Welcome aboard for the new readers.

Enjoy your reading.

Chapter 27

Hypersensitive

"Hey, why did you all leave? What's going on?" Luffy asked, meeting Ussop, Franky, Chopper and Brook on the deck.

The sniper pointed out Zoro and Sanji to him with a chin gesture.

"They're fighting again, it's unbelievable", he sighed.

"It's already the third time this morning", the reindeer added with concern.

Since the crew had sailed off again after breakfast that morning, the Sunny's two enemies were constantly fighting and their friends were beginning to suspect there was a bigger motive than just their usual quarrels. On the other hand, the straw hat captain shrugged.

"A little healthy competition keeps fit!"

"Yeah, but that's not healthy competition anymore", Franky noted, stepping aside so as not to get punched by the swordsman flying through the air. "That's just hate."

"And they destroyed the kitchen table", the musician said.

"Oh. You think we should pull them apart?" Luffy asked them, avoiding Sanji from crashing into him.

"Maybe that wouldn't be so bad", the cyborg agreed.

"Usually, it's Nami who takes care of it but she puts the new books they bought with Robin away and she asked not to be disturbed", the captain remembered, ducking down to avoid a sword stroke.

Brook stepped forward, resolute.

"Dear friends, violence doesn't solve anything. It would be wiser to-"

A kick from Sanji for the swordsman sent him crashing against the mast and the skeleton took a few seconds to get back up, groggy.

"Hey, you gotta calm down now!" Franky stepped in as he walked towards the two men.

A sword from Zoro brushed his shirt and the ship's carpenter jumped back to avoid being cut.

"They can't hear us, they're out of control", Chopper winced.

"Too bad for them, let them tear each other to pieces. Anyway, Nami's going to kill them when she'll see the ship's condition", Ussop grumbled, fatalistic.

The rest of the crew nodded with a sigh, and everyone returned to quieter activities.

During lunch, the atmosphere didn't get any better. Even so when she had left the library, the navigator had separated the chef and the fencer with barrels thrown in their heads and then she had made sure that Sanji remained locked in the kitchen and Zoro in the crow's nest the rest of the time. As the table was broken and Franky hadn't been able to fix it yet, the crew was squeezing up to the counter or on the couch to eat. While the cook was beginning to arrange the dishes, the cyborg grabbed his bottle of cola from the fridge.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing?" Sanji shouted at him.

The engineer waved the bottle under his nose.

"I'm taking my cola. Why, what's the problem?"

"The problem is that everyone just waltzes in and out of this kitchen and half the things are disappearing!" the blond got annoyed.

Franky sat down, grunting, and Brook tried to start a lighter conversation to dispel the tension in the room.

"There is an island on Grand Line where every everyday object emits musical notes - it's the island of the chant!"

"You mean all objects are making noise?" Ussop wondered.

"People don't use oral language to communicate", the skeleton agreed. "They use objects to get sounds and make themselves understood!"

"Not easy when you can't read music", Franky pointed out.

"It's a relatively fast learning, I assure you."

"Does meat make music too out there?" Luffy asked wit interest.

"Well, I don't know but if it does, each food has its own melody!"

"That's awesome!" the captain exclaimed. "I bet leg of lamb has great music!"

"What about bottles?" the swordsman then asked.

"In the same manner, each of them must have a unique sound!" Brook agreed.

"It would help to find you faster when you think you can knock them back on the sly", the cook scornfully intervened. "Although putting you a charm collar would have the same effect", he added with a venomous smile.

"If you knew how to do your job, I wouldn't have to cut myself down", the fencer replied in the same tone.

"And if it was up to me, you'd never set foot here again, whether in my storeroom or in my kitchen!" the blond hissed.

"Lucky me, your stupid eyebrows head will never be captain. I'd rather change crew if you did", the swordsman snickered.

"Lucky you, indeed 'cause I'd have already abandoned you in the open sea and you'd have starved to death before being able to find your way back!"

Their exchange cast a chill on the audience. The disdain and hatred that were showing in the cook's words were even more noticeable than usual and they couldn't remember hearing Sanji threaten someone to deprive him of food. On the contrary, he was ready to devote himself even to his worst enemies in this regard.

His figure dejected, Zoro stared at him for a long time before getting up without a word. He then went out of the kitchen and the door slammed behind him, making the rest of the crew jump. Sanji smirked and went back to his business as if nothing had happened.

"Sanji-kun, are you sure you're okay?" Nami asked him suspiciously.

"Of course, Nami-san!" the cook flitted. "You're so sweet to worry about me!"

The navigator watched her friend twirl around the room and set her down a cup of tea. She had stayed a little longer than usual on purpose to be able to question him. She didn't know what was going on but she had quickly understood the Sunny would never regain its minimum level of peace until she had clarified this story. Finally, she sighed and took a stool at the counter.

"Sit down."

The blond could only obey even if he felt the conversation wasn't going to please him. He couldn't refuse a request from his red goddess.

"What's going on?" she asked him determinedly.

"What are you talking about, my b-"

"For Christ's sake, Sanji! You're totally on edge and you attack everyone! Not to mention your fights with Zoro those never end! It has never happened to you to such an extent since we know each other so don't tell me there's nothing! If you have a problem, the crew has a problem and I want to know what it is!"

The cook looked down. If his navigator gave such arguments, who was he to refuse?

"Just... a little spat with the marimo", he confessed half-heartedly.

Nami stared at him in disbelief.

"A simple spat is getting you so upset? Are you kidding me?!"

Sanji's eyes widened.

"Nami-san, I'll never-"

The redhead interrupted him with a hand gesture, exasperated.

"You better solve your problem and make it snappy, I'm fed up with you two!" she snarled.

She then stared harshly at her friend but the cook was visibly overwhelmed and she rolled her eyes. After a few seconds, she finally shook her head.

"Listen, I can well imagine it's not easy with this idiot but you have to learn to communicate differently than with blows!"

"This cactus head can't even answer a simple question!" the blond pleaded. "How can I communicate with that?!"

Nami shrugged.

"Don't forget Zoro is a caveman, he probably doesn't have more than ten words to express everything he feels. You have to take that into account."

Sanji turned his eyes into those of the navigator, desperately in love. In two sentences, Nami had perfectly summed up the situation.

"You're so smart, Nami-san!"

The young woman had an amused smile before getting up.

"I'm counting on you to solve your problem quickly", she concluded, taking away her cup.

"I won't disappoint you, trust me!" the cook promised her, totally under her spell.

After the altercation with the cook during the meal, Zoro had gone up to the crow's nest and locked himself in there. He wasn't used to retreat during their confrontations but the cruel words of the blond had reminded him of the mess in which he had landed since the day before. He knew the latter hadn't come to terms with their conversation, but he didn't understand why he was so mad at him. Yet he had been honest despite the suddenness of his revelation, and he had even promised him to think about it seriously. So why did he behave as if he had hurt him in the worst way?

The swordsman sighed. He was now hearing his friends' laughter on the deck and he wondered if Sanji was laughing with them since he was gone. Finally, he resolved to take advantage of this time to keep his promise and focus on what the cook had asked him. But how was he supposed to make a choice in this area? From what elements? He was tempted to use facts and rational arguments. It went against his instinctual decisions but this area deserved he thinks logically about it. For example, he could make a list.

Pro, he didn't grow tired of their little games.

Con, he spent half his time hating the behavior of the blond and wanting to hit him.

Pro, the cook would be forced to take responsibility for how he felt in front of the girls.

Con, he was going to have to put up with his continual quarrels for details.

Pro, Sanji wouldn't make him pay for his decision and wouldn't make his life impossible.

Con, he didn't want to submit to this pathetic cook.

The fencer winced. The idea of the list wasn't bad but it was concealing the real challenge of what the cook had suggested. And that was really the hardest part. Maybe he wasn't as smart as Robin but he wasn't stupid either and he knew what the blond had in mind when talking about real relationship. It meant admitting something was happening between them. Something that was going beyond their usual rivalry and their passionate affair. Something deeper. More fragile too.

It was about being sincere and Zoro took the time to think. Did he feel anything different for the blond compared with the previous months?

Sitting cross-legged, Zoro closed his eyes to focus completely. The question was definitely arduous so he decided to start with the simplest: things that hadn't changed. Easily, the swordsman noticed there still were this irritation and this desire to take on him. And then, this surge of competition with each new opponent they faced hadn't leaved them. This whole thing was usual.

What was new... What was new was this undeniable physical attraction whose consequences were more than pleasant. And also that slight intoxicating feeling when his eyes were meeting his at the bend of the ship. As if in anticipation of what could happen, the cook and he were connected to an indescribable level. Above all, there was this mutual understanding that was strengthening and the joy of noting that the cook never resigned himself, that he had the same liking for challenge than him. And for the last two days, there was also a hint of regret at the idea that their arrangement could stop.

Was that enough to be described as feelings as intended by Sanji? He had no idea. In any case, it was new emotions that concerned no one but the blond.

The swordsman sighed but continued to unroll his train of thought, annoyed. Why did the cook have to start asking himself questions? And how did he come to the conclusion that what he was feeling was worth to lay bare in front of him?

For sure, he could have laughed at what he had said to him, but to imagine Sanji had had the necessary courage to tell him about it - because it was undeniably courage in light of their personalities - taught him two essential things. One, the blond couldn't live without being in tune with his feelings and he was sure to give up on their carnal relationship if he couldn't or didn't want their attachment to be mutual. Two, his feelings had to be strong enough to have prevailed over his existential anxiety in recent weeks and he had accepted being attracted to a man. Yet he was continuing his ploy with the girls of the crew, but it must have been a personality trait he could never deny now.

These elements weren't to be taken lightly and once again, Zoro was amazed at the speed with which Sanji could analyze and put into words emotions as diffuse and disturbing.

The fencer opened his eyes again. He had to admit there were a few little different things about how he was seeing the cook, but were they worth taking them into account? For what he understood, they appeared to be very uncertain elements in the midst of the sovereign forces of his life and seemed definitely fragile compared to his determination for his ultimate purpose, his love for battle or the value of his honor.

Was the unavoidable attachment of this kind of relationship an obstacle to his goals and his dream? Wasn't the cook going to divert him from his path with this story? Was it really worth taking a risk for a result he had no way of knowing? This relationship would make him necessarily more vulnerable since he would be dependent on a variable he wouldn't master...

Finally, Zoro picked up his swords and headed for the exit, certain to have cleared his head but far from having made a decision.

Night was falling on the Sunny and the crew was enjoying the last light of the day to go about their business outdoors. Robin and Chopper were examining the flowers of the previous island while Brook was sipping a cup of tea not far from them. Ussop and Franky were tinkering in their workshops and hammer blows and saws were heard at regular intervals. At the back of the ship, Nami was pointing her finger at the horizon to show something to the captain and the latter was answering with excitement. As for him, the swordsman had already got back to the crow's nest for his watch.

After finishing his own chores, Sanji passed his crewmates and stopped at the door of his room. Of their room. For almost two days, he had ignored this room with all his might, but tonight he felt like going back. To contemplate it. To hope. To hurt himself.

He pushed the door with his fingertips and found nothing had changed. Zoro hadn't set foot there either, even though he hadn't locked it. He stepped into the room and lit a cigarette to pretend to be at ease. What the hell was he doing here, damn it? Apart from rubbing it in, it didn't bring him anything.

Here, their memories were spreading out and melancholy took hold of him. Wouldn't he have done better to say nothing and continue to enjoy what he had? Couldn't the swordsman have ended up reciprocating his feelings on his own gradually?

The cook shook his head. He felt pathetic to get to the point of crossing his fingers and leaving it up entirely to another person about his future. The truth was Zoro would never have moved on by the work of the Holy Spirit and he would have remained prisoner of his hope until one of them ended up throwing everything away. He knew he had done the right thing, but that didn't stop him from suffering.

"What you doing, stupid eyebrows?"

Sanji jumped and recovered instantly, hiding his sadness behind a mask of anger.

"What about you, cactus head?!"

"I'll have you know that's my room too. I'll get my things."

The blond felt his breathing lock into his chest. He was coming to get his things, why? Because...

"You've finally decided then", he sneered to conceal his discomfort. "You could have spread the word differently, but I can't ask too much to such a dimwit..."

"You can be so stupid when you try", the swordsman said wearily. "I come to get my stuff because they're all here and it's been two days since I'm wearing the same underwear, that's all."

"You really are disgusting."

The fencer shrugged and shoved him to enter. He grabbed his clothes in the blink of an eye and went back to the door in reverse. He was going to overtake the cook when this one blocked his way with a firm hand on his chest.

"Zoro, gimme your fucking answer", he whispered in a quavering voice.

"Oh, enough with that", the swordsman grunted, trying to get away.

"Goddammit, answer me!"

Surprised, the swordsman stared at the blond whose fury was blazing in his only visible blue eye.

"You're funny, you think this sort of things is decided in a minute?!" he got angry in his turn.

"Yes, and that's why I wanna know! Do your fucking meditation you advised me so well and make up your mind!"

"It's not because I know how to meditate that all the answers of the world come to me! You're the most gifted from both of us with words so gimme a break for a few days to think about it quietly!"

Sanji forced himself to take deep breaths. Since his conversation with Nami this afternoon, he had reconsidered the matter. He knew Zoro didn't work like him and maybe the marimo really needed time to realize what was going on in his own head. At the beginning of their new relationship, he himself had been totally lost.

"Alright, but you better do it quick", he decided, teeth clenched.

"Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Because I put myself out there for you and there's no way you're gonna play with my feelings for days before throwing them back in my face!"

Zoro studied him carefully and looked into his eyes.

"I won't take advantage of it."

The blond shrugged as if he didn't believe it and blew smoke from his cigarette that rose in the sky above them.

"Anyway, I won't wait indefinitely. There are plenty of other marimos in the ocean, and less stupid ones."

The side of the bedroom door slammed when Sanji snapped it shut before leaving and Zoro winced.

He was really going to have to make that decision.

"So, Zoro, what's wrong with Sanji?"

"Hm?"

"You don't talk anymore and you don't do these things Nami doesn't want me to see anymore."

"Uh, yeah..."

Cheeks red, the swordsman slowly looked away from his captain to immerse himself in the contemplation of the ocean again. He had settled on the pontoon as soon as breakfast had ended to think again about his dilemma. However, the more he turned the words in his head and weighed the pros and cons, the more he got tangled up.

"It's just... complicated", he added next.

"Why?" the most innocent young man of the world inquired.

"Because... I dunno", the swordsman finally whispered. "It's just the way it is between him and me. It always has been like this."

"Ah."

Luffy sat next to his friend and swung his feet into the void over the sea.

"Nami says it's because you don't know how to listen to yourselves and you just fight but I think it's funny!"

Zoro looked back at him and watched his laughing face enjoy the speed and splashes of water.

"You didn't hesitate before engaging with Nami in this new relationship?" he asked out of the blue.

The young man thought for a second before shaking his head firmly.

"No."

"Why?" he inquired with interest.

"Because I felt like it", the captain answered calmly.

Zoro fell back into silence, disappointed.

"When I'm with her, I'm feeling a lot of weird and funny things", the straw hat boy continued, laughing. "So I don't want it to stop!"

"I see what you mean", the swordsman sighed. "But it also means you have obligations with each other now. You don't mind then?"

"Obligations?" Luffy wondered. "I don't know what you're talking about."

The fencer glanced at him, puzzled.

"You know what it means to share a relationship with someone at least?"

"Absolutely!" the captain proudly answered. "It means that what I feel when I'm looking at her, she feels the same for me and it's just between us!"

"Yeah. So you're not afraid that... it prevents you from reaching your goal of becoming the Pirate King?"

"Why would Nami do that?" Luffy asked in disbelief.

"No, I'm not saying she'd like to but not on purpose. She has her goal, you have yours and it could distract you or stuff like that, couldn't it?"

The captain began to think before shooting a huge smile to his first mate.

"Quite the contrary, it boosts my spirit! I wanna get there even more!" he exclaimed, jumping up.

The swordsman followed him with his eyes, astonished.

"Really?"

"Yeah! Imagine, I'm gonna become the King of the Pirates, we're gonna criss-cross Grand Line and she'll can do all the maps of the planet with me! We'll be the happiest persons in the world!"

Zoro watched his captain improvise a victory dance by his side, stunned. Luffy had a way of putting it quite out of the ordinary. And it would probably be for that reason he would indeed become the King of the Pirates understood the swordsman with a smile.

"You shouldn't worry about Sanji, he's got his goal too", Luffy spoke again, laughing. "He's really strong! You've seen the thrashing he gave those pirates who were attacking Robin last time?"

The fencer scowled.

"I don't care if this moron knows how to defend himself", he grumbled. "It's just I have questions, that's all."

"Like what?"

The captain sat down next to him again while stealing a few cakes with an elastic hand to the poor Chopper who was passing by and stared at him with his big curious black eyes. Zoro sighed uncomfortably. He honestly doubted Luffy understood anything about his torments, but he had so much confidence in his captain that he was the only person he could talk to, even though he obviously didn't know anything about it.

"I wasn't really expecting to ask myself this type of questions one day but it turns out that I don't know if continuing our "relationship" is a good idea..."

"Oh? But you seemed to be happy!"

"Yeah, but it was a special arrangement and now, he wants it to be a bit like you and Nami, a bigger commitment. What an idiot, why did he need to ruin everything?" he growled then. "As if I was going to hesitate between him and my dream..."

"Oh, yeah! Gee, you're right!" the straw hat boy exclaimed before frowning. "But why Sanji would prevent you from becoming the greatest swordsman in the world, I didn't get it?"

"Well, that kind of thing takes work and I don't want to waste time. He speaks way too much and I'll have to listen to him at least once in a while. And then, he'll probably want us to do stuff together and that's not gonna happen. Imagine if this kind of thing is repeated and my training suffers? This guy is distracting me..."

"I understand, you have to give yourself every means to get there", Luffy agreed.

"Exactly", the swordsman said.

"This is what having a stomach ache is like, it's full of new adventures and obstacles to overcome!" the straw hat boy then cried out with delight.

"I didn't say I had a st-"

"But in this case, it's great!" he cut him short, overflowing with enthusiasm. "It means that when Sanji has found the All Blue and you beat Mihawk, he'll set up his restaurant there and those who want to become the best swordsman in the world will have to find you before trying their luck! It really is too cool!"

At this moment, Luffy spotted Chopper who had got new sweets and he darted behind him. Hearing his captain chase him, this one rushed away screaming and Zoro ran a hand across his face.

He wasn't sure his conversation with Luffy had helped him and he dropped against the mast. He definitely needed to sleep.

Two more days had passed. The swordsman had taken care to maintain a certain distance with the cook and this one seemed to have adopted the same strategy towards him. No new fighting had then broken out, to the satisfaction of the navigator. However, when they passed each other or were together during meals, provocations couldn't help but fuse and tension was irreparably explosive as soon as they were in the same room. All the crew had come to understand that their relationship now involved fistfights at the height of their strange attachment and they all cautiously stayed in the background as soon as their interactions were threatening to overflow. With the notable exception of Nami who was calling them to order with a single look.

Although he and the cook didn't mention it again, Zoro was feeling the blond was reaching his limit regarding the little truce he had given him and he still had no concrete answer to give him. Yet, he hadn't spared his effort and while continuing his training, he had made breaks to try to make the best decision possible. But tonight, he was tired and upset by his thoughts that didn't lead him anywhere and he had felt the need to soothe his mind with a good bottle.

However, having arrived in front of the fateful place, Zoro suspended his gesture on the handle of the kitchen door. Should he behave as usual and take the risk of a new confrontation with the cook when he still had no answer to give him or should he avoid meeting him to save a little more time? Finally, he shrugged and entered confidently. He was just going to take something to drink and he would speed without giving the cook enough time to mess with him.

"So, the king of vegetation is here."

Sanji was standing against the worktop a few feet away, a smirk on his face, and the swordsman held back a sigh of annoyance.

"I just come to take a bottle", he warned him neutrally.

"But please, I know seaweeds need an aquatic environment to work."

Zoro couldn't help but showing his teeth at this new provocation, and Sanji needed nothing more to keep going.

"Tell me, Your Majesty, when you have finished exhausting my reserves, will you be hydrated enough to think, or do you prefer I send you directly in the ocean to see your fellows?"

The fencer felt a vein throbbing at his temple. He wasn't going to let himself kindly insulted either. He was struggling but he had limits and his pride didn't allow him a lot of gaps.

"Stop it", he growled.

"What, did I hit something?" the blond inquired with an acid smile. "Or are you so stupid you're impervious to thinking and feelings?"

"Sanji, shut the fuck up now!"

The swordsman's shout cooled off the cook for a second before ignited all the tension in the room. Feeling the change of atmosphere, Zoro put his hand on the hilt of his blades.

"I shut up if I want to, bastard!" the blond yelled. "You're in my kitchen so you play by my rules and if you're not happy, you take your fucking swords and you get out!"

Zoro tensed to the extreme before lowering his hand. He was really fed up. He rushed out of the kitchen and heard Sanji shouting behind his back.

The cook was totally on edge and his own frustration was reaching his peak. All because of the outcome of their conversation he couldn't wait for! He wanted to shake him and punch him in the nose, not because of their natural tendency to fight but to wake him up and make him aware of his stupid attitude. If he thought it made him want to start this new relationship with him! This relationship, it already pissed him off and it hadn't even started yet!

The swordsman finally stopped against the Sunny's right side and gloomily gazed at the sea to calm down. Then he gave himself until the next evening to settle this thing. After this time, if he hadn't had an epiphany, he would tell him to get lost. If he absolutely had to decide, he would take the minimum possible risk.

"Fuck, man. When you're arguing, you're not faking it. I've heard you from the other end of the Sunny", the cyborg said behind him.

The fencer didn't reply. He didn't often feel talkative, and tonight even less than usual.

"One time, Kiwi had a row with her boyfriend all night and she left him. She cried her eyes out for two weeks. It was the saddest thing I've ever seen..."

Zoro gritted his teeth.

"Don't worry, Franky. There's no risk I'll start to weep, especially for that stupid cook."

"Shit, if you talk to him like that, it's sure you'll never make it up with him!" the carpenter reproached him.

"Maybe I don't wanna make it up with him."

The engineer shook his head and leaned by his side.

"You have to make an effort, guys. You don't know how to compromise?"

"Franky, you don't know what you're talking about", Zoro grumbled, shrinking a little more.

"Oh, y'know, I know a thing or two about lo-"

"Dammit, you're all pissin' me off with that!" the swordsman suddenly fumed. "We're not together, got it?!"

"Huh?"

"Our arrangement wasn't about feelings! It was just a fuckin' booty call so stop believing we're a couple cos we aren't! If this moron wants something else, that ain't my problem!"

The cyborg stared at him for a moment before sneering.

"And you want me to believe nothing's changed for you since that time, is it? If it was, you wouldn't make yourself sick about it, you'd have just moved on to something else."

"I'm not making myself sick about it!"

Zoro felt bad about exposing their private life that way but the cook had already so upset him he had lost the little cool he had left.

"You know what they say in such cases?" Franky continued quietly. "You need to swallow your pride and be honest with yourself."

"I should probably know what I want before then", Zoro grinded, totally disillusioned.

The engineer shook his head, a smile on his lips.

"You look a little like Luffy around the edges", he pointed out to him.

"And when did I ask for your opinion, Franky?" the fencer snapped.

"Listen, Zoro, it's always worth it to create a super bond like this one", he added as if it were obvious. "You should go for it and take risks!"

"Are you saying that to me?" the swordsman pointed out to him, jaded.

"I'm not talking about a physical risk, I'm talking about an emotional risk", he explained patiently. "I know it ain't your thing, but feelings are part of life too and you're a human being so you won't get out of it."

"I don't give a shit about that feelings crap", the swordsman muttered. "I have a goal to achieve."

"Damn, what kind of man are you, Roronoa?!" the cyborg suddenly got annoyed. "Since when you're freakin' out like that?"

Zoro rolled his eyes and refocused on the waves, putting an end to the conversation. Franky understood the message and shrugged.

"We always have to explain everything to you, jeez", he grumbled, walking away.

This chapter is pretty dense, at the time I almost got it cut in half.

I hope Zoro's version seems realistic enough. I had loved writing the scene between Luffy and him, Luffy as a love counselor is so irresistible! Anyway, I firmly believe Luffy is way smarter than we think and he's often ahead of the others.

In the next chapter, suspense is ending!