Author's Note: Okay in like, 2 chapters we'll be where I really want us to be and then I can have more fun and the chapters will get slightly longer and you'll definitely get 1000 words per chapter at least, as someone who likes length, these short chapters are killing me ... Also, I've decided to change the format the slightest bit. Each part of this story is named after a song and the lyrics will be there. I don't own One Piece, I own a One Piece wallet that came with this adorable picture of the crew (minus Franky and Brooke) chibied celebrating ... Luffy's birthday? I think. Sanji's kicking Zoro while holding a cake in one hand and Robin and Nami are smiling at the camera and it's really cute! Warning, it's a big part of the song, it's the bridge and it's ridiculously long. I've decided to post early!


Speechless
By: Setkia


Full Summary

Sanji is a cook at the Baratie who, for a reason not fully understood by all the other cooks, has not spoken a word in three years. He goes through his life normally, communicating through paper and pen. He hasn't felt the urge to speak since he's decided he would never speak again. Things change though when one day, while taking out the trash, he accidentally runs into the "Demon the Streets".

Roronoa Zoro, the "Demon of the Streets" is a mystery but he's feared by everyone who hears his name. He's on the run from the police with a wanted poster and a big prize if he's found and captured. With an accidental wrong turn, he encounters a strange man with long legs and blond hair. Zoro learnt pretty early on that in his line of work, you don't get attached to people and yet somehow this cook is working his way through his barriers.


PART ONE: BATTLE SCARS

On and on, like we're living on a broken record.
Hope is strong, but misery's a little quicker.
Sit, and we wait, and we drown there,
Thinking, "Why bother playing when it's unfair?"
They say life's a waste, I say they lack belief.
They tell me luck will travel, I tell 'em that's why I've got feet.
Left, right, left, right,
Moving along to the pulse of a heartbeat.
This could be the last chance you have to fly.
Do you like the ground? Want it to pass you by?
Man, you had it all when you were just a kid.
Do you even remember who you were back then?
What do you want in life? Will you be twice as strong?
What would you sacrifice? What are you waiting on?
-Battle Scars, Paradise Fears

XIII


There's a knock on the door.

Sanji sits up straighter and holds up a finger for Zoro to wait a moment, not that the man has much of a choice. "Every four hours, change his bandages," Chopper had said. Sanji plans on doing just that. He won't have the Marimo injured under his watch.

Sanji opens the door to see Ace standing in the hallway, frowning. The fireman looks over Sanji's shoulder at the green-haired man and sends him a suspicious look. "Oi! Moss-head!"

"Don't call me that," Zoro snaps.

"I'll call you whatever I want as long as you've been accused of arson, you little asshole!"

Sanji's eyes widen. Arson?

Zoro's eyes widen in surprise as well. "Arson?" he repeats. "Does this have anything to do with that Smoker guy?"

Ace frowns and glares at Zoro. "Yeah, it fucking does. Look, I'm not on the best terms with the officer in the first place, I've seen him around, heard rumours about him and all that shit but he keeps knocking on my door telling me it was an arsonist and then of course, he jumps to the only possible person responsible. You."

Sanji feels like his stomach is sinking. So it's true. Ace does know. And he hasn't told anyone? Why?

"I didn't fucking do it," Zoro snaps at Ace, glaring. "What reason do I have to do it? I've never seen that fucking building in my entire life, you think I just lit 'em up for fun? I don't play with fire." His voice sounds like venom, as though he's ready to attack at Ace harshly and the only reason he isn't doing so right now is because he doesn't have his swords with him. Suddenly, the title demon makes sense to him. And suddenly, Sanji feels an emotion that he had felt so much, he couldn't possibly feel it anymore. Fear.

"Well the lab brought back a report on the whole incident, it was arson and so of course, Smoker thinks you did it."

"Well tell the fucking nicotine addict that I wasn't even in the fucking vicinity or whatever bullshit he's claiming! I'm hardly the only escaped criminal on the streets!"

"You're the most recent one, the one who everyone's talking about," Ace says. "They practically put a bounty on your head."

"They know I fight with swords, it's in my file or whatever the fuck they have on me, if they want an arsonist, they should look towards Cabaji or some other lunatic like that!" Zoro shakes his head. "I didn't do it, I'm not fucking stupid, I don't have a death wish!"

Ace turns to Sanji. "How do you even trust this guy? You found him on the streets, probably bloody from what I can guess, and you just took him in? He could be planning to kill you in your sleep! Why are you letting him here? Do you trust this psycho or something? Why the fuck are you doing this? You're putting yourself in danger for no reason!"

Why am I doing this?

Because he's me.

Because he's full of fire.

Because he's tired.

Because he was hungry.

Because I like the sound of his voice.

Because … Because I like him.

Sanji takes a moment to breathe. He can't say any of these things. Partially because he won't let the sound slip from his lips, partially because he can't stand to hear his scratchy, hoarse, husky voice, partially because he thinks it's self-explanatory, but ultimately because he doesn't know what he means when he thinks of the word "like".

Instead he takes the channel guide and a pen from his pocket, writing out his next words carefully.

He didn't do it. Knowing the Marimo, he got himself lost and couldn't find his way back. He got into a fight, didn't know where he was or what he was doing. He's right, he fights with swords, he doesn't use matches.

Ace stares at Sanji, without words.

"But—"

Ace's fury is abruptly cut off by the opening of the door and his younger brother's raised voice, saying the very words that stop Sanji's blood.

"Guys, the police is downstairs. They're looking for someone. Some guy named Roronoa Zoro."


Author's Note #2: The thank-yous and yeah, it's gonna take a while before I change all the tenses of the chapters ... Be patient, I know it reads weirdly.

bloodyredfox: You'll get it, I swear! it's coming.

Tsukino Aisuru - A: I have the moment he speaks planned. I won't tell you when it'll happen, that's ruin the surprise, but yeah, it's gonna be important. Maybe not as important as you think but ...

Random Person: No, he's not sure if he's ready for the answers that Zoro might tell him when he asks the questions.

lilcutieprincess: Yup, I've updated ... Why do I feel like this story is just going downhill?

Okay my question for this chapter: do you think Sanji's stupid for taking Zoro in, despite being a convicted criminal (which Sanji knew at the time) and housing him, despite the consequences he might face?