Sanji kicks him and instantly regrets it, as he watches him fall back onto the Baratie's deck. Force of habit or not Zoro is already hurt. "Shit, sorry." He jumps the railing and lands next to him.

"Damn cook." Zoro grumbles, as Sanji helps him up. "I knew you'd be pissed but-"

"I'm sorry, seriously." He apologizes again. "Do you want me to call Chopper?" Their doctor would probably look him over regardless, but still.

"M'fine." He struggles to get up but manages.

"Zoro!" It was Chopper's voice. They look up to see their crew leaning against the rail of the Sunny. Zoro just waves a hand indicating he's fine.

Sanji shakes his head, still angry. "Why?"

"You've confessed to one thing already today and look what happened." He argues, gesturing up to Luffy. "Look-I'm fine with keeping what happened a secret from the rest of the world. Hell, I loved how adamant you were with Mihawk- you lied to his face, but you should tell Zeff."

"What did you tell him?"

"Only that he was right about the marks."

Sanji wants to hit him again.

"I suppose you conveniently left out the fact that your lifespans are linked and that neither of you lost any actual time of your life?" Robin asks, resting her chin on her hand. At the look she gives him Zoro flinches back.

Sanji can't help his grin. Zoro being reprimanded by Robin is easily a more fitting punishment than being kicked by him.

What's worse is Zoro is right. He went about it the wrong way, but if anyone deserves to know the truth it's his old man. If he had found the strength to tell Zeff about his biological family, he can do this. "Damn you Zoro." He breathes out.

"Hey, Sanji!" His captain's voice carries down. He looks up to see Luffy grinning at him. "You're free to tell him whatever you need too."

The statement is both a blessing and a curse. He can tell Zeff anything, but that's just it. He can tell Zeff everything. Without another word he nods and makes his way to find his old man.

It wasn't hard. Zeff likes to pout on the balcony attached to his room. It had been that way since Sanji was a kid, but unlike when he was a kid where he would have to bang at his door for hours on end before the old man would relent, he's able to use sky walk in order to step right onto the balcony.

He finds Zeff sitting in one of the chairs and tinkering with his wooden leg. "I think I need to tell you another story." He says in greeting, landing gracefully on the railing.

"Shit brat!" Zeff nearly falls out from his chair. Sanji steps down and helps him up. Zeff settles back into his chair. "You scared the hell out of me! You're damn right you owe me a story and you better have brought top notch booze." His voice is sharp, but Sanji knows he deserves every bit of anger his old man throws at him.

Lucky for him he had stopped by his hidden compartment and grabbed one of Zeff's favorites. He pulls out two glasses and pours the whisky. He hands Zeff one and takes a seat, placing the bottle on the table, and downing his glass in one go. It burns going down, but gods he needed something. "I assume the Mosshead told you nothing?"

Zeff downs his own glass and holds it out for Sanji to refill. Sanji rolls his eyes, but refills both their glasses. "I think he wanted to try, but I had already punched him and snapped at him to get out."

Sanji really wasn't surprised Zeff had turned to violence. Hell, he had seen how Zoro looked but- "punched him?"

Zeff curls his fists as if to demonstrate. "That's what I said."

"You-you used your hands."

"Brat I just said-"

"I've seen you pissed off." Sanji places his glass on the table and really looks at him. "I've seen you so pissed off you kicked someone unconscious and sent him packing with a note attached saying to never come back. Not once since I met you have you ever used your hands to fight."

"I was pissed brat, it's not that big of a deal."

It was-it was a huge deal, but fine. If Zeff wanted to pretend as though he didn't care enough about him to punch someone who caused him harm fine. He picks up his glass again and downs the contents, before placing it back on the table and fishing out a cigarette. He would need it for this.

Zeff refills his own glass as Sanji takes a long drag and stares out at the vast sea. "I'm trying to decide where to start." He admits.

Zeff is quiet for a long while before saying, "Just tell me what you think you can manage Eggplant. I don't need to hear everything."

But Luffy had given him permission to do just that. He feels Zoro's presence move below them. The bastard really would always have his back.

He takes another long drag and begins, "I'm not going into details about how we got up to Mary Geoise, but the short version is that we left our allies below in order to keep the navy from following us up. When we got up to the holy land it was the ten of us, the revolutionary army's commanders, and Dragon."

His voice trails off trying to fight off the horrors he had seen that day. Dragon's army had no qualms killing whoever were in their path-slaves or Celestial Dragon's themselves. At the time Sanji knew that most of the slaves would have rather been dead anyways, but it was still hard to watch and accept. Luffy hadn't liked it and had ordered them to only knock people out. He argued with his old man almost the entire way to the castle.

