Part X: Kill Quietly

"If there's anything else I can bring you, Young Master…"

Sanji glared at the wall. His blue eyes were transfixed on the slight deviation in the material; a tiny dent in the smooth surface of pale grey. The wall was textured, almost like stone, and bare; free of any décor or personalization. Those four walls were undeniably familiar. He grew up here, but it was never home.

"There's nothing I want," Sanji replied, his eyes still focused on the tiny imperfection.

"If you change your mind, Young Master," the attendant announced, backing toward the door, "Call on me."

Sanji closed his eyes. He'd been staring so intently that the little blemish was stained into his vision. I'm just like that blemish, Sanji thought, A tiny, insignificant dent on the vast, smooth wall that is the Vinsmoke family.

Sanji picked at the bandages beneath his clothes. They were wrapped tightly and it itched his sensitive skin. He squirmed in his chair, hardly able to resist scratching at his arms and legs. It was the first time in months that he'd been in real, honest to God, air-conditioning and he was so uncomfortable it didn't matter. He groaned loudly in discomfort and dropped his head to the desk.

He fingered the objects on his desk purposefully. Each one had meant something to him when it was chosen. But now he couldn't recall the stories behind half of them. He vaguely wondered if it was the Memoriae or simply time that had worn down his memories. He picked only one object up, a glass figurine of a dormouse. Even though the room was spotless, an undoubtedly cleaned in his absence, the dormouse was covered in a film of dust. He was examining the figurine when he caught his reflection in the mirror beside him. He was smiling so foolishly at the thing. He shook his head and set the dormouse back down, roughly, causing the glass figurines to clink together noisily.

There was a creak in the floorboards and Sanji spun around in his chair. He searched the empty room with his gaze, his blue eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Old houses creak, Young Master," his nanny used to say, "There's nothing to fear. Nothing's coming into your room…" Sanji laughed aloud. The sound seemed to rouse him from his dreary recollection. He adjusted his tailored suit and stood, the cotton bandages straining beneath his clothing. He walked across his large suite, kicking open the closet doors. He peered inside before next peeking under the bed. He investigated the entire bedroom's hiding spots thoroughly, feeling rather foolish before the end.

He sat on his bed and kicked off his shoes. They were fine shoes; beautiful Italian leather. They were much nicer than he'd worn in years. They were bought and paid for with dirty Vinsmoke money and therefore he couldn't fucking stand them. His whole ensemble, the whole house, his entire person; he hated it all.

And there it was again- the fucking creaking was interrupting his sickening round of self-loathing and pity. He stood up and smashed his foot down on the floor, searching for the soft spot in the floor. He stomped around his bedroom like an irate child before sinking back onto the foot of his four-post bed. He pretended to be seething in rage, but he was honestly just out of breath and in pain.

He slumped forward and rested his head in his hands. He knew he couldn't stay here. He knew he had to find a way back. He knew that it couldn't be true. There was no way that Luffy could be- A large, rough hand was slapped over Sanji's mouth. "Stop makin' so much noise, you shit," a rough voice breathed out. Sanji nearly hyperventilated as he tried to wrestle out of the larger man's grip. He began to scratch at the hands holding him and only relaxed when he finally recognized the person behind him. "Pfft…" Zoro groaned, shaking his head. "You've lost your touch."

"Zoro?!" Sanji spat, twisting around.

"Shhhhh!" Zoro hissed, pressing his finger against his lips. "Are you trying to get me caught?!"

"How did you find me? How did you get here? Holy shit. How did you get out of the hospital?!" Sanji rattled one question after the other. Zoro looked toward the doors and then back at Sanji. Sanji waved his hand dismissively, "Don't worry. No one's coming in here anytime soon."

"Where's Luffy?" Zoro asked, grabbing food off the tray the attendant had left for Sanji. He shoveled it into his mouth, following it quickly with a drink to wash it down. "I haven't been able to find out where they're keeping him…" Sanji was speechless. He looked from Zoro's expectant face to his bandaged hands in his lap. Zoro swallowed with effort, "What? What's that look for?"

"They lost contact with the truck Luffy was in."

"What's that mean?"

Sanji hesitated, "They don't know where he is."

