He lost
Bad
The confusion in Zoro's eyes match his own as he removes his blade from Sanji's throat and stretches out a hand towards him. Sixty-seven draws and now one win in Zoro's favor. He knew why, as he grudgingly accepts Zoro's offer of help. He hadn't slept at all and had been distracted by their conversation last night after their crew had called. Sanji had known it was a possibility, but would he honestly be okay if Zoro left with Luffy?
"You good?" Zoro asks, concern written across his features. The lie is on his lips, but Zoro only shakes his head. "Don't just say you're fine I can see you're not. We'll talk later yeah?"
Sanji rests his head on Zoro's chest and smiles weakly. "Yeah, thank you."
Zoro only kisses the top of his head and allows Sanji to walk back towards the ship.
Zeff meets him at the door to the kitchens. "Something on your mind brat? That was barely a fight."
"It's your day off geezer." Sanji replies, crossing his arms. "I don't want you in my kitchen."
Zeff only stares him down, but the unflinching steel in Sanji's eyes only has him sighing deeply and moving out of the way. "Whatever this is Eggplant don't take it out on the crew today."
"Wasn't planning on it." He breezes past Zeff. "It's my own bullshit I gotta work through. Don't worry about it." He would worry though, if the crinkles around his eyes were anything to go by. Sanji places a hand on his shoulder and smiles weakly before heading inside.
Not one word.
No one had said one damn word about the fight.
Sanji had kept his word and only snapped at the other cooks when they had made an actual mistake. He didn't know where Zoro had wandered off too but isn't surprised when he wanders into the parlor later and finds his husband facing off against Mihawk. Their swords aren't drawn and Zeff is lounging in the corner of the room with a bottle of whiskey, so he takes that as a good sign. "Oi Mosshead." He calls from his position at the top of the stairs. "Come help me bring lunch down." With another glare in Mihawk's direction Zoro makes his way up the stairs. "You good?" He echoes Zoro's question from this morning.
"He's just an ass." He sighs, skirting past him and into the kitchen.
Sanji peers down again to where Mihawk is ignoring his glass and downing his wine straight from the bottle. No more pretense of civility then. "I've never seen you so-"Sanji struggles with the word, as he hands Zoro a mountain of food. "I don't want to say flustered, but nervous?"
"He's pissing me off."
"I can see that. You want to talk about it?" Zoro only shakes his head and that was that. Sanji grabs the rest of what they need, and they head back down.
It becomes clear about halfway through lunch that the reason for them both being pissed off had something to do with him. If the glances Mihawk kept throwing his way wasn't enough the protective glare Zoro was sending over to Mihawk would have been.
Sanji is halfway through his third sandwich when he has enough. "If you have something to say to me than just say it." He snaps.
Mihawk's gaze slips to his again, his mouth curling in the smallest of smiles. He had been waiting for him to ask then. "I understand the closeness of crewmates and I can acknowledge your achievements, but after that fight this morning you would truly have me believe you aren't just a distraction?"
Ah. So here was the test. He really should've been trying to pay attention this morning. Sanji finishes his food and crosses his arms against his chest. "What's it to you? Didn't you lose not too long ago?" He hadn't meant to say it, he really hadn't, but gods was he annoyed.
The table goes deathly silent as the news sinks in. "I didn't realize you told him." Mihawk looks to Zoro at this.
"Of course I told him."
"Your crew?" He raises a brow.
"Will know soon enough." Zoro snaps. "Is there a reason I shouldn't tell them I beat you?" Sanji can actually hear Zeff suck in a breath.
"Of course not. I've been waiting for you to tell someone. I'm just surprised it wasn't your friends in the revolutionary."
"You really think they control the news?" Sanji puts in, thinking of that annoying bird and scowling. "They have to go through Morgan's for that." Though the news that Mihawk lost his title would've been like finding a gold mine right now with the news only being about Dragon's takeover.
"Why haven't you told them?" Zoro asks, voicing Sanji's thought. "I know it's not a pride thing. You seemed almost happy after I won."
"I assumed you would."
"You're the one who lost!" Zoro argues. "No one would believe me. It would have to be from your mouth before they'd believe it."
"Fair argument."
He concedes and when he doesn't offer anything else Zoro scowls. "So are you going to tell the world or are you just going to start telling people who challenge you to find me?"
"And where will you be?" Mihawk asks, with another glance at Sanji. "Traveling with your captain or here with your-"he pauses. "Cook."
Sanji would be insulted if he didn't know that Mihawk and Shanks had been together a long time ago. Or rather he assumed, but Mihawk's reaction to Shanks's death had been indication enough. Granted Shanks had a child with a woman back in Luffy's hometown, but it was easier not to ask questions when it came to Red-Hair. "What does it matter to you?" Zoro snaps. Though Sanji also wanted him to answer the question he was too afraid of asking himself. "The first time I found you it was by accident. Tell them what you want, or you can avoid that by admitting you lost." Something close to rage flashes in Zoro's eyes. "No. That's not what this is about. You think I've grown weak in the months since beating you?" Mihawk doesn't say anything and Zoro growls. "I haven't grown weak!"
"No." Mihawk concurs, "but you've grown domestic."
This was his fault. Had he taken the fight seriously this morning this wouldn't even be an argument.
Zoro stands up, so quickly Sanji and several of the others have to reach out and grab the silverware before they crash to the deck. "I helped my captain conquer these waters to become the king of the pirates, I faced three emperors, defeated a couple warlords, including you, and helped bring the government to its knees." His hands rested on his swords. "I think I'm allowed time to myself."
"Keep to that logic and you'll be beaten within a year."
Zoro opens his mouth again, but Sanji holds out his hand and stands. "Sixty-eight." Maybe it was the wine, giving him the courage to do this, but he glares at Mihawk. "Zoro and I have dueled sixty-eight times since he returned, and this morning was the first time I lost." He crosses his arms. "We've called it a draw every other time. We don't go easy, at least I don't, so why you and I get in the rink, and you can judge for yourself how much of a distraction I am?"
It goes deathly quiet as the others suck in a collective breath. "Oi!" Zoro grabs his arm, but he shoves him off.
Mihawk meets his gaze looking almost bored, but there's a spark of excitement in his eyes. "Well?" Sanji asks, ignoring Zoro beside him.
"Brat the deck is still busted." Zeff cuts in, the concern in his voice is almost endearing.
Sanji doesn't break Mihawk's gaze when he says, "that hasn't stopped me and the Mosshead."
Mihawk still says nothing as he stands up and grabs his sword. He gives him a familiar nod of his head and walks towards the other end of the ship where the rink awaits.
Well shit. He couldn't back down now. Steeling himself and still ignoring Zoro's attempts to talk to him, Sanji follows Mihawk.
"Sanji-!"
And maybe it was the nerves or Zoro using his actual name with such concern, but Sanji stops. "I'm not backing out of this."
Zoro catches up to him. "Yeah no shit. I just wanted to give you some advice stupid curly brow." He shakes his head. "I'm not worried, but please don't die. I doubt you'd want to reveal our lies like that."
"Is that supposed to be your advice?" Sanji scoffs in disbelief and turns away.
"No." Zoro grabs his arm. "Listen, I know you can handle Mihawk." The unwavering faith in his voice leaves Sanji gaping and Zoro grins. "You didn't think I was trying to stop you, did you?" His face turns serious. "Listen, just don't let whatever shit you're dealing with from this morning get to you huh? I know you're strong but-"Sanji stiffens. If he just had the courage to ask Zoro now then he could go into this fight clear headed, but he was too afraid of the answer. Zoro looks at him again, feeling the sudden shift and Sanji finds he can't look him in the eyes. Finally releasing his grip on Sanji's arm Zoro sighs, "prove to him why you're the left wing of the Pirate King."
That he would do. He pulls Zoro in for a quick kiss and rounds the corner where Mihawk is waiting. He jumps onto the wood and lights up a cigarette.
