town, Sanji felt nervous, he was walking in between two men that where stronger than him, and both not on good terms with one another. He had noted that if he didn't walk in between them, they would have been trying to rip one another apart. But he didn't feel at ease walking next to Zoro. He didn't know what to feel about him anymore, and then there was Law who (He dully noted) was attractive in his own way. He had taken the two to the food market so that they could help him carry the bags of food back while he had the actual crates delivered back to the ship. He was currently picking out fruits while talking to the young girl that was there. He had already found out she was the daughter of a pirate, she was only working and living in the town for a few more days until she herself left out to sear to build her own crew. Sanji had smiled and encouraged her to do so, he had told her that he was the chef of a pirate crew that was here and she had immediately became interested in hearing about them. Of course he only told her the number of members of the crew and the people and pirates that they had already met. Needless to say, she was impressed, after the chat, they said their good byes and kept walking.
"Now all we need to buy is-" he was cut off feeling Zoro suddenly pick him up and put him aside as Law creates a room. "What the hell!?" he asks as he hears bullets bounce off the room, then it disappears as they notice that they were now surrounded by marines. "Oh, well hello there gentlemen. How may we help you today?" Sanji asks in a mocking tone, causing Zoro to smirk. He had almost forgotten that he and the blond enjoyed toying with them before they kicked their asses.
"Shut up Blackleg! Your failed execution two years ago is still up on the table. You are to come with us!" one of them explains, hearing that the blond's smirk disappears as he looks away, the shadow of his hair hiding his expression. But no one needed to see it to understand what the blond was feeling and thinking. "I suggest you come quietly or-" he didn't get to finish his sentence as Zoro suddenly appeared in front of him and had stabbed his blade through the man's chest. Zoro had waited two years to finally run into the guys that had put HIS chef through all of that pain, and now he had the chance to kill them all, and now he had a chance to kill some of them and he was going to take it. He could see Law out of the Conner of his eye pull out his own blade and charge at the marines. But, to the green haired swordsman's worry, Sanji remained un moving. He then moves back to stand in front of the blond.
"Hey cook, you alright?" Zoro asks, turning slightly he could see the blond shaking. "Run back to the ship. You are in no condition to fight right now."
"Well, well look who it is. Ex Pirate hunter Roronoa Zoro, Trafalgar Law, and Blackleg Sanji." Looking up Zoro gets a confused look, he had no idea who this marine was, but he didn't look like a push over. Growling he glares at him. "My, my such anger. Listen here, give us the chef, and we will let you live another day."
"My apologies, but he's not going anywhere with you. Not so long as Zoro and I are around. But I must ask, who are you?" the marine smiles, he had dirty blond hair, and green eyes. The man also had a scar going across his face. "As a warlord, I knew a good amount of marines, but you I don't remember."
"I go by Vice admiral James. I was ordered once the news got out that the Straw hat crew had returned to get the Chef. And that's exactly what I am going to do." he smirks, suddenly, Both Law and Zoro fall to the ground griping their heads in pain. What the hell was this guy? What was he doing, hearing the other two male's screams of pain, Sanji looks up and pales as he sees them on the ground, rushing to their side he kneels down between them. He had no idea what to do.
"What the hell are you doing!?" he asks with anger, the marine merely laughs. "Knock it off or I'll make you!" Sanji yells as he charges at the man, but suddenly he falls to the ground in the same amount of pain as the other two. "B-Bastard…" James laughs as he walks up and then cuffs the blond's hands together behind his back, but Sanji gets a shocked look, something felt different about the cuffs.
"So you noticed? They might be regular cuffs to you and Roronoa Zoro, but to devil fruit eaters such as Law, Straw hat Luffy, Nico Robin, and such, Sea stone is quit deadly. It weakens them. But for you, it's strong enough so that you can't break them. So I suggest you don't struggle, or those two over there will pay for it." Sanji growls as he looks over at law and Zoro. There was no way he was about to let them get hurt, but he didn't want to give up without a fight. Suddenly, he hears a scream as James is sent flying into a wall, looking up he sighs in relief seeing his captain with Franky.
"Luffy, Franky…" he sits up and the cyborg begins to try and get the cuffs off of the blond. "Careful, he has this wired power. I'm not sure what it even is." Looking over at law and Zoro he could see that the hit must have stopped the man from using his power on the two. "Zoro, Law you guys okay?"
"Yeah, it's you am worried about cook. You're pale as a sheet." Zoro explains, the blond looks away as he looks at Franky who was still struggling to get the cuffs off. "Luffy, we have to get out of here." Nodding the said teen looks at Franky who nods, picking up the blond, the small group runs back to the ship where everything was just loaded up.
"NAMI! SET SAILS!" Luffy commands, not even bothering to ask why the hurry, she does what she is told. Once up on the ship Usopp steers the ship away from the island. "Who was that guy? Why was he attacking you guys!?" Luffy asks kneeling down in front of his chef, he was frantically grabbing at the blond's face and turning it slightly to make sure there were no injuries on him.