"Huh," Zoro murmured, nodding his head slowly. He sat on the bed beside Sanji. He was silent for a moment longer before he turned to face the other man, "They wouldn't bomb the place if they didn't know where he was, would they?"

Sanji was quiet. He felt around in his pockets for his pack of cigarettes. He pulled one out and pushed it between his lips, lighting it quickly. He inhaled a long drag before finally exhaling through his nose. "They've lost all contact with anyone who was still in Houston."

"Why was Luffy still in Houston?" Zoro snapped.

Sanji struggled to find the words. Finally he just shrugged, "I don't know why but they arranged for a helicopter to meet them and the truck never made it." Sanji shook his head, "I don't what happened, but before the bombs went off something went wrong with Luffy's ambulance."

"Who knows what happened?" Zoro demanded.

Sanji's face twitched and he smoked furiously, "I don't know, Zoro. They aren't exactly running everything by me anymore…"

"So Luffy never left Houston?"

"We don't know."

"But Luffy's not here?"

"No."

"You're sure. They're not lying to you?"

Sanji hesitated, "They don't have him. I don't trust them, but I know them. They're frustrated. They lost both of them."

"Both?"

"Law didn't make it to the evacuation zone either," Sanji explained. "They lost contact with them after the first bomb dropped."

"So Luffy and Law are missing?!"

"Yeah," Sanji confirmed, nodding his head.

"Then what the fuck am I doing here?!" Zoro growled, standing up.

"Zoro, if he's alive," Sanji closed his eyes when he said it. He shook his head and tried again, "You know, he's on his way here."

"Why here?" Zoro wondered.

Sanji lifted his hand and pointed a single finger, pressing it into Zoro's chest, "Because you're here."

"It would take a fucking miracle for him to think or guess or know I'm here…" Zoro argued. "And I don't believe in fairy tales…"

"Yeah, I know you don't," Sanji agreed with a nod, "But you can believe in Luffy. When he realizes you aren't there, he's gonna come looking for you." Sanji looked up at the ceiling. His mouth dropped agape in shock as he stared at the open vent Zoro had climbed down from and he shook his head, "And you'd better not be dead when he shows up. What are you thinking? Climbing around like a fucking spy in this house!"

"Should I have used the front door?" Zoro questioned with a smirk.

Sanji rubbed his temples, "You are so frustrating."

"What about the others?" Zoro inquired, ignoring Sanji's complaint.

"Chopper's the only other one I've seen, besides you," Sanji admitted. "And they aren't telling me anything. No matter how many times I ask."

"Are they dead?" Zoro wondered.

Sanji sighed, "No way of telling. We may never know."

"You're in a bad mood," Zoro teased, nudging Sanji's shoulder.

Sanji narrowed his eyes, "Don't."

"Don't what?"

"Don't try to cheer me up. It's gross."

"You're gross."

Sanji's face twitched, his curly brows furrowing in annoyance, "Zoro…"

Zoro laughed and turned, facing the barred window. He stared out the window long and hard, his smile faded, "Damn, you're like a little bird locked in here."

"Don't you think the bars are to keep people out?" Sanji murmured, staring down at his bandaged hands.

"Nah," Zoro denied, shaking his head. "This room is just a pretty cage."

Sanji stood, exhaling a cloud of smoke from his mouth as he walked, "You're being gross again." Sanji came to a stop beside Zoro and he stared out the window as well. He smoked slowly, his blue eyes focused on something in the distance. "I've lived a life of privilege. My family is rich and powerful. I have a beautiful home with beautiful things…"

"And you're beautiful," Zoro added, "Lucky bastard."

Sanji smiled around his cigarette, "Yeah, I am." He was sidetracked for a moment. He continued after tossing the hair from his eyes, "But I hate them so much, I'd rather be anywhere else. Just standing here, looking out this window, I feel like tossing myself into the sea."

"I'm pretty sure that's just a lake," Zoro pointed out.

Sanji shook his head and rolled his eyes. He pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath, "Zoro…"

"Sorry," Zoro laughed. "Just trying to help."

"I never wanted to come back here."

"I know."

"Wan' a beer?" Sanji asked suddenly, his demeanor flipping like a switch.

"Hell yeah. Got some?" Zoro grunted excitedly.

Sanji nodded wordlessly. He walked to the other side of the room and lifted a fine, linen tablecloth. He kicked open the mini-fridge hidden underneath and pulled out two chilled bottles of beer. He bit off the cap of his own and handed the other to Zoro. They clinked their bottles together, "Cheers."

"So," Zoro sighed, taking a swig of beer, "Now what?"

Sanji shrugged, "We need to keep up with Chopper. We need to know where he's being moved and when…"

"I thought they weren't telling you anything?"

Sanji frowned, "They aren't."

"How far do you think I can get before they realize I don't belong here?" Zoro wondered.

Sanji shook his head, "That's too dangerous. I need you alive."

"That's sweet," Zoro laughed.

Sanji made a face, "For Luffy. Not for me."

"Alright, pretend you don't like me, it's okay. I'm tough," Zoro teased. "What's the plan then? How can we keep tabs on Chopper from here?"

"We need a spy," Sanji said simply. "Someone who can walk around."

"Okaaay…?" Zoro drawled in confusion. "And how's that gonna work?"

"You need to get the fuck outta my room," Sanji said suddenly. He pushed Zoro roughly. "Go back where you came from."

"Where I came from?!" Zoro shook his head, "Do you have any idea how hard it was to fit in there?!"

"Not my problem," Sanji replied shortly, "I need to recruit someone to my side and I can't exactly do that while I'm harboring a fugitive in my bedroom."

"Well, it isn't a great idea to send the fugitive out there either!" Zoro argued.

Sanji groaned, "Fine. The closet suits you better?!"

Zoro made a face, "Fuck that."

"The vent, the closet, I don't care," Sanji snapped. "Just disappear before I get back."

When Sanji returned several hours later he was drunk. He weaved from side to side, kicking off his shoes. They flew carelessly across the room, one landing under the bed. Sanji reached up to switch on the lights but changed his mind, his fingers trailing down the wall slowly. He looked around the room quickly, his blue eyes surprisingly sharp, before stepping aside and allowing another man to enter the room.

The other man was in a dressed down uniform. He wasn't wearing any armor and most of the buttons of his shirt were undone. He whistled lowly as he looked around the luxurious room. "This is nice. Vinsmoke money, man."

"Pay attention," Sanji murmured, a little too harshly, "You brought in 12-25, right?"

The man wrapped his arm around Sanji, sliding it down his back to his waist. He nodded sluggishly, "Yeah."

Sanji's hands moved surprisingly, his fingers combing through the man's short, cropped hair. His movements were tender and deceptively calculated. He stroked the man slowly, ignoring how urgently the other man moved. Sanji was pushed backward onto the bed, hands fumbling at his belt. Sanji smiled, his blue eyes bright, "That's quite an honor. You were one of the few successful captures…"

The man hesitated, his hands slowing at Sanji's waist, "Yeah. I guess so." The man seemed to mull over something before adding, "It's a shame to think the D Foundation check might bounce."

"How so?" Sanji questioned, tugging at the man's ear gently.

"Well," the man panted, desperately trying to undo Sanji's zipper. "D Foundation is done for."

"So why are you still at work?" Sanji scoffed.

The man abandoned Sanji's clothes, focusing on his own. He unzipped quickly, spreading his legs to adjust his height beside the bed. The man shrugged, "Germa Six Six is paying the bills now."

"So," Sanji murmured, glowering involuntarily as the man placed his hands on either side of his head, "Are you still working with asset 12-25?"

"For now," the man growled irritably. "Why don't you shut up for a minute and just focus…"

Sanji wrapped his legs around the man and twisted, rolling the man onto his back, half on the bed and half on the floor. He straddled the man and looked down with unforgiving eyes, "Where is asset 12-25 right now and when are they moving him?" Sanji leaned down, his lips barely above the man's, "And where?"

The man finally realized that Sanji was not as intoxicated as he had been pretending to be. The man tried to adjust his body, tried to stand, but Sanji kept him in place. "You're a stupid bitch," the man cursed, "There ain't nothing you can do anyway…"

"You've got a nasty mouth," Sanji murmured, pressing his hand against the man's throat. "You were so talkative downstairs, why stop now?"

"I don't have to tell you shit."

"No," Sanji agreed with a nod. "You don't." Sanji slid off of the man's body and gripped him by the collar. He yanked roughly, pulling the man to his feet. The man stumbled along after Sanji into the bathroom, unable to pull free. Sanji shoved the man roughly to the floor, smashing his head into the side of the exquisite tub. He turned on the faucet, stopping up the drain. "But you will talk to me. Won't you?"

"You sure play big and scary but I don't think for one second you'll-"

Sanji shoved the man's head underneath the faucet, holding his head back and forcing the water over his closed mouth and into his nose. The man choked and writhed, his legs flailing. He scratched at Sanji violently, tearing chunks from his face and neck and arms.

"One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten."

Sanji pulled the man out from under the faucet after counting to ten. He shook the man as he sputtered. "Feel like talking yet?"

"Fuck you."

Twenty seconds.

"Where?"

"Russia."

"When?"

"I don't know. I-"

Sanji held the man underneath the faucet for thirty seconds.

"T-tomorrow- god… please. They're moving it tomorrow…"

"Are you on the team?" Sanji questioned, poised to torture the man again.

"I… yes. Yes."

Sanji nodded, "If you're lying to me…"

"I'm not. I swear…"

"Where is he being held?"

"I can't tell you… I can't… they'll kill me…"

"I will kill you," Sanji warned.

"Please, they will kill me for real."

"Who? D Foundation?" Sanji questioned impatiently. "I thought you guys were done for?"

"Germa Six Six…"

"Germa doesn't get their hands dirty." Sanji replied dryly.

The man laughed humorlessly, "Oh come on. Germa Six Six is the one who wiped out the D Foundation…"

Sanji's eyes narrowed, "Explain."

"I can't. I'll die."

Sanji rolled his eyes, "I need a smoke."

"That shit'll give you cancer," the man warned, watching Sanji light a cigarette.

Sanji shrugged, "I don't plan on living that long." Sanji tapped the ash into the nearly full tub. "You should worry about yourself." Sanji exhaled in the man's face, "Tell me what I want to know or you die here today."

"I already told you."

"Yeah, you told me he's leaving for Russia tomorrow," Sanji recited, "That doesn't help me much today."

"That's all I know!"

"No," Sanji refused. "You know where they're keeping him." Sanji gestured around. "They're keeping me here. What harm does it do to tell me? I'm stuck here."

The man seemed to consider Sanji's words. He nodded slowly, "He's in the Keep."

Sanji blanched, his cigarette falling deep into the corner of his mouth, "The Keep?"

The man nodded, "Yeah."

Sanji leaned across the man and shut off the water. He looked at the man critically, "I could kill you and I know you won't go talking…"

"Please…"

"Or," Sanji spoke over the man's plea, "You can walk out of here, leave the compound, and go home."

"I will. I swear. I'll leave…"

"Give me your credentials," Sanji instructed.

The man hesitated briefly before obeying, handing Sanji his identification and keycard. The man licked his lips, "You know those will be useless without my fingerprints and voice, right?"

Sanji smiled, "Is that right?"

The man grew nervous, "Yeah."

Sanji twirled the man's cards around and around, "I'll worry about me. You worry about you." Sanji nodded toward the door. "Now fuck right off. Thank you."

The man left quickly, his head bowed and his face flushed. The moment he was gone Zoro stepped out of the closet. He looked at the floor rather than Sanji. Sanji stood up, brushing himself off, "You get it now, right? When I say to fuck off…"

"Yeah. I get it. No problem," Zoro murmured awkwardly. "I'll fuck off."

"We have to make a choice," Sanji announced. "We can rescue Chopper now and possibly die before Luffy arrives or we can wait until Luffy arrives and possibly lose Chopper forever."

"That isn't much of a choice," Zoro complained.

Sanji agreed, "It isn't a choice at all."

"We're a family," Zoro said softly, still looking anywhere but at Sanji. "When one of us is in danger we can't just wait it out. We have to do something. We have to do it tonight before they move him."

Sanji nodded solemnly, "Agreed."