Sanji wasn't doing well.
As stated in the letter to Zeff he was mentally composing, this was hell. It unfortunately lived up to every expectation he had about a place described as "Something out of the dark ages." He had a bed, if a bed could be termed a metal shelf with an off-white table cloth thrown over. The metal sucked away at any warmth his injured body was able to generate.
When he could bare to reopen his eyes sometime later, Sanji cast his gaze to the tin bucket in the corner of the room. Buckets were for making jam or chilling wine. In the mornings back home, he and Patty would peel a hundred potatoes over one in the centre, ready to be made into stock. Not for what he was supposed to do in this one , he'd thought, as he stared across the room disgusted at the grimy homemade toilet he couldn't reach. It took two days, or maybe just three till he could drag himself across the room. Sweet relief an understatement.
They had to let him out of the room, he chanted to himself, he was allowed access to fresh air, it was the law. He was sure that was the law.
…he was becoming less sure it was the law as days passed.
He'd returned his stubby nail back to the wall, chasing the initial brief satisfaction he'd got from the white plaster flying out.
Doflamingo flooded his mind. Red sunglasses reflecting the image of himself, wet blood hot down his legs, lights flickering on and off behind. This solitary holiday was only postponing the inevitable. He gave himself, what, a week before he was cornered again. His heart rate remained slow, breathing stayed even. It was going to happen, why fight? He thought tragically. He couldn't beat Doflamingo.
Sanji just wished he could get some proper sleep, at least just to eat through some of the endless pointless hours. But it was hopeless, after sleeping through most of the past few days he'd seemingly reached his quota.
When he was able to sleep he was plagued with strange dreams, mint leaching through his visions. Zoro. The strange sweet scent of him. His anger and passivity. Regardless of Zoro's intentions that night, he'd saved him. The only reason he wasn't sent out in a casket was Zoro. An itch began when he'd wake up from these dreams, keeping that image of Zoro frozen. Eyes trailing the image for something he'd looked over or missed.
He was lost. Doflamingo plagued his thoughts and Zoro his dreams. Trapped in a box as doom and a sense of foreboding scratched away at his brain.
Counting the seconds was now the most stable activity he indulged in, each one was a painful tick in his skull.
'Wait… What was that?' Sanji bolted upright from his position on the floor. Hissing as his wound ripped open.
"99 bottles of beer on the wall, 99 bottles of beer! Take one down, pass it around, 98 bottles of beer on the wall." The voice booming under his door was throaty. A voice you expected to hear a punchline with, bottles clinking in a bar, its associated soundtrack.
"98 bottles of beer on the wall, 98 bottles of beer! Take one down, pass it around 97 bottles of beer on the wall."
"97 bottles of beer-" Sanji didn't recognise his own voice, hoarse from disuse. He cut off, not sure how the song went. He and Zeff had hardly sat around singing. "Ugh." He waited as the man continued. -"96 bottles of beer on the wall." They synced up, voices overlapping.
The man barely paused, seemingly unsurprised at his contribution. "Hey! Everybody! There's 97 bottles of beer on the wall-"
"97 bottles of beer!-" Sanji sung back before he could think. Had he lost his mind? "Uh- around! 96 bottles of beer on the wall!"
They got to 92 before the curiosity ate through his new companion.
"Hey! New guy!"
He held his stomach, frozen. "Hello?"
"Ah, I knew someone new was coming!"
There was no way to see who was speaking. A guard, inmate or something else? His skin crawled. Replaying the voice in his mind. Was this even real or a fun development of psychosis?
"Who is this?" He deepened his voice. Scowling out towards the door.
"A kindly neighbour."
"Right." Sanji returned.
"So, What did you do to wind up here?"
Sanji let the question hang to bite at his dry lips. Plaster rained out from the hole he'd dug. Frowning, he picked the bigger pieces from his shoulder, letting them fall into the space behind his blanket.
"Come on, ain't you bored, don't tell me you have a playstation in there. Talk to meee?"
Damn, this guy sure was whiney. "You are an inmate right?"
"Right." The answer was quick, snapped in a way that hinted at dislike for the other option.
"And whose gang are you in?" Sanji asked.
"Gang? Wow, start with the heavy questions, I ain't in one, at least not in here, why? Whose gang are you in?"
Sanji let out a breath of air. "None, just had to make sure, gang shits why I'm in here."