"He…he knows Luffy…about two years ago…my capture and the attempted execution…He was after me Luffy..." Sanji explains in a whisper, Luffy then looks at the blond with shock. He hands never left the blond's face. The said Chef could see the look of pure anger and natural protectiveness of their captain. "Luffy, if that man can take down Law and Zoro in a matter of seconds, am better off-"
"Don't you even dare think about it…You are my friend…my Chef…MY FAMILY I won't let them take you away again like that." Luffy cuts in shocking the blond. The look in the younger male's eyes was one he hadn't seen in a long while, and to tell the truth he missed it. But he also was worried that Luffy would want to go back and fight that marine. "Franky, can you get the cuffs off?" the said Captain asks, the cyborg sighs and shakes his head.
"These things are pretty tough. I might have to cut them off with something. What is it made out of anyway?" he asks, looking over the blond's shoulder he reaches over to touch it, but is stopped by Law who had grabbed his wrist.
"Don't. It's sea stone. Touch it and you'll feel all your energy and strength drained out of you. It's a devil fruit eater's worst nightmare. Let your shipwright handle it…Mr. Blackleg, how are you feeling?" Law asks, Sanji shrugs, but winces as he feels his wrist scrape against the stone.
"Hold still," Zoro commands, nodding the blond lets the swordsman pull out his sword and cut the cuffs off. Once that was done, the taller man gently grabs the blond's hands and examines them. He could see that the cuffs where too small, and where beginning to cut into the blond's skin.
"Okay, I'm fine. You can stop touching me now." Sanji says pulling his hands away and gets up. "I'll go start on getting you guys some snacks." He explains as he walks out of the room. Of course the shaking of his body didn't go unnoticed by the crew. All but Franky, and Brook understood why he slightly shaken up. Growling, Zoro attempts to punch a wall but is stopped when several hands appeared and restrained him.
"Getting angry won't help any. Right now we have to remain calm and collected for our chef." Robin explains to the man, nodding she lets him go. "Zoro, I understand that you are angry about this…but remember, Sanji has been through enough. If we get riled up, he will become nervous and uneasy."
"He's already nervous and uneasy." Zoro tells her. He had no idea that the marines where still out for Sanji. He would have never thought that they would even remember nor send a vice admiral after the blond. Sure, he was strong, but to use sea stone and send a vice admiral after him was going too far, and it was an insight on just how badly they wanted the blond dead. Then again, the same could be said for the whole crew, but for some reason they were only after Sanji for the time being.
Noticing the crew distracted, Law walked out of the room with Zoro not too far behind. Once reaching the kitchen, Zoro rushes to the blond's side. The said chef was sitting in a Conner of the room, knees pulled to his chest, hands fisted in his hair as he slowly rocked back and forth, he was also hyperventilating. Kneeling next to him, Zoro pulls the blond close to himself, tucking the blond's head under his chin as he whispers into the chef's ear that everything was going to be okay, not to worry, that he would protect him. But, it didn't seem to be working, the swordsman could feel tears falling onto his chest.
"He's not calming down."
"I can see that quite well swordsman." The man tells him as he creates a room, as a needle appears in the doctor's hand, letting the room disappear he looks at the swordsman who was glaring and growling at him. His grip around the blond had tightened and Law knew that Zoro wasn't going to be letting go of the blond in the state he was currently in for a long while. "Just give me his arm. This will calm him down."
"Don't…touch me…" looking down at the chef, both males get a confused look, suddenly the blond begins to struggle violently and pushes the swordsman away. "I SAID DON'T TOUCH ME!" the blond was now, obviously having a panic attack. "I…I won't…Just stop! Leave me alone!"
"Oi cook calm down! No one's going to hurt you!" Zoro explains as he puts his hand on the blond's shoulder, but suddenly, he is kicked into the table. Law backs away and goes to the green haired male that was now growling out of anger. "That's it! I should kick your ass-"
"DON'T! PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T!" Sanji suddenly yells, much loader than before, which causes both males to freeze. What had gotten into him? "Please…please stop…it hurts…" Zoro frowns, he now knew exactly what had gotten into him. The blond was having a flashback of when the marines had him captive. "L-Luffy! U-Usopp someone….please help me…oh god help…" the blond whimpers. Law turns to look at Zoro who had a sad look on his face. He could tell that the green haired male had no idea what to do, or how to help the blond, noticing that the blond's eyes where tightly closed, Law pins the blond to the ground, causing him to scream.
"What the fuck Law!?" Zoro asks with anger. But he could see the older male inject the blond with a sedative. After struggling to hold him down for a few minutes, the blond's body relaxes enough so that Law could slip his arm under his legs and the other around his back, allowing him to pick him up bridle style (He dully noted how light the blond was. That itself wasn't normal.). "Oi!"
"Hush…you will rile him up again…that's the last thing we need right now…" With that, the older man walks away with the younger in his arms, leaving Zoro alone.