"You really think you have time to be doing that?" Mihawk asks, crossing his arms.
Sanji only lets out a stream of smoke. "Let's just get this over with."
"Just remember-"Mihawk says taking his necklace off and revealing the same small blade he had beaten Zoro with the first time they had fought.
He hears Zoro growl from in the crowd and Sanji is inclined to agree. Before Mihawk can finish whatever bullshit he wanted to say Sanji moves. In the span of a heartbeat Sanji is behind Mihawk, the small blade dangling from his fingertips. "Underestimate me Hawk-eye and you'll regret it." He swears there's a hint of a smile on Mihawk's face as he quickly unsheathes his blade and swings. Sanji jumps and lands nimbly on the blade, before flipping over Mihawk and swinging. He lands a blow to his ribs and quickly dodges another swing of that blade. Sanji ends up where he had first started and takes another drag, before throwing the small blade over his neck. "Probably best to keep this out of your hands for the rest of this fight huh?" Sanji catches the slight of Mihawk's hand ghosting the spot Sanji had hit. Good so his kicks were effective.
"I had forgotten-"Mihawk actually grins. "How different your fighting style is compared to what I'm used to."
"Well, when you're the greatest swordsman I assume the challengers for that title are all you fight?" Sanji asks, tapping his foot against the wood, lighting it on fire.
"Typically, yes." Mihawk admits. "But I must admit-"he points his blade towards Sanji. "This might actually turn out to be fun."
Sanji finishes his cigarette and gets into a fighting stance. "Don't hold back for my sake." With a grin Mihawk charges, slower than Sanji expects, and swings his blade. Wanting to test the waters a bit Sanji meets the blade with his coated foot. It was an almost even match as Sanji struggles to gain an upper hand. Flipping back, he ducks out of reflex just as Mihawk swings again, the blade inches from his face. He knew all those spars with the Marimo would come in handy. It seems the Mosshead had adopted some of Mihawk's techniques, or vice versa. Sanji sweeps a leg, attempting to trip him up, but as expected Mihawk dodged. Worth a shot. Mihawk charges again and Sanji meets his blade.
Left. Right. Dodge. Attack. Sanji quickly falls into a routine and finds himself smiling. This wasn't much different then sparring with Zoro. It was just a matter of adjusting his style of fighting to a much larger blade. After landing a particularly brutal blow to Mihawk's shoulder he steps back Mihawk just stops. Sanji is about to ask if everything is alright when the swordsman holds his blade in front of him and rams the tip into the deck. He hears Zoro let out a sharp breath and guesses that whatever's coming isn't going to be pleasant. He jumps back again as Mihawk's aura changes drastically.
The breeze around them suddenly stops and every one of Sanji's senses are telling him to flee. A moment later the sky around them darkens and Sanji prepares to dodge whatever is coming when an image flashes in his mind. Dodge and he would be cut. Didn't matter which way. The darkness was the attack. Sanji takes a calming breath and closes his eyes. A couple of heartbeats later he senses movement. His senses are screaming at him to run, but he holds his ground. One second...two, and he rolls left, narrowly avoiding Mihawk's blade. The darkness evaporates, the sun blinding Sanji a second too long as a searing pain courses through him. Flipping again Sanji lands on his feet and clutches his arm. His hand comes away red. Damn. The cut didn't seem deep, but it was a black blade, and he had certainly had worse wounds.
Sanji glances at Mihawk, ready to determine how to proceed, but the look of honest surprise gives him pause. He finds Zoro's eyes and his husband only grins. He didn't know if that whole attack had just been a test or what, but he encases himself in fire again and charges. Mihawk is on the defensive now, as Sanji meets the blade with enough force to knock him back. A warning then Sanji jumps back, as Mihawk's aura changes again. Another look of surprise and he wonders if Mihawk's caught on yet.
"You seem rather adept at dodging, but I wonder if you're ever going to show me your true power."
Sanji straightens. "Apologies for not wanting to get stabbed by that thing." He gestures to his still bleeding arm. It was clotting, but slower than he would like. "If this is just a scrape, I don't want to know what an actual hit would feel like. Though I can kick it up a notch if you'd like."
Before Sanji can react Mihawk moves, and he finds himself thrown off the deck and into the water. Where the hell had that attack come from? He hadn't even sensed it. He swims around to Mihawk's side and uses sky walk to jump back onto the deck. He immediately coats his body in fire and spins, sending a wall of fire towards Mihawk.
Mihawk jumps, avoiding it, but Sanji is already there to meet him and kicks him back down onto the deck. Surprisingly the deck holds from the impact. Mihawk gets back up unfairly quickly and swings. Sanji is forced to sidestep using sky walk and rolls back onto the deck. He gets back on his feet and is forced to coat his legs in haki to meet a swing of Mihawk's blade. Sanji flips again, narrowly avoiding getting cut and charges again. This time when Mihawk swings Sanji coats his arms in Haki and turns, placing a hand on the blade, diverting its direction.
The tip lodges deep into the deck and there's a collective gasp from the crowd as Mihawk loses his balance and falls rather ungracefully onto his knees. Sanji turns again, ready to end this, when he's standing in a white marbled room. His feet are in a pool of blood and he's staring down at one of the five elders. His throat is cut, blood soaking his white robes, and Brook is calling out his name-
"Sanji!" No. Not Brook's-Zoro's!
He blinks and Mihawk's blade is aiming for his neck. He jumps, quickly avoiding it, and stumbles awkwardly back onto the deck. Mihawk doesn't say a word because he knew what had just happened, or because he knew he could've just lost the fight. Sanji straightens and coats his legs in fire before using sky walk to jump as far up as he could go. The last time he used this move the deck had broken, but if his friends were on their way Franky wouldn't pass up a chance to fix something. He encases himself in fire and allows himself to fall. His leg meets Mihawk's sword with an echoing crash. Sanji knew Mihawk would be as stubborn as Zoro and would rather defend then dodge. Mihawk holds his ground, but a moment later the sound of cracking wood fills the air and the surface under Mihawk splits in two and he's swallowed up by the water. Sanji flips, landing nimbly on deck and waiting for the swordsman to resurface.
The warning comes too late as an attack comes out of the water and hits Sanji's left shoulder. He cries out in pain, holding the wound, and trying to get out of range for the second attack he knows is coming. He curses as his right hand comes away soaked with blood. He curses again as another attack comes rather quickly from behind. He turns just in time to dodge but is forced to drop to the deck as Mihawk is suddenly in front of him-his sword poised to attack. Sanji sweeps a leg and manages to hit him, causing Mihawk to fall. For a moment they just stare at one another.
Sanji honestly hadn't expected that to work.
Mihawk lets out a laugh as the two of them get up. "You're not what I expected. I will give you that."
"Is that a compliment?"
Mihawk just raises his sword again. Sanji prepares to defend just as he charges. He sets his legs on fire and parries. As Sanji prepares to use an attack to end the fight an image of another fight plays out in front of him.
It was dark-a large castle loomed in the background and hundreds of monkeys created a half-circle surrounding the two people in the center. Sanji walks over carefully to take a closer look and recognizes them. It was Mihawk and Zoro, both bloody and breathing hard. This must've been when Zoro finally achieved his dream but-why was he seeing it? Just as Sanji tries calling out to him the two charge towards one another and the vision changes once again to that white throne room.
Again, Sanji hears it- the sound of Zoro's heart stopping and watching his husband falling onto the marbled floor.
He screams
He doesn't know what breaks the vision, but he opens his eyes to find Mihawk standing over him, his sword to his throat and with a look of contemplation on his face.
Shit had they heard him scream?
Shit had he just lost?
He bats the sword out of his place and growls, "I concede." There was no use continuing the fight after that.
Mihawk still doesn't say anything but sheaths his sword and goes as far as to hold out his hand to help Sanji back up.
He pauses but accepts the hand up. He may have lost, but he wouldn't allow himself to be embarrassed by the loss. It had been his challenge after all. "As expected Hawkeye-"he pats dust off of his suit. "good fight."
Mihawk still doesn't say anything-just stares at him with a thoughtful look in his eyes. The image flashes through his head again and he has to get out of here before he had a full panic attack. Without another word Sanji disappears and heads back towards his ship.
It was a good hour before Sanji hears Zoro make his way onto the ship. Whether from trying to give him space, or just him being lost Sanji didn't know. He had finally finished being sick in the washroom and had made his way to the comfort of his kitchen to cook something light.
"You should've won that fight." Zoro says in way of greeting. Sanji turns and finds Zoro leaning against the door, his arms crossed, and an almost scared look in his eyes? Sanji doesn't say anything and simply gestures to the simple meal in front of him.
It was grilled salmon, roasted vegetables, and rice. Sanji was having a hard time eating it, but- "You want something to eat?"
"I want you to tell me what's wrong!" Zoro finally snaps, and gestures to him. "You've had that nervous look on your face all damn day."
Sanji shoves his hands into his pocket and looks out the window. "I need to ask you something, but I'm honestly scared of your answer."
"Hey!" He snaps in such a way it has Sanji turning back around. The look Zoro gives him is a determined one. "I love you. You know that right?"
Sanji blinks in confusion and waves him off quickly. "Of course I know that, I love you too, that's not what I need to ask." He smiles, not knowing how else to react to that. "Zoro you bound yourself to me. Maybe not in the literal sense, but the minute you said 'I do' I knew for sure we were both in it for the long run. You never half ass anything right?" He's rambling now, and he knows it. "Hell, it had been six months since you saw me and the first thing you did when you came here was kiss me." Okay, so maybe he was trying to avoid the conversation he needed to have.
Zoro walks up to him and rests his forehead gently against his own, successfully shutting him up. "Cook," he says calmly, "what is it?"
"Are you happy?" Sanji blurts out. Zoro takes a step back and looks at him in confusion. "Here-"Sanji tries clarifying. "Are you happy here?"
"Why wouldn't I be happy here?"
"You don't have to make me feel better by lying."
"I wouldn't lie to you." Zoro crosses his arms. "Especially when it came to that. Do I look unhappy?"
"I don't know!" Sanji argues. "You've never been one to express how you're feeling and that's fine, but I worry-"
"that what? I don't want to be here?" Sanji turns away and Zoro lets out a breath. "That's it isn't it? You don't think I want to be here."
"I worry you don't want this boring life." Sanji finally finishes. "I have the old man and the Baratie, but you-"he pauses again, tucking his hands into his pockets. "You are the greatest swordsman in the world. You should be traveling with the pirate king and pulling ridiculous stunts."
"Are you trying to tell me how to live my life?" Zoro asks coldly, his tone turning to that of Luffy's first mate. "Mihawk lived in a gloomy ass castle by himself for years until Perona and I showed up."
"Yeah, he also lost his sparring partner."
"He didn't lose his sparring partner." Zoro argues. "He just refused to fight Shanks after he lost his dominant arm."
"So that's why he became bitter and hid in a castle?"
"Was probably part of it."
"You haven't lost your sparring partner though. Zoro-" he can't look at him. "I just want you to be happy. You don't have to settle here."
"Because you settled so well here without me?"
"I'll be fine." He snaps. The jab at his depression was uncalled for. "At least this time I know where you'll be."
"Who says I'm not happy here?" Zoro snaps and runs a hand through his hair fervently. "Dammit why are you so-" Sanji braces himself for the insult. "Kind?" He finishes letting out a long sigh. "If I left would that make you happy?"
"No-!" Sanji says hastily. "But my new dream is here with my old man but yours-"
"is wherever you are." Zoro looks at him "Sanji- my new dream is you." He finishes and he says it with such conviction Sanji can feel tears welling up in his eyes.
He tries wiping them away quickly. "Don't just say shit like that."
Zoro grabs his arms. "Why is that so hard for you to believe? Cook I haven't been this happy since that period between Laughtale and Mary Geoise when we were all just doing as we wanted. Waking up and sparring with you is my favorite part of the day."
"You always disappear so quickly afterwards I always think you're annoyed."
"If I stay, I'm going to end up distracting you and I doubt you want your old man yelling at you. I know you have to get to the kitchen."
"You disappear until lunch-"
"again," Zoro grins. "You're busy and I don't want to distract you. I don't mind training or taking a nap."
"And wandering back by lunch."
"As if you would let me miss a meal."
"Absolutely not." Sanji says, appalled. "Though it's not like you didn't try back on the ship."
"Only when I was annoyed and even back then you made sure I ate."
"I made a promise to all of you when I joined that none of you would go hungry." He smirks, "even if some of you decided to be stubborn mossheads."
"You were just as stubborn, if not worse back then." Sanji can't argue with that, and it grows silent. "If I were to leave-"Zoro says evenly. Sanji tenses. "You wouldn't be the only one in pain. What do I need to do for you to believe that?"
"I don't know." Sanji admits. "I think a part of me is always going to think that you deserve more than this dull life."
"Sparring with my equal every day is supposed to be dull?"
"I'm not your equal." Sanji says almost immediately.
"Well you're damn close if you aren't." Sanji balls his hands into fists and Zoro continues. "You should've won that fight." He turns away, but Zoro reaches out and cups his face. "Twice I saw it. You should've been able to knock him out and even if you hadn't you should've been able to dodge that last attack."
"I know I just-"
"what did you see?" The fact Zoro realized what had happened nearly brings tears to his eyes. It wasn't that Mihawk was stronger Sanji just had shit he's still working out.
He starts carefully. "I just- as we were fighting, I saw your fight with him, and I then watched you die again. I think fighting him made me realize how close you probably were to losing your life again." He rests his head on Zoro's chest. "I know I've said it before, but the moment you died Zoro I heard it. I heard your heart stop and I saw it again today and I just-"he begins shaking and Zoro's arms slowly wrap around him. "It's so stupid. I haven't seen that image in literal months, but when I did my head just went-"he searches for the right word, "silent."
It's quiet for a long while Zoro just holding him tightly until, "I will never forget hearing your cry when I got hit. We're always going to have that one haunted image that will never go away."
"But we just have to learn not to let it consume us." Sanji finishes, echoing the phrase Jinbei told them a while back. "Easier said than done."
Zoro lets out a sharp laugh. "Yeah, no shit." He releases him and grins. "You won that fight today. Even Mihawk knows it." His face goes soft. "How do you still not think you're my equal?"
"Because I'm not."
"Do you even understand why you're my new dream?"
"Because I'm the reason you're alive?" Sanji jokes, though there's no humor in his voice.
"No, you ass." Zoro shoves him. "It's because we have trained together day after day for years. It's because while I've been getting stronger so have you. It's because you push me to get better to the point where no one can match us in strength. There will be challengers for my title, and maybe in another thirty years or so someone will be able to beat me-"the look he gives Sanji nearly sends him to his knees. "But until then Sanji, you are my goal and my dream."
Sanji manages a small chuckle. "Is there that much of a distinction?"
"I'm not going anywhere." Zoro states.
"Are you looking for a job?" Sanji asks without thinking.
Zoro only grins, "you have one in mind boss?"
It had been meant as a joke. A way for him to process what Zoro had just admitted but, "Well we're not called a fighting restaurant for nothing. If I paid you to keep the problem ones out would you do it?"
Zoro leans in close meeting his forehead with Sanji's. "And what would you be willing to pay me?"
"Surely you have enough gold to last the rest of our lives?"
"I wasn't asking for gold."
"You got something else in mind?" He would make Zoro say it.
"I would rather show you."
Sanji pushes him away slightly. "You realize I'm head chef today. I can't just leave when-"
Zoro's lips are on his before he finishes. "When you ran off after the fight." Zoro murmurs, "Zeff told me to deal with you and that he's got the kitchen covered."
"Meddling old geezer." Sanji lets out a growl as he meets Zoro's lips with his own and they fall into each other.
As they walk back into the dining room, late for dinner service, but just in time for their own dinner, they find Zeff lounging in a chair, his bad leg propped up on a table. Sanji opens his mouth and stops halfway to him. Zoro pauses behind him realizing the same thing. The aura of fine wine and steel was missing, but before Sanji can ask Zeff pulls out an envelope and tosses it to him. "He left about an hour ago. Wanted me to give you that."
"He say anything else?" Sanji asks, cutting it open only to have something fall out. No. Not just something. He recognizes the cross necklace.
Zoro curses as Sanji bends down to pick it up. "Why is his damn knife in there?"
"Let's find out."
He hands the chain to Zoro and pulls out a small piece of paper that just reads, "see you next time."
Zoro lets out a laugh, "well shit, he likes you."
"That's not what this means."
"I've never seen him without that damn knife." Zoro argues. "If anything, this is him admitting he was wrong and accepting that you might very well be a good choice for me."
"Glad to hear it took less than a day for him to realize that."
Zoro looks right at Zeff as he says, "yeah while your old man still doesn't trust me."
"I trust ya enough boy." Zeff snaps, standing up. "I don't like that you're both lying to me, but I do think you're a good match."
Sanji looks away at that.
"You're really just going to tolerate me, aren't you?"
"I like you enough boy."
Zoro just shrugs and hands the chain back to Sanji, who only throws it around Zoro's neck. "I don't use weapons." He cocks his head in thought and flattens his hand on Zoro's chest. "It looks better on you anyways. Besides, if you're wearing this it'll only prove your claim that you beat him."
Zoro chuckles at that. "Since the bastard won't admit it himself."
"Yeah, about that." Zeff cuts in. "If you are going to have challengers you can't do the fights here. Find some island to take them to and do it there."
Fair enough. The deck would only be able to take so much damage. "We'll find one." Zoro assured him.
Zeff only grunts in response and gestures to another door. "Come on, we're going to be late for dinner." Sanji only takes Zoro's hand and follows Zeff out to the deck.
The next morning Sanji is flat on his back ready to kick Zoro off him when he senses them. A familiar gleam in Zoro's eyes shows him that he senses them too but isn't willing to stop their fight. Sanji isn't either even with tears forming in the corner of his eyes. He rolls out of the way just as Zoro's sword digs deep into the deck. Sanji takes the advantage and lights his foot on fire before aiming for Zoro's exposed back. In a flash Zoro has a second blade out and blocks the attack. He has the lodged blade out in the span of a heartbeat and swings. Sanji kicks off the blade blocking him and flips, avoiding the second one. The uneven surface causes him to stumble, but he lands steadily on his feet and barely has time to avoid another attack. He ducks low, sweeping his feet in an attempt to knock Zoro off balance. As Zoro moves to dodge it he steps onto the uneven deck and falls onto his back. Sanji moves quickly, placing his foot onto Zoro's chest and grinning wickedly down at him. "You ready to call it?"
Zoro just covers his face with an arm and starts laughing. "And just like that we're tied again."
"To be fair-"Sanji laughs, holding out a hand to help him up. "Both times we were rather distracted. They both turn to find their crew grinning at them from the front of the restaurant.
Sanji can't help the chocked sob that burst out of him at the sight of his friends. Usopp is noticeably missing, but he knew their sniper had decided to stay on his home island. Brook is still in his Soul King outfit, Sanji honestly didn't think he'd ever change out of it and is tipping his hat towards them in a sort of salute. Jinbei is just grinning at them proudly, Chopper on his shoulder and waving. Franky is holding Robin and they looked, for all the world, like a storybook couple. Nami- he swears she continues to grow more beautiful, is smiling warmly. His gaze finally finds Luffy and his own smile falters. He's seen his captain take down warlords with the glare he's giving them.
No
Not them, it was for Zoro
And within a blink of his eye Luffy is in front of them fist raised and Sanji watches as their captain punches Zoro.