"Oh, who'd you piss off? Was it Buggy? Don't sweat it, everybody pisses him off at some point. Guy will be over it in a week, trust me."
"No," He had no idea who Buggy was, and no associated clues on whose side this guy would take. Even with no gains he found himself talking. "Think blonde with strange sunglasses." He chanced. Wincing at the risk.
"No, shit, really?" Laughter boomed in the air between them, descending into a raw cough. "The DonQuoique family? Aw man, you really screwed yourself there."
"Yup. How is he even allowed those sunglasses in prison!"
The man cleared his throat. "Well you want my advice, find Tralfalgar, he's got a few good men under him. Wink wink. I don't know his deal but he'd help you."
Trafalgar Law!? Black hair and darker tattoos. Sanji's wound burned as he twisted, licking his lips. "Oh, but can he be trusted?"
The man barked a sharp laugh. "Can anyone? But I guess as far as prison goes, Law's one of the good ones, he won't screw you over- no ambition you see-others want to be king but Law's happy where he is, a little fishy in a big pond. Although his thing with Doflamingo's a whole other ball park, he killed a friend of his outside I heard."
Law's offer had expired. Another strike through the list of missed chances to save himself. Sanji's back creaked as he collapsed and returned his finger to incessantly pick at the plastered wall. "Thanks."
"No need to sound that excited. But yeah, man. It's just nice to hear a new voice." Another round of coughs boomed out from wherever this guy was, sounding wetter the longer they went on.
"Is there no one else down here?" Sanji quickly asked, terrified he'd lose his only source of communication if he paused too long, unable to let go of the simple pleasure of communicating with another human.
"Not nearby, the cells curve, so everybody's too far away for a good chat, we must be neighbours."
Sanji hummed in answer. "How long have you been here?" he asked, licking his dry lips and feeling the cracks with his tongue. He had a rollercoaster of rigid teeth marks across his bottom lip.
"Oh a couple of weeks, maybe. When was easter?"
"Just over a month." Sanji stated numbly. "Are they allowed to keep you in here this long?"
"Well, the warden can do what he likes." A heavy thump sounded as something hit the wall between them.
"Right." Sanji responded, his throat was starting to hurt, unused to speaking for so long.
"God, he's an ashole, I barely did anything. It's reversed nepotism, just cause we're related makes him think he can lock me in here!"
"No family dinners in Prison?"
"You don't know my grandad. Guys rubbing his hands together at the chance to straighten us out."
"Bit late for that, you're in prison."
"Yeah, I know right."
He sat up slightly to double his pillow back on itself. Collapsing down to imagine an alternative world where Zeff was the warden. The punishments would most certainly breach common law. Prisoners would peel till their fingers bled or carry rice bags up and down the courtyard. The vision collapsed in on itself as reality tore through- Zeff clutching his tiny hands, Sanji's wide blue eyes staring up in confusion as the sticky blue plaster squeezed around his index finger to cover a blister from peeling apples.
He'd almost died without seeing Zeff again.
He'd almost DIED without seeing Zeff.
Cold crept further into his bones.. He thought he'd reached the limit, fingers numb as he shivered but ice sunk through the layers of his skin to leach into his organs. The bed hit his elbow as he shook, trying to loosen it's hold.
"Yo. When you're out in the fishpond, can you get a message to someone. I'd really owe you one."
Sanji jerked looking towards the wall between him and the mystery man. He tried to focus. Rubbing up and down his arms to generate warmth. Could he afford a quest right now? "I can try, but I don't think you realise how much shit I'm in topside."
"It's my brother Luffy. Could you just let him know where I am, he's a capable kid, but i'm worried he'll do something stupid if he hasn't already."
"Oh, Luffy, he's got brown hair, right?" He prayed he was mistaken, that the man he was directing him to wasn't a gang leader.
"Yeah, that's the one, can you make sure he's eating enough, sleeping, not getting in trouble."
"I don't have time to play babysitter. I'll probably be dead by next week."
"Really? You seem stronger than that."
"I thought so too." Sanji trailed off. Listening as the man descended into a fit of coughs. Sanji waited for it to finish but it elapsed into gagging. "You alright?" Sanji asked tentatively.
A clearer cough sounded. "This is me using my last breath-," He cleared his raw throat. "-to beg you to look after my brother."
"Yeah yeah." Sanji shuffled, sucking in air as his abdomen flared. He pushed his sweatshirt up to find it irritated, a brighter red then when he'd woken this morning. He pulled down his top. "Sure, I'll try."
"Please man."
"I said I'd try, didn't I?!" Sanji snapped, irritated he was letting himself be worn down.
"I love you man!" The voice boomed down the corridor, bouncing around the cell. "I'd propose right now if I could see ya." Sanji smiled despite himself, closing his eyes to escape the white. "Ain't you gonna say it back?"
"Shut the fuck up." Sanji's cheeks had no business being so red in a cell by himself. "What's your name anyway"
"Ace"
It suited him. Snappy.
"I'm Sanji."
Having Ace made the box bearable. He was horribly aware of each second that passed but it was just enough stimulus to keep him human. Shitting in a bucket with no access to open air made him feel like one of those sad battery chickens PETA liked to put on posters. Ace seemed to agree, informing him contrary to his prior belief they were only let out to feel air once a week.
"You've done well to stay sane." Sanji responded, unable to imagine lasting that long.
"Nah, don't think I had much going for me to start with."
Solid silence fell for the first time since discovering one another. Sanji's feet twitched, teeth clicking together as he considered the man locked next to him.
"Hey I'll talk to Luffy, make it the first thing I do." Sanji said, almost shouting to ensure Ace heard.
"Thanks Sanji, I won't forget it."
Koby was the one who crunched his cell door open. Sliding the door back to reveal himself like a bad prize in a gameshow. All dry eyes, creased clothes and pale skin.
Sanji ignored his greeting to look left. "Ace, I'm getting out!" He shouted down the white corridor. Sound bouncing off the flat walls.
There was a shuffling noise. A bang as something hit the wall. "Ah I'm gonna miss you man! Thanks for chatting with me!"
"Bye Ace." He called. Nodding to Koby to walk on. The last he heard of Ace was his cough, cut off as the gated door slammed shut behind them.
"What do you have in your hair?" Koby asked, fumbling to pinch a white piece from the top of his head.
Alarmed at the potential dandruff, Sanji squinted down at the flake held in Koby's palm. Realising finally it was the white plaster he'd been picking from the wall above his bed. More fluttered past his eyes as he bent. He shook his head, hand rubbing back through his hair. It felt awful; sticky with grease. Unable to touch his hair for much longer, he walked faster, even the feeling of it on his neck was making him itch. He wished he could ignore Koby's attempts at chit chat, high pitched voice grating through his skull.
"Are you feeling okay, how's the stitches?" Koby asked, holding the door open for him to go through. A window ahead was casting natural light across the hallway, voices audible. Sanji stared at the sunlight in wonder, a pillar of shimmering gold. He held his arm out as they passed, heat licking his skin.
"Probably infected." Sanji said bluntly. "I mean, I haven't been allowed to clean it, or myself."
"Sanji, i'm sorry, I have to listen to Smoker, He's my superior. Besides, after the fight, the Box was the safest place for you."
"Again, left with no medical care." He lowered his voice at the last second. The box, he couldn't risk going back in there for shouting at a guard. No matter how nice Koby seemed. He was still one of them.
"I'm sorry," Koby bowed to stare at the floor. "I really am Sanji, I think Smoker was looking out for you in his own way and we can't give you medicine if were not a practitioner, I wanted to-"
"Alright!" Sanji snapped "Thanks then." He walked faster trying to trigger the end to this.
"I really am sorry, I guess maybe I've been lax, because I feel so helpless, no matter what I do people get hurt and I did think putting you in the box would protect you, but then you could have died of your injuries and then it would be my fault you'd-." He panted, suddenly leaning heavily against the wall.
A short inmate passed looking them both over suspiciously.
"Wooh." Sanji's arm shot out as Koby began sliding down the wall. His stitches pulled unpleasantly, threatening any healing he'd managed to do. "Wooh, okay, it's okay, breathe."
Koby's mouth opened and closed as his face paled.
At Koby's desperation Sanji's frustration dissipated. "Hey, calm down, Koby, it's fine. I'm okay." He pushed till Koby was leaning back against the wall, large circular eyes finally focused on him. This couldn't be all about him, right? The man shouldn't be a guard if this is how he responded to criticism. "Is this about your friend, you know the one you told me about." he chanced.
"Helmopo." Koby said slowly.
"My roommate?" Sanji almost dropped him. Tightening his grip at the last second. His roommate had been Koby's friend?!
"Yes. I we all knew coming from a police background he was going to be a target, but- we kept everything a secret, I don't understand how anybody found out?" To Sanji's horror a tear fell, reflecting the fluorescent light as it dragged itself down Koby's face.
Sanji struggled to swallow, dirty hair falling over his eyes as his head lowered to stare in shock at the ground. Oh Koby , It wasn't his police background that killed him. "It's always-uh-sad, to lose somebody." Did he sound normal? He sounded guilty to his own ears, voice weak in conviction.
"Yeah, it really is." Koby took a deep breath. "Sorry, I don't mean to unload this on you, I just can't stop thinking about who might have killed my friend."
"Ah, yes." He let the silence sit, hoping to kill their conversation. But Koby's face lit up, mouth opened and closed as he stopped walking.
"Smoker, told me not to ask, but since you were the one who found him, did you see anyone suspicious? Was there something you forgot to mention. You know, in your report?"
Koby's eyes were an ocean, full of raw vulnerability.
Only for a second did Sanji consider answering with anything close to the truth. Fear overlaying facts. "No, I didn't see anyone." He licked his lips, looking away down the corridor.
"He-"
"Actually Koby, aren't I supposed to get a check up? My stitches need to come out soon, right?"
Koby jumped. Visibly trying to think through his sadness "Um, I don't think they need to come out till next week, but if they are hurting you, I can try and book you a quicker appointment, but about Helmopo, was-"
"Aw, dahm that's okay, I can wait till next week, Thank you though." More and more inmates were walking past. "Well, let's get going." He stepped on, refusing to look back for Koby.
Koby's guilt brought him a shower and an escort to the doors of the cafeteria. With a passing instruction to see Robin, Koby left him alone.
The jungle of the cafeteria quietened as he entered, men stepping out of his way as he walked. He swallowed, glancing quickly to Doflamingo's territory but hastily away as Doflamingo himself sat back to eye him. Black lenses racking down his body. Laughs he was certain he was too far away to hear sounded in his ears.
Sanji breathed through the rising panic, trying to shake the feeling of dread that gripped him while barely avoiding hobbling by tensing his abdomen.
He spared an extra second to look for Law, eyes filing through the black haired inmates. He was ready to do whatever it took to survive this, consequences be damned. After scanning the room twice he accepted Law wasn't here and shuffled slowly to the back of the food que. At Least he'd certainly see him in laundry tomorrow, if he survived that long.
After a week in the box, Sanji inhaled his food and took his time nursing several glasses of water whilst flicking his eyes from the two corners of the room. Back pulled straight as he spotted the other gang he was intrested in.
He swallowed and determinedly pushed himself up away from the table, walking across the room with as much courage as he could find within his damaged self.
Heartbeat like a countdown as he reached the Straw Hats.
The redhead noticed him first, recoiling to slap Luffy, who was sitting next to him. The rest turned as he spoke.
"Luffy, right?"
Zoro's lip curled, swivelling to face him as his hands came down, ready to push himself up.
"Sanji!?" One of the five chipped.
Sanji's eyes widened as he found a familiar nose. Peering out from behind Zoro. "Usopp!"
It was Usopp! That terrified man who arrived the same day. He smiled, forgetting the awkwardness. "Good to see you! Hey, you've stopped shaking."
"Ah, well." His hand came up to rub the back of his head. "I was trying to make you feel better." He turned to the others. "Sanji was terrified when he came in, it was only me being there that got him through the door."
Sanji relaxed as the redhead's lips pursed. Clearly the lying was something of a character trait. "Right," Sanji said. Luffy had stopped smiling at his interruption, watching him carefully. "You are Luffy right?"
"Who wants to know, curly?" Zoro interjected. Drawing his attention.
"I wasn't talking to you Marimo," He snapped, forgetting about his injury to bend over the table, allowing him to appear dominating with his new height advantage.
"You got the shit beaten out of you, and you think you could take me,"
Fear surged. Sanji was embarrassed about the way it knotted his jaw shut, stopping the quip from coming out as he stared down at the pure violence emanating from the man.
"Is he broken already?" Zoro sneered at his silence.
Irritation spurred past his hesitation. "Shut up, the hole in my stomach might make the whole fight fairer." Sanji awaited the growl he'd come to expect. There it was, right on time.
"So the fight continues." Zoro thundered, blaring the same horrible smile he'd worn watching the blood drip from his body. Sanji swallowed, fingers curling by his side.
"SHUT UP!" The redhead suddenly swung for Zoro, causing him to drop like a stone, face flat against the table. Sanji stepped back, amazed. "And you, idiot. You just got your ass kicked, now you come and give us trouble."
His face burned, head lowering. "I'm sorry, I did not intend to bring you trouble." The redhead was as beautiful close up as they were from far away.
"I am Luffy," Luffy broke into their conversation. It was like magic, the entire table fell quiet. Tense as they waited. The redhead sat back, eyebrows creased as they glared.
Sanji reluctantly looked away to meet Luffy's brown eyes. "Well, I have a message for you, from Ace." He hoped that meant something to him. Not all one weird prank.
"ACE!" Luffy sprung into the air, rocking back and forth on his feet as he fell back down to earth, all large laughs. "You talked to Ace?!"
"Yeah," He spoke quietly, trying to hint with his volume to calm down. If Doflamingo didn't know he was over here, he did now. "He's in the box, been there since Easter apparently. He's okay, although his lungs didn't sound too clear. He told me to tell you where he is, and make sure you're alright." As he spoke he realised how ridiculous that was. A lonely depressed injured man making sure a gang leader surrounded by strong capable friends… was alright.
"He's still in the box! Your grandfather can't do that, surely." The redhead exclaimed.
Luffy shrugged "Doesn't matter, I'm going to break him out!" Luffy cried, throwing skinny fists into the air, his smile took over his face, eyes squeezed tight to give the smile more room.
"How?!" Usopp's shaking was reminiscent of when Sanji'd first met him.
"Hey sit down, bro, I'm Franky!" It took a second to realise the large blue haired man was talking to him, sliding up to make space on the bench.
"Thanks." He said cautiously, long legs stepping in and lowering himself between Zoro and Franky.
Sanji inhaled, sniffing quickly to chase the scent rising from Zoro. His dreams had got it all wrong with sweet notes like vanilla and roses- it was just sweat. Gross. Uncomfortable with the communal warmth he tried to escape from Zoro who was like a furnace.
"Marimo." He huffed under his breath.
"HUH?" Zoro burst, turning and suffocating him further. Sanji's wound flared as he twisted, adrenalin surging. He seethed at his own panicked response, lightheaded from his body's u-turn. When did he get so jumpy
"Get off me." Sanji spat, shoving Zoro's thick arm back to make space between them. The biggest scar along Zoro's exposed forearm was coarse against his own arm. It felt unnatural, like a sticker, or flat ridge of plastic. Sanji shivered, rubbing his arms together to erase the sensation.
"Wooh bro's, I take it you know each other?" Frankey cut in.
"No." They both snapped, causing Zoro's hot breath to rush out over Sanji's face. Eyes stilling on the other. The air felt charged, with no outlet, the energy crackled and snapped between them, awaiting the next explosion.
It felt wrong to take his eyes off a man like that but refusing to succumb, he turned slowly to peer past the tiger.
"How did you end up with this crew?" He asked Usopp as Luffy and Nami continued their debate on storming the Box. He could feel Zoro's sneering attention like a thorn in his back. Asshole.
"Well, I got assigned as Nami's cellmate and seeing my brilliance she begged for me to meet the group." Usopp sounded more serious as he added. "I've been lucky."
Sanji nodded absently. He was , he thought with jealousy. It seemed like Usopp had a million times more luck than him.
Zoro's one brown eye was following his every movement. He frowned, forcibly ignoring him. He seemed awfully possessive over Luffy. Maybe this was another gang thing he was unknowingly stepping in. Getting too close to the boss.
He looked at Luffy who was dejectedly moving his food around his plate after losing his argument with the redhead. He'd eaten only a quarter and their assigned dinner time was ending.
"Hey, eat quicker." Sanji ordered, "You won't be able to finish it otherwise."
"Its gross." Zoro interjected, the only thing missing on his own plate was the batter pulled from the chicken.
Sanji bit his cheek. "Well, the potatoes are over salted so mix a bit with the mystery meat, it makes it slightly more palatable."
Luffy did as he said, eyes lighting up as shovelled more food into his mouth.
"I like you." Luffy beamed a mash potato smile.
"Oh god, no." Zoro's head entered his palm with a slap.
"Thank you." Sanji said slowly. He took a deep breath, gathering courage to rip away his first real offer at friendship. "But, it's not a good time to be my friend right now."
Luffy looked confused, before shaking his head. "I don't care about that. Hey, guys introduce yourselves. Sanji you have to play, state your name, cell, what you're in for."
"Luffy's favourite game."
"Luffy-." Before he could protest the Strawhats were shouting over each other to get involved.
"I feel like i'm back in AA," the redhead scoffed, eventually giving up under Luffy's pushing. "Nami, B12 In for-"
"He's a pirate!" Luffy interrupted, leaning back on the bench.
"Luffy! I'm not a pirate." They repeated tonelessly. Nami's frown smoothed out as they turned back to Sanji, "I used to rob cruise ships."
Sanji smiled. Blue skies, Nami wearing a billowing blouse jumping from ship to ship. "Theft on the high seas, Luffy's right on the piracy claim."
Nami huffed, but the hint of a smile showed they enjoyed the teasing. Sanji almost blushed himself watching the red creep over their cheeks. Fork cutely pushing the mash back and forth.
"Luffy D Monkey." Luffy beamed, cutting into his spiralling daydreams. "B3 I destroyed some police stations."
Consistent with his clear lack of authority then. "Why'd you do that?" Was his question too invasive? He wondered.
"They hurt someone I cared about."
A one man war against the POLICE. Maybe this little guy was tougher than he looked. Smiles could be deceiving.
"Usopp B12 Fraud." Usopp seemed at ease with his charge, sitting straighter with pride. He nodded towards the blue haired man to continue the game.
"Frrrankey," He rolled the R, the sound booming across the table. "B9 Possession of illegal weaponry. If I built it I should be able to keep it, c'mon!"
"What about you?" Sanji asked, extending his finger the short distance to point into Zoro's massive chest. Zoro watched his finger like a weapon, pupils dilating. Sanji swallowed, curling his finger back into his fist.
"Roronoa Zoro, B27" Zoro answered.
"Your first name is Ror-"
"I'm Japanese moron. My first name's Zoro, last name's Roronoa."
"Weird." Sanji said. Maybe he should start listening in class. "What did you do though, why are you here?" He was in B block, can't be anything that serious.
Zoro frowned. "I don't have to tell you shit, just cause Luffy likes you doesn't make you one of us."
"Look Marimo," He continued with the nickname, loving the jolt it gave Zoro. "I don't like you either, I just wanna know what a dumbass like you did to get locked up."
"Go fuck yourself"
"Come on, did you escape from the zoo?"
Zoro growled, Sanji's eyes flew down towards the noise. Did the guy ever wear his jumper? Did he want everyone to see how his nipples pushed through the white t-shirt. Whore .
"What's your story?" Nami cut in.
Luffy sucked on his spoon, more subdued than he'd seemed before.
"Sanji's here for cannibalism," Usopp sniggered. Sanji's eyes widened, dragged away from Zoro's chest.
"Woooooh, Really, did they taste good?" Luffy cried, arching forwards.
"Shut up." He looked down his nose at Usopp, really? "I am not in for cannibalism."
"You're in A block, right I remember when you came in." Usopp said
"Wooh." Luffy carried on what Sanji was beginning to see was his usual level of excitement.
Zoro was leaning in to watch him more carefully. "A block?"
"Well-." He suddenly felt like a hypocrite for negging Zoro. Heart rate speeding up as he stared from eye to eye. Even Nami looked interested, playing with a red lock.
"I know what he's here for."
Sanji turned and found the chef standing behind, stack of plates balanced along his forearms. Was his name Arlong? " I spoke to the cooks, and well, they're not comfortable having you there" Robin's voice chimed in his ears. They knew. The cooks had been told. He held his breath, shoulders rising up around his ears.
"Murder, four counts, dosent that make you a serial killer?"
Like a vacuum, energy was sucked from the table. Bodies curving to exaggerate expressions of horror.
"Murder?" Usopp tried to unsuccessfully whisper to Zoro.
Sanji sighed, arching his chin to face down the cook. "I guess you didn't approve my work exchange."
"You think." Arlong's large shoulders strode back to the kitchen, Sanji watched till he walked further into the kitchen then he could see. Somewhere he himself could never go. He cleared his throat. Tense to prepare for what would come next.
He looked to Nami first, reluctant to decipher their high eyebrows and body arched to regard him wearingly. He was a threat.
Before he could stop himself his eyes went right. Zoro was staring down at his plate. Frozen. The man was never dynamic but at least he used to blink.
He'd blown any chance he had.
This group would never be his friends.
He swallowed. Hands coming up to pull at his hair. "As nice as this has been, I have to get back to serial killer business." He thought he'd spare them the awkwardness of asking him to leave
"How'd you do it?" Luffy chirped. Different from the others he seemed excited. Smiling as he shovelled the last of his potatoes.
"Luffy don't ask that!" Nami cried. Reaching to try and cover his mouth.
Well they couldn't think much worse of him. Knees clicking in place, he stood. "Poison. I poisoned their food"
He stepped out of the bench and strode away before he could see their reaction. His hands were shaking as they rose to pull open the cafeteria door. Limping down vinyl corridors to see Robin.
The door was open as he arrived, blinds open to let in the last of the afternoon light. He took a breath and rubbed at his face, trying to erase evidence of the past horrific week.
Spying him through her door Robin let down the mug she was holding, smiling to gesture him inside. "Mr Black, I was going to have someone call you."
"I felt your metaphysical call, it must be fate." He stepped inside, sitting delicately on the plush chair adjacent to hers. The mug she was sipping was skellington themed, the handle ceramic bones. She ran a finger up the side, purple nail slowly circling the rim. He shivered.
"How are you feeling?" Robin asked
"I'm well, my darling"
Her smile dissolved at the pet name. "Well, I was re-reading through Smoker's report regarding the events from last week and I would love to hear your side of things Mr Black."
He clasped his hands together on his lap. "That's the funny thing about head trauma, sometimes it causes amnesia."
"Hm, that's what I thought you might say, how disappointing."
So cruel. He could feel his eyes water, the urge to throw himself to her feet and sob for forgiveness. What world did they live in where he could disappoint such a beautiful woman. He bit his lip to hold in the admission.
"Can you remember why you were in the education centre at that time?"
"I was trying to find a book- The library I mean, I'd heard it was down that way. It is, isn't it?"
"Yes it is. I see, so you weren't the ones following them?"
He frowned. "No, I wasn't following anyone."
"Good. And when they encountered you, did you antagonise them?"
He preened at the praise, warmth enveloping him. "No-" Coughs, his body's way to protect him, momentarily stopping his words. He rubbed his forehead. Studying Robin's elegant form sat forwards on her seat. "That's where my memory gets hazy."
Pricked with needles of irritation. He folded his arms, unable to meet her eyes. He felt like he was protecting them. But he couldn't snitch. This wasn't something the prison system could sort out. His death certificate would be signed quicker if he danced around telling guards.
"Can you search through the memories you do have. We need to know who started the fight."
"I don't remember." He almost withered under her disappointment. Slipping down his chair.
"Okay well, Diamante has been released today. But Bellamy is still in the medical ward. You almost broke his neck so he's looking at another week of recovery."
He bit back his smile, apparently not well enough.
"Thank your stars he's alive, If you kill a fellow inmate you're moved up a block, in your case it would be S block. A solitary ward similar to the box."
"I'd like to take back my smile."
"See that you do." Robin took a deep breath. Pushing open her notebook. "Now, that's all I need to ask. Do you have anything you'd like to discuss with me?"
She was still irritated with him, he could see it in the tightness of her jaw. Eyes flicking repeatedly back to her laptop as if to will him to leave, so she could get back on with whatever she was doing before.
"No." Blonde hair swayed into his eyes as he turned back. "Acturlly Robin, could you reinstate my father as an approved visitor." He spoke quickly, afraid if he didn't get it out now he never would.
Robin blinked, a smile transforming her face before swivelling her chair left to pull open a grey filing cabinet. "Consider it done. Visitor sessions are from 11-2PM. You'll be notified the day before for requests or you can make one." She paused looking at him expectantly.
He took a deep breath, heart in his chest. "I would like to see Zeff tomorrow."