Author's Note #1: This is going to be a long chapter and it's not because of content. Sorry. This is actually the shortest chapter ever. And I know you guys have been waiting since January for it. I have finished the Speechless (every single chapter is planned, unlike back in January) and I will be updating it weekly until it's done. The chapters are short, as you've figured out. I had to reread it because I almost forgot everything about it. I don't own One Piece. Also, if you didn't know, I was in Washington. As a lover of books, may I say the Library of Congress is AMAZING? And the architecture, it was breathtaking. Please don't be mad at me, I know it's short. I will also be thanking everyone who has followed/favorited up until this point (and will thank you all again when the story is finished).


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 TWO: GOOD FIGHT

Even in the road blocks (yeah)
Even through the rough spots
When you're feeling you've given all that you've got
I'm with you in the next step
Giving you in the next breath
I'll be the voice saying "You're gonna make it"
When you're out there on your own
You are never alone

-Good Fight, Unspoken


XXII


Sanji is trembling. He knows he is.

Stand up, be stronger, Zoro needs you to be strong right now.

Because really everything just boils down to this, boils down to whether or not Zoro will end up in jail, whether or not he's able to go back to his normal life (though what is a normal life after everything he's endured?). Part of Sanji wants to say that this trial is going to determine something else. Whether or not Zoro's coming back to him.

"Sanji!"

Sanji jumps and turns to see Zoro staring at him. He's got his arms crossed, looking pissed. Is he still upset about the judge? Sanji's used to it now, it's something he's been forced to adapt to. Deciding to be silent is something that you do not get treated kindly for.

"I-It's o—"

"It's not okay," says Zoro sharply. "But I don't want to talk about the case right now."

"You only have a few minutes before court reconvenes," says his lawyer, that woman with the purple outfit. She's staring at her watch concerned, and Sanji is sorry he's causing her to worry. He does nothing but cause trouble.

"I need to talk to you."

Sanji waits.

"About … about that kiss."

Sanji looks at the lawyer, who doesn't seem to be paying them any attention. He supposes he can't have much privacy if he's standing in a defendant's lobby during a recess. Sanji shakes his head.

"No, don't do that to me," says Zoro. "I want …" Zoro goes silent for a moment, searching for words. "I want you to explain it to me. I want you to tell me … I want— no, I need, I need you to tell me why you did it. I need to know … to know if you felt it."

Sanji's eyes widen. Is he talking about what he's thinking he's talking about?

Because Sanji can try and tell you how he felt it, what he felt, and it'll come out as a jumble of mixed words that don't make much sense, but it would go something along the lines of "my mind went blank and it was too short and then I forgot my name and I felt like I was on fire and burning and breathing was hard but I wanted to drown". Not very coherent, but if Zoro's telling him he felt it too, he'll say whatever the fuck he needs to.

"What did it mean?"

And that's where Sanji draws a blank because he can't think and he doesn't know what it means. He can't figure that out. He needs someone to tell him because he's never done it before and it makes him wonder if it means the same thing as it does when you kiss a woman because if it is, no matter how confusing, Sanji wants it. He wants it with Zoro.

"I—"

"Time's up, we've gotta get back in the court."

Sanji doesn't miss the look on Zoro's face as he's escorted back into the courtroom.


Author's Note #2: The thank-yous! (There's a lot, it's 2 and a half pages worth of reviews).

HollyWoodFix: Well the hiatus is over! And I've been thinking a lot about that sequel. Gotta finish a couple other stories and a non-released story first before I even think about getting on it, but thank you, lots of people want one now.

Ashlielle: Yeah ... It's been a while. Remember me? Remember this plot even? I didn't, had to reread the entire story. WHY DID I POST IT WITH SO MANY MISTAKES? I can't write on my iPad anymore. Ever.

KleinXDgirl: Thank you, the story is short, if you want a longer one, Beautiful Disaster is finished and long. Sink or Swim has long chapters (it's only 5 chapters, I'm working on chapter 4) and if my heart was a house promises to be RIDICULOUSLY long, if you have patience with the idiots.

Guest #1: Yeah ... Don't know why he turned out so cruel.

Miss Meep: Yeah. I don't know too much about court (only Japanese video games) so, sorry about that.

GPEG: We'll get there. Soon. I promise.

ThePoliceLlama: Yup. I made the court assholes. Because I literally make everyone who is against them assholes who can't seem to be redeemed.

Portgas D. Ava: I can't. Your name made me cry. I am not okay, I am a more educated One Piece watcher and now that I've seen it ... I can never go back. Part of me wants to watch Water 7 again (it was AMAZING) but at the same time, same way I can't watch the Going Merry funeral, I cannot watch Ace.

lilcutieprincess: Yeah, sorry about the long hiatus. And how I couldn't even spell the word back in January.

tenshuni: You're welcome, and now Speechless will be more consistent.