It was only when Akainu and Kong showed up that they agreed on anything. Before Luffy even had a chance to fight Akainu again Sabo eased his brother out of the way and cracked his knuckles. "I got this; you lot move on." Ace had been Sabo's brother too and by the look on his face he was ready for his revenge. Luffy had only nodded and led them on. Dragon left Koala and Ivankov with him and they continued.

The moment they had gotten into the castle they were separated. It had been himself, Luffy, Robin, Jinbei, and Dragon. Robin had quickly been able to assess the situation and by using their combined observation haki they had found the rest of their group rather quickly.

It had been a bloodbath.

Opening that door to that dark room and finding a massive pile of mutilated bodies wasn't something Sanji would ever be able to forget. Finding and dragging their friend's bodies out of that pile had been one of the worst times of his life. He himself had helped Zoro out from under a giant with his head cut partially off, it's blood still dripping on and soaking Zoro's robe. They found out later that anyone who enters the castle without direct permission got transported to that room and killed. Zoro had never told him what had happened, or how they managed to not get killed. It turned out the five elders wanted to see Robin, Luffy, Dragon, and Jinbei. The only reason he had been spared was the royal blood in his veins.

Damn his Vinsmoke name.

Though, in this case he may have been lucky.

"A lot of shit happened when we first got to the castle." He finally continues. "But we did finally find the five elders-"he sighs, "and it just got worse from there."

Dragon and Luffy had burst in and had immediately been shot at. They dodged, leaving Sanji to quickly grab the girls and move them out of the way. Zoro had done the same with Chopper and Usopp. Franky hadn't been affected. The bullets went right through Brook, and Jinbei dodged.

"Zoro went right for the bastard with the sword, and I went for the guy with the cane. Robin and Franky fought the one that ordered the Buster call on Ohara. For being old as shit they were unfairly strong." He pauses and takes another shot. "Though, it didn't help that they couldn't die."

Zeff nearly chokes on his drink at that.

"There was a reason Dragon asked us to go back to Laughtale." He explains simply. "Chopper had the formula ready before we even got in the palace, but it involved getting their blood. We could take away their immortality by mixing their blood with the formula and making them drink it."

In theory it was easy

Use Robin's ability to collect their blood in vials, give them to Chopper to mix the formula, then make the bastards drink it.

Reality proved to be a different story.

It had taken them hours, even with Dragon's help, to get all five elders down. Dragon and Luffy had continued arguing. Dragon just wanting to get it over with and kill them. Luffy arguing that letting them live as mortals was the greater punishment.

"We had them. They were mortal and we had them. It was just a matter of figuring out what to do-or so we thought." He sighs deeply and finishes his cigarette. "The next thing I knew there was a bright flash of light, and I was thrown up against the wall. We knew-"a shiver runs down his spine. "We knew dealing with him was a possibility, but I honestly hadn't thought he was actually alive."

Zeff takes a swig from the bottle and proceeds to hand it over. Sanji, still shaking takes it and downs most of the bottle. The bastard was dead. Luffy made sure of that, but he had still been the one to kill Zoro. Yes, he had gotten his husband back, but the panic and pain he had felt wasn't easy to forget. He finishes the bottle and lets out a long breath. "The ancient king Im had finally showed his face."

"Ancient King-? Brat the World Government-"Zeff wasn't the type to interrupt, but the news had been shocking to Sanji as well.

"I'm not going into details, but I saw the annihilation of the ancient kingdom with my own eyes. Im, his five retainers, and the twenty great families destroyed all evidence of the ancient kingdom, moved themselves into Pangaea castle, Mary Geoise, and created what we now know as the World Government."

Zeff just stares at him in disbelief. "I think I need another drink." He finally gets out.

"You and me both old man." Sanji manages a smile. A moment later his eyes catch the glint of something flying through the air towards them. He catches it and lets out a laugh. That damn Marimo. It was another bottle of whiskey from his secret compartment.

Zeff raises a brow but says nothing. Sanji tosses the bottle over to him, letting him have the first drink. Zeff takes a swig, coughs, and looks at the bottle in surprise. "You really do know my favorite, don't you?" He laughs, pouring the golden liquid into the two glasses.

"You have expensive taste old geezer." Sanji grins, accepting the glass and downing the contents. He nearly chokes on the taste. Shit- it was nearly as strong as Zoro's favorite sake.

Almost

"So do you brat."

"Where do you think I get it from?"

Zeff only downs his drink in reply.

Sanji can't blame him for needing a drink, as disbelieving as the story sounds, he knows Zeff believes him. "This next bit-"he sets down his glass, covering it so Zeff wouldn't pour any more, and takes out another cigarette. He needed more nicotine for this. Watching Zoro die would haunt him for the rest of his days. "The next bit is going to be hard to get out, so if you want to hear it you're going to have to bear with me."

Zeff doesn't say anything and takes a long swig of the whiskey. Sanji curls his free hand into a fist and lets out a long breath. "The next thing I knew I was opening my eyes and seeing the room from the far wall. I couldn't tell you how long I was passed out, but Im was kneeling next to the Gorosei, healing them. We were confident they hadn't gotten their immortality back. They would've had to have gone back to Laughtale for that and even then, I doubt they could get it back."

Zeff's eyes dart to him quickly, but Sanji shakes his head. "No. None of us are immortal. It wasn't that Luffy forbade us it's just-"he trails off. "After seeing what we had, none of us wanted that. I didn't want to wake up hundreds of years from now and regret it. It may be thirty or forty years before my generation is over, but I want it to be ready for the next. I don't need to be here getting in the way of that, nor do I want to see it."

Zeff raises the bottle up in salute.

Sanji takes another drag and continues, "Luffy was the only one of us to not be hurt. Well, and Dragon I suppose, but he doesn't exactly count. Luffy and his old man went right for Im and began attacking. The Gorosei came at us again and-I don't know what Im did, but they were suddenly stronger than they had been.

"The fight didn't actually last long, though it was the worst one we've ever had. Chopper went down first, which I think was their plan and why everything went to hell soon after. Robin and Franky ended up killing one of them. I still don't know whether it was on purpose. Another one, obviously got pissed and went after Robin. Franky tried to protect her and ended up losing both of his legs and Robin had still been hit."

"Robin!"

Shit

Shit

Shit!

This was all going to hell, and he couldn't even blame his captain. Sanji kicks his opponent hard enough to send flying, though he may also very well be dead- and races over to Robin but is blocked by another elder. He scowls, if they all died in this fight Sanji promises to find Dragon and kill him himself. "Jinbei!" Their Helmsman turns from where he's protecting Chopper. "Get those two-"he gestures to Franky and Robin. "Over to Chopper." He wouldn't be able to help heal them, but at least the injured would all be in one place and easier to defend. Jinbei only nods and Sanji can see Franky opening his mouth to protest-he was still in fighting form after all, but Robin lets out a pained moan and he relents quickly.

"Do you really think you can win this?" The old bastard grins, as Sanji is forced to defend. "As long as we have our King we can't lose. Surely you know this as well?"

A part of him did know this, but Dragon had seemed confident that he could handle Im. Sanji only grins. "Shitty old man, surely you know we didn't come all this way just to die? We've already killed two of you, it's just a matter of time until all of you finally face death." The flash of anger in the man's gaze has Sanji upping his defense, but just as the old man charges, a wall of ice cuts between them.

"Allow me Sanji." Sanji blinks, recognizing the voice. The last time he had seen Brook he was fighting against the youngest looking elder. "You're right-"Brook stands in front of Sanji, his sword drawn and facing the elder. "It's only a matter of time until they face death, but due to their incredible misfortune that day happens to be today."

Sanji dares a look behind him and finds the elder Brook had been facing on the ground, his throat sliced, and his blood turning the marble floor crimson. This fight was slowly turning into something else. He recalls the elder Franky and Robin had killed and the elder he kicked into the opposite wall now smeared with blood-the elder lying unmoving on the ground. The bastards deserved it of course, but this needed to end and fast.

He's about to order Brook to go defend with Jinbei when a flash of light blinds them and Nami's scream echoes around the room. A sense of panic and sudden pain cuts through him. When his vision clears blood is dripping from his right arm. His hand comes away sticky with blood from a deep and frighteningly long wound near his shoulder that snakes down to nearly his elbow. He doesn't have time to process what had happened as Usopp's pained cry reaches him.

He turns to find the elder they had been facing on the ground, three deep gashes across his back. Next to him and huddled together in a pool of blood were Usopp and Nami. His legs were moving before his mind could fully process what he was seeing.

Sanji is shaking, his cigarette long gone, and draining the bottle of whiskey to its dregs. "The light was from Im and had injured all of us. I had gotten over to Nami and Usopp, who were unconscious, and missing their arms. Nami her right, and Usopp his left. I ripped off a part of the dead elder's robe and used it to quickly add pressure to their wounds, slowing the bleeding.

"Jinbei! Franky, help me get all of them out of here." Sanji orders. Franky had lost his legs, but Sanji knew he would risk his whole being to get Robin out safety. Jinbei had hurried over, blood dripping down from his head. Sanji gives him a look, but he only gives a shake of his head. He was fine.

Jinbei's eyes grow wide. "Your arm!"

At the concern in his voice Sanji looks down again. His arm is covered in blood and the wound shows no sign of stopping. He curses and snaps, "I'm fine. Help me get them out of here."

"You'll be no help if you pass out on the way to get help." Jinbei shoots back and rips a long strip of his own clothing and gives a pointed look at Sanji's arm. Reluctantly Sanji holds out his arm and allows Jinbei to wrap it.

He looks over again at where Franky is trying to pick up both Chopper and Robin. This whole fight was going to shit. They needed to get their crewmates to a doctor. He just hoped Law or Marco were nearby. It wasn't that he didn't trust other doctors, but their crew were in bad shape. If anyone could help it was the two of them.

"Can you take both of them or do you need help?"

"I don't know how far I can get." Jinbei admits and Sanji honestly isn't sure how long he can last either, not with his arm, which is only now starting to feel painful.

"Brook-"He calls out, only for the words to die on his lips, as he turns to find the skeleton standing, but Im's attack had taken the entire left half of his body. "Brook." Sanji gets out softly and manages to make his feet walk over to his friend. It was a haunting sight, seeing a skeleton split in half. How bad would it have been if Brook had flesh and blood? Brook's sword is hanging loosely from his right hand, as the skeleton gazes hopelessly up at the ceiling with half of his face and beloved hair missing. Sanji reaches out, placing a hand on Brook's shoulder.

"Do you think-"Brook finally says, honestly surprising Sanji. Brook had been so motionless he hadn't been sure their musician was still alive. "Laboon will recognize me at less than half my former self?"

Time seems to stop. Of all their dreams Brook's was the only one that was a promise to someone else-except for maybe Zoro. Brook had made a final promise to his old crew to find Laboon again and finally keep their promise to come back.

"I think-"Sanji starts carefully. Gods this was a heavy question, but his friend had just physically lost half of himself. It wouldn't be a surprise if he's about to have a breakdown. Hell, he had no idea how the skeleton was still standing. "Laboon has been waiting for you for so long that it's possible that he wouldn't recognize you even as you were-"Brook flinches at that. Sanji continues quickly, "but your mannerisms, your voice, and the way you play the violin are all dead giveaways. There's no way he wouldn't know who you are after talking to him."

Brook finally drops his sword, the metal hitting the floor causing Sanji to flinch. "I can no longer even do the thing I love."

"Franky rebuilt his body." Sanji points out gently. "Do you really think he can't rig something up for you to play your beloved violin? Or any instrument for that matter." Brook doesn't say anything for so long that Sanji leans down to pick up the dropped sword. Pain courses through him at the action and he holds the sword out to Brook-pain in his arm be damned. "Laboon has been waiting this long. He hasn't given up on you and you shouldn't give up on him. Of course he will recognize you. Half your former self or no."

This fight is truly going to hell. More than half their crew is injured. Zoro is still facing one of the elders and Sanji has no idea if that last attack from Im had hurt his husband or not, but protecting their crewmates included protecting one another from themselves. He would stand here however long his friend needed him too. No matter how much he wanted to make sure Zoro was alright-this was his priority.

Finally, after what feels like a lifetime, Brook reaches out to take the sword. "What do you need from me?" His focus is back, and he looked ready to go down, the rest of his body be damned.

"Can you walk?" Sanji asks, wondering if Franky would need to figure something out for him too.

"Oddly enough-"Brook moves as if to take a step and Sanji is shocked to watch him walk as if he wasn't missing the means to do just that. "Though it seems I've physically lost half of my body I can still use it?" For emphasis he sheathes his sword, but to Sanji it looked as though his sword had moved into its sheath on its own.

Sanji opens his mouth, but only shakes his head. He would never get used to Brook, or his ridiculous body. Brook was already a walking skeleton; he could get used to a half skeleton. Brook was sure to come up with even more insufferable jokes after all this ended. "I need you to help me get everyone out. I don't want Im getting another attack in like that, not when most of us are already down."

Brook's gaze falls to Sanji's arm, where the bandage has quickly turned red. Sanji holds his hand up to it and it comes away wet. He would need to get to a doctor soon. "I'm fine just-"

"Sanji! Zoro!" Luffy's voice reaches him. "Get everyone out!" There's a tremor in his voice. He was scared for them. Meaning that this battle isn't one Luffy is confident about.

Sanji glances over at where Franky and Jinbei are trying to get the rest of their crew together. "Let's go." Brooks nods and hurries off. Sanji is about to follow when a loud ringing sound reverberates around the room.

A sense of terror runs through him, and he turns just in time to see Luffy on the ground, Dragon is halfway across the room looking as though he's trying to get back to his son, and Im is staggering back to his feet.

Luffy wasn't getting up

Why had he wasted time ordering them to do something Sanji had already been doing instead of focusing on his fight?

Because giving them an order would ensure that they would follow it instead of trying to stay and help him.

His captain knew this was the end and he would rather all of them get out safely

Im was grinning

It wasn't one indicating enjoying a fight-no. Sanji knew it well, it was a grin you can't help when you know you've won.

Sanji's feet are moving before he can think about it.

The next few moments go by in a blur. One second Sanji is moving towards his captain-orders be damned. The next Im's hand is pointed towards Luffy, a ball of light already forming in his hand, and Zoro is suddenly between them. Sanji doesn't even have time to call out before Zoro is hit fully by Im's blast.

Sanji breaks the glass he hadn't realized he was holding, the shards falling to the deck and bringing him back to reality. Zeff is still quiet as he moves into his room and comes back a moment later with the means to clean the mess.

Sanji was frozen in place.

Zoro was dead

"Nothing happened"

Zoro was dead

"I'm fine idiot, go check on the others"

Zoro was dead

Thriller Bark, the fight with Blackbeard, all the worst memories where Sanji had believed Zoro to be dead and now-

He needed to cry

He needed to hit something

He needed-shit he needed his husband. To hit or to kiss he wasn't sure but-

Was he screaming?

"Zoro was dead." Sanji manages to get out, as Zeff hands him a rag for his hand. "And to be honest geezer I don't remember a lot of what happened after that. I know Im was killed by Luffy, but the next thing I remember I was down on my knees." He lets out a long sigh and has to lean forward to stop from shaking so violently. Had he ever managed to tell that part of the story?

He feels a hand rest on his back. "Breathe Eggplant." Zeff murmurs. "You don't have to continue if you can't."

The memories are still too fresh.

One-minute tears are freely flowing down his face and onto the marble floor, and the next he's staring at a pair of bloodied flip-flops. When had he fallen to the ground? Sanji looks up to find a crying Luffy holding his hand out to him. He looked as though he was trying to say something, but he's too far gone to try and understand what his captain is saying-was it an apology?

What did Luffy have to apologize for?

Without much of a thought Sanji takes Luffy's hand and his captain leads him over to Zoro's body. He falls to his knees again and is unable to help the fresh tears running down his face. Zoro could've been sleeping for all it looked like. His husband was on his back, a hand on his chest and his other still holding Wado. There wasn't a wound on him. Sanji manages to let out a dry laugh. Of course his bastard wasn't hurt.

"Would you take his place?" A voice asks. Sanji doesn't recognize it and manages to lift his head to find Dragon facing him.

"What would that change?" Sanji snaps. "One of us would still be dead and his sacrifice would mean nothing!"

"Would you rather share his fate?"

Yes

But-he couldn't do that to his crew. "Absolutely not!" Dragon smiles as though he saw the hesitation in Sanji's voice. "If you're not going to be helpful, why are you even talking to me? Leave me to my grief."

"What if I offered to bring him back?"

At the cost of my own life? No." Sanji says angrily at the same time Luffy asks, his voice cracking-

"Can you really bring him back?"

If Dragon even suggests trading Luffy's life Sanji didn't care how long it took he would find a way to kill Dragon himself.

Dragon seems to catch that look in Sanji's gaze and says, "the two of you are married, no?" He gestures to Zoro on the ground and then Sanji, who just nods, his voice finally lost to him. "Then I offer you a trade. Tell me why I should bring him back-"

Luffy opens his mouth, but Dragon stops him. "I don't want to hear about his accomplishments, or why the two of you think he deserves it. He's just another human and while this crew has fared both hardships and success tell me why I should care about another simple human?

"Besides the fact his sacrifice earned you the win today?" Sanji says, his voice as cold as ice. "And that he is the first mate on your son's crew?"

Dragon shrugs. "Give me a reason Blackleg and I can bring him back."

Sanji doesn't have one

Or rather-he didn't have one that Dragon wanted to hear.

Everything he wants to say would be trivial in Dragon's eyes.

Zoro has saved the crew on multiple occasions

He was the voice of reason when Luffy was-well being Luffy

Sanji was devastatingly in love with him?

None of that pertained outside the perimeter of their crew, and especially not to Dragon. He looks back up at Luffy's father and there's something familiar in his eyes

pain

It hits him then

There's no answer

It didn't matter what Sanji said Dragon had already decided to help them, but what did he want? For Sanji to tell him how much he loved Zoro and wanted him back?

"Who did you lose?" Sanji finally asks. There had been a cost to Dragon's powers he knew that. Hell Luffy's mother had been the previous vessel, but what did he pay? "There's no right answer to this, not when you've already made up your mind to help us. All of us, except for Luffy are expendable and I think you know that, but I think you also know how important it is that we always have one another. I love Zoro. I don't have anything else to offer. I imagine you wish you had been given the same opportunity you're giving me."

A dark shadow passes over Dragon's face and Sanji fears for a moment he was wrong, but it passes quickly. "Very observant Blackleg. Yes, I lost my crew a very long time ago." Dragon smiles sadly, the memory clearly coming back to him. "If you're willing to pay the price, I will of course honor my end and bring the swordsman back."

"I'm not giving up my life." Sanji argues again.

"You will both live, but the next time one of you dies the other will as well."

Zoro wasn't going to like that, but fuck it was better than being dead. And Sanji would deal with that fight when it came. "Okay." He agrees. "Do I need to know or do anything?"

"You will feel all the pain he felt the moment he died and both of you will be connected through a death mark engraved on your hands."

"But we'll both be alive?"

"Yes, you will both be alive, but will forever be marked by death."

"Then do whatever needs to be done."

Dragon nods and in the span of a blink, snaps his finger.

The pain was immediate and Sanji must turn his head to throw up. It was as though he was burning from the inside out, not from fire, but from ice so cold it burns like hell. Someone is screaming his name-Luffy he imagines, but Sanji is barely able to move, let alone respond. The last thing he sees is Luffy attacking his father, before he slips into unconsciousness.

"Dragon came over and said that he could bring Zoro back." Sanji manages to get his panic under control and accepts the last of the bottle that Zeff hands him. "All I had to do was accept the pain Zoro had felt before his death, accept that our lives would be tied together, and accept this very ominous tattoo." As if to prove a point he holds up his hand with the tattoo again, before downing the rest of the bottle. The burn reminds him briefly of the pain he had felt, and he ends up swallowing some of it wrong and starts choking.

Zeff curses again and hands him a glass of water he had been drinking. "Shit brat, you okay?"

"Fine just-"he shudders again. "Remembering the damn pain. Look-it's fine. By the time I regained consciousness Zoro was still passed out, but Dragon-who had a nice bruise forming curtesy of Luffy, explained that he most likely wouldn't wake up for a couple of weeks." He shrugs. "After that Dragon argued with Luffy for some time before I convinced him we needed to go check on the others. After all we had four members passed out, one without the use of his legs, our skeleton was missing half his body, at the time I wasn't sure how Robin was faring, but I couldn't imagine it was great, and Jinbei had managed to get them all out, but I knew he was hurt."

"And you?" Zeff asks.

Sanji holds his hand up to the arm that had been nearly sliced open. The scar was long gone, but the pain was hard to forget. "I was hurt too, it had been a lot worse than I had first thought, but it eventually healed."

Zeff sighs deeply, "and I guess you were in the middle of a battle. It's good to hear everyone made it out brat. Though I can imagine what kind of toll it took on all of you. Are there any effects this bond has on the two of you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well you're connected aren't you? You can't like-I don't know read one another's thoughts or something? Because if you can a lot of things would make sense."

Sanji begins to laugh. "Nothing like that no. I know where he is at all times-though I don't know the range. Hell, when he first showed up here I knew it was him the second he stepped inside the restaurant." The image he had during his fight with Mihawk comes to mind. "It's possible we can see memories of one another, but I'm not entirely sure how that works." Had he even mentioned that to Zoro yet?

Zeff just shakes his head. "It's always something with the two of you isn't it? You all got out of there okay though?"

"We left quickly after all that." Sanji continues. "Trafalgar Law and his crew travelled with us for months, making sure all of us were healed enough to be able to survive for a while. Our doctor Chopper was forced by Law into a coma to save his life."

"You were heading back to the final island after the fight?"

"Yeah, we still had questions and Luffy had no interest in playing a part for his father."

"Brat-"Zeff pauses as if debating whether or not to ask. Sanji knew, deep in his gut what Zeff is about to ask. "Who or what the hell is your captain's father?"

"You're free to tell him whatever you need too."

Luffy's words come back and he pauses before, "I don't know how well informed you are about the three ancient weapons but seeing as the world government is more or less defeated." He lets out a long breath. "Dragon is the current vessel for the ancient weapon Uranus and is a god of the sky."

Zeff's jaw drops and Sanji stifles a laugh. Has he ever managed to genuinely shock Zeff? "To make matters worse Luffy's mother was the previous vessel."

"Boy toy!" Zeff shouts suddenly. Sanji raises a brow, not expecting that to come out of his father's mouth. "Greatest swordsman-Zoro! Get up here! I know you're down there."

It only takes a moment for Zoro's hands to appear on the railing. He swings his legs over and sits on the rail arms crossed. "You called?"

"Is what the eggplant said true? You died?"

"Protecting my captain yes and if you're looking for an apology for that-"

"That's not what this is about." Zeff holds up his hand to stop him. "No. You did what you needed to keep the rest of your crew safe. I get that. No. I'm mad because the two didn't trust me with truth."

"That's not what this was!" Sanji argues, moving to stand next to Zoro, who gets down from the railing. "I swear to you I was going to tell you eventually. Zoro's death just isn't something we can talk about easily without Dragon's secret coming out." He rubs his arm nervously. "Luffy ordered us to keep Dragon's secret when we left that place. I couldn't tell you how Zoro died without making up some story about how he came back. I didn't want to lie to you so I just…didn't tell you."

Zeff stares at them for an uncomfortable amount of time, before finally sighing deeply. "You're both giant pains in my ass.

Zoro tenses beside him, but Sanji takes his hand and squeezes it once. Zeff was a hardass, but Sanji recognizes the tone in Zeff's voice. "We're good?"

"Of course we're good." Zeff scoffs. "I told you I just wanted the truth. You can have your secrets. I'm sure you do have your secrets, but I just needed-"he pauses.

"To be sure that your boy was alright?"

"You're lucky I like you." Zeff glares at Zoro and turns his gaze to Sanji. "Thank you, Eggplant, for finally telling me the truth. Now go spend the rest of the time you have with your crew." With a dismissive wave of his hand, he turns and walks into his room, closing the curtains behind him.

"You'd think we scared him off." Zoro chuckles, kissing the top of Sanji's head.

"He's not exactly the type to show emotions so that was an 'I love you' by his standards." Sanji laughs. "But he's right. Are you ready to go back?"

Zoro just nods and they jump back down from the balcony and onto the deck.

"Are you okay?" Zoro asks, as they make their way back to the Sunny. "I know that couldn't have been easy to get out."

"It was one of the hardest damn things in my life." Sanji admits, letting out a staggering breath. "I've never been able to tell that story to anyone, not fully. All of you guys were there, but we all had different memories of that fight." He's shaking again and Zoro pulls him closer. "You have no idea how happy I am to wake up every morning with you beside me Zoro, but I still see the moment of your death every night and I don't know how long it'll be until I don't."

It's quiet for a moment until, "I know you don't need to hear it and I know I don't need to say it, but I am sorry Sanji."

Sanji pulls out another cigarette and lights it. He lets out a long stream and lets the smoke dissipate, before facing Zoro. "No. You have no reason to apologize, and I would never expect you too-not after everything we've been through."

"I forgot most of that happened." Zoro admits finally. "With Brook I mean-and Nami and Usopp."

"You saw Nami's arm this morning." Sanji almost laughs.

"And I forgot about it until this morning." He admits. "How-I mean when I woke up on the ship after everything Brook was fine." He rubs the back of his head, almost nervously. "How did he get his bones back?"

"I don't think he ever actually lost them in the first place." Sanji lets out another stream. "After it happened, he was still able to move that part of his body as if he never lost them." He lets out a laugh. "When we got back to the ship after everything Chopper was conscious long enough to snap at Law to give Brook milk from the fridge. I ended up getting it for him because Law was adamant that it wouldn't do anything. I honestly wish you could've seen the look on Law's face when Brook drank nearly a half-gallon of milk and his bones reappeared."

"He was pissed I imagine?"

Sanji tosses the butt into a bin and "He threw the biggest fit and ended up swapping all of our bodies-except yours and Chopper's-for a good hour. Let me just say being in Franky's body while he had no legs was not fun."

"Weren't you all injured? How was that good for any of you?"

"Says the guy who was actually unconscious throughout the whole thing."

"I was also supposed to be dead."

Sanji concedes that with a nod and continues, "Anyways-Law managed to get us back into decent enough shape. You, Chopper, Nami, and Usopp were forced to stay in the infirmary-though none of you put up much of a fight. Franky locked himself in his workroom and within a few days had a new pair of legs. With the help of everyone else we managed to get ourselves back on track to Laughtale."

"Is that why Luffy let Law see Laughtale?" Zoro asks, "because he basically saved our asses?"

"We were pretty badly hurt." Sanji points out. "Honestly, if Law hadn't gotten to Chopper when he did we could've lost him. Not to mention how close Nami and Usopp were to bleeding out." He shrugs. "Luffy was desperate. At the time I was too focused on you to realize how bad the situation was."

"Don't do that." Zoro stops them. "Don't guilt yourself into thinking you were the only one not doing enough. During that fight you were the one the rest of the crew relied on. I heard you helping everyone get out. You did your part and when I died-" He actually shudders at that. "Well I think you were allowed to be distracted-even after I came back."

No one blamed him-he knew that, but the memory of how close all of them were to not coming out of that would haunt not just him, but all of them for a long time. "I'm still debating killing Dragon for all of that." He admits.

Zoro laughs as they make their way towards the Sunny again. "You were the one who voted with us to go!"

"And I regret it."

"Less than a week ago you admitted they needed to be brought down. We saw the history, you know what they did."

"They needed to be brought down I know this but-"

"If I hadn't been able to come back-" Zoro starts slowly. "Do you think you would be here-at the Baratie I mean."

"No." Sanji says so quickly he surprises himself and then sighs. "No. You know how bad I was before when you had just run away. If you hadn't been able to come back I-" He pauses, the Sunny coming into view. "There's no way. I would've needed our crew. I don't think I would even be able to face the old man without breaking down and if I were left here on my own-" Zoro stops and wraps his arms tightly around Sanji, who didn't even realize tears are flowing down his face. "I'm not the type of person who's going to harm himself, but if I were here on my own, I would spiral into a state of depression that I don't think even our friends could get me out of."

"You really think we would've left you here?" Robin's voice appears from Sanji's left. "If you had actually stayed dead none of us would be allowed to leave the ship until we knew for certain they would be alright on their own."

"Honestly Zoro-" Nami sighs from his right. "Stop asking what ifs. Also do you really think Sanji would be the only one upset?" Sanji turns to find Nami, Brook, Luffy, and Jinbei. "You're a pain in the ass, but we would all miss you."

"Thanks Witch."

Nami only grins.

"We're all grateful you're alive Zoro- "Chopper's voice chimes in next to Robin. Sanji turns again to find Robin, Franky, and Chopper. "You have no idea how scared I was when I heard you had died."

Zoro flinches at that.

Shit had they ever discussed this?

Tears start forming in Chopper's eyes and Zoro looks near ready to panic. "I wasn't even able to help in that second fight and all of you fought so hard to protect me and- "Robin picks him up and holds him close.

This must've been what they had been discussing while Sanji was talking with Zeff. Sanji catches Luffy's gaze and is surprised to find their captain glaring at Zoro. No. Not just at Zoro, he was glaring at him too.

Zoro seems to realize it as well and turns to face him. He seems to know what Luffy is about to say as he crosses his arms. "If I hadn't done it we would all be dead. You were the only one capable-except possibly Dragon-who could take down that bastard. I did what I had to do to protect this crew."

Have they never discussed what happened at Mary Geoise? Then it occurs to Sanji that when Zoro had finally woken up Law and his crew had been with them and even after leaving the island Zoro had left and appeared six months later.

"You both ignored my orders."

"The order was bullshit."

Luffy is about to open his mouth when Jinbei cuts in, "Captain you also didn't even remember those orders until twenty minutes ago-and I agree with Zoro. Those orders were bullshit. For one, you know Im wouldn't allow any of us to escape, even if Dragon kept him occupied. Two, after everything we've been through you really think any of us would sit there and watch you die?"

It's silent for a few minutes until Luffy says meekly, "I was so afraid." He's shaking Sanji realizes and in the span of a heartbeat their whole crew surrounds him. "I was so afraid of losing all of you again I didn't care what I had to do- "He catches Zoro's eye. "You jumping in front of me to take the hit was one of the worst moments of my life. When you fell to the floor I was immediately taken back to when Ace died and I just- "he pauses. "I just lost it. I didn't care what the consequences would be that king was mine and he was going to die."

"I think you even scared your old man in that moment." Jinbei says, "before I left the room with the others, I saw Dragon's face. He looked frightened-like he was seeing not his son, but the Pirate King."

Luffy scoffs, "good. After we drop off the fire bastard maybe he'll leave us alone for a while."

"Speaking of-"Nami sighs and looks up to the quickly darkening sky. "We should probably head out."

Luffy quickly wipes away tears that are threatening to fall and grins widely. "Zoro I'll forever be grateful that you're alive and I'm happy you have found a place to call your home."

"Just remember Captain, we're only a call away if you need us." Zoro holds out his hand and Luffy takes it, but not before pulling him in for a hug. A moment later he does the same to Sanji and the rest of the crew follows suit.

Sanji briefly recalls the hug circle they had earlier and laughs. "It's truly been great seeing you all again."

"Sanji!" Luffy grins again, as they all free themselves. "I want another feast when I see you again."

He bows, "only the best for my captain."

Nami and Robin pull him in for a hug of their own and smile before following their captain onto the Sunny's deck.

They all say their goodbyes and wave as the rest of their crew make their way onto the ship. Zoro steps up next to him. "You realize we'll probably see them again in a few months?"

Sanji shoves him. "Of course I know that!" He sees Luffy jump onto his special seat in the front and wave back at the two of them, as they start casting off.

The Pirate King of these seas and easily one of their best friends. Who knows, maybe sometime soon Sanji would ask him to take him and Zoro back to the All Blue. The two of them-along with the rest of their crew would be invited to Usopp's wedding to Kaya. Luffy and Law would get it through their thick skulls that they belong together, romantically or no. Robin and Franky would be the first to have a child. Nami would complete her map of the world and finally go back to the Kingdom of Alabasta to see a certain princess. Chopper would stay with their captain until he's cured every disease plaguing the world. Brook would possibly go back to being a big star, and Jinbei would never leave their captain's side, but all of them would find their own happiness in one way or another.

Sanji grasps Zoro's hand tightly before turning to kiss him and they watched their family sail out until they were nothing but a speck on the horizon.

He couldn't wait for their next chapter to begin.