Guest #2: Really? I still don't believe that when people tell me they've finished Beautiful Disaster in one day, it is a MONSTER to edit and I'm still doing it cause I keep getting distracted. It was gone for long. What's your username? I owe you a personal PM for your review/fact that you read that beast.

crystalbluefox: YAY! SENPAI, I LOVE YOU. (coughs into hand with embarrassment, all professional now) WHAT?! NOOO! (and professionalism is gone, as usual). I can't stand sad fics like that, I can only read stories that make me cry with happiness when the idiots finally get it together! Only 9.999? Should I just round to 10? If you even remember writing this review? Cause I admit, it was a LONG time ago.

ranchan-akari: Sorry, I read your username and thought of Mouri Ran and how Shinichi said "Ran" and then she ran. Sorry if you have no idea what I'm talking about. That's a question I will answer later.

Guest #3: Sorry it took so long.

Shadow Lily Potter: I don't doubt you haven't read this in months, if you remember it.

Nara Kimidare (x2): Yup. That's Sanji. At least, my version of Sanji. God I make myself envious of Zoro and Sanji so much. WHY CAN'T THEY BE REAL?!

Saemoon: Yeah ... I made them bastards. Because anyone who doesn't ship Zoro and Sanji deserves to die. (Kidding. Not really.)

villagernumber40: Was watching Haikyuūu and the episode I just watched was called "Town Person B" so yeah ... Thinking about that. Thank you!

ShitCook: Yeah. Everyone's an asshole.

Guest #4: I've updated now, sorry it took forever.

Syl: Arson is when someone purposefully sets fire to a building. And I have continued! If you remember the story at all.

betsybugaboo: Yeah ... There's a dojinshi on it and I wanted to read it but it was in Japanese. Dammit. Just another reason for me to doubly my efforts to properly learn Japanese.

Kat (x3): Yeah, so ... I'm updating now.

Guest #5: I love Sanji any way I make him. Wow that sounded weird. We'll just have to see what happens.

Maritere125: I am updating now! TADA!

Tamul-chan9090: Yeah, I love cute relationships.

Megenehason ZOSAN-LAWLU LOVER (x4): So it's safe to say I have a new fan? I wrote that first chapter on my way to school while bored. Good use of spare time, huh? I always like to leave an impact with the last sentence of a chapter and I was thinking about Dexter, so yeah, serial killer Zoro. I blame the earrings. I was really nervous about my characterization of Robin since I had never done her before. She wasn't in Beautiful Disaster either. Have you read that? So yeah ... first appearance in fanfiction and I wanted to do her justice. Hopefully I did it right.

Now the thank-yous for:

Favoriting: 1eyedowl, 420BLAZINGITUP, Aj the human, Annabeth2011, AoiStrawberry, Ashlielle, Aura Law, Azurai Wolf, BlackWingedDemon, Blackdraumdancer, BringOnTheChaos95, BubbleToMyTea, Captain Hiei, CiCi125, Cottonpaw, CrossoverLover2013, Cyanoccus, DarkerThanBlack1209, DeathlyRanger, Demon Kai13, Diaclover269, EmperialGem21, Fhia, GPEG, HeavenHellanime, HollyWoodFix, IAmTheTaintedAngel, ICherishMyFangirlism, JeamesDeanMyQueen, Jenjenjojo1012, JustCallMeLucie, KAGUYA-hime0706, Kakashi's Library, Kathi1225, Keera12, KleinXDgirl, LadyZiggyStardust, Legolas. ., LightTheDarkness14, Lynaru-chan, Magic126, Marshmallow Pirate, MarvelousWonders, Megenehason ZOSAN-LAWLU LOVER, Mikey-san, Mizohu, Moony the Mature One, MopingBlues, Move-2-da-beat-femme, Mrs. Meanie, MysticWaterWolf, Nara Kimidare, NaruHinaLuvr13, Nike Scarlet, Nilzkin00, Ninjdragon, OnePieceDoesExist, , Pii, Pineapples, RedWolf Lover, RidiculousJabbi, RoxanneTaylor, RyuuTsukiko, ScarletDragonClaw, Shadowsanji, ShitCook, Shizuka Taiyou, Skywillow, Son Kumkio, Starawesomeness2, SunnyDe, Sylvia Muller, Tamul-chan9090, ThePoliceLlama, Tohveli, Vienna09, Wintr, Yunalecia, animelovertillend, babygirl2224, blueexorcistfansince2012, bronze andromeda shun, .m, crazycocoa00, crystalbluefox, dominygringa, eyes0nme19, fanfiction lover 228, humgranola, , jojich, , kurodaddy, leoqueen27, loverwolf, lupcy, mewsugarpudd, nekonesan, razephyr, rudesventure, sanaja, siberianRS, spectris123, tuckwoo, villagernumber40, xX Zeode Xx, xxsoniaxx, yukichama, zabani-chan (sorry if the site won't let me write your name)

Following (before this, let me just tell you there are 192 of you, more than there were for Beautiful Disaster, and secondly, I am sorry you're all getting a notification e-mail so late!): 0-Serendipity-0, 1eyedowel, , 420BLAZINGITUP, 666nyancat, 02181014, ArieDLokie, Aj the human, Alanna Darkfeather, .11, Angyield, Annabelle Swift, Annabeth2011, Anri-chan, AruRmx, Ashielle, Aura Law, Azurai Wolf, B.A Victoria, Blackdraumdancer, Bokmal14, BubbleToMyTea, Captain Hiei, CaptainNapkin, CecileGB, Chaneta, CiCi125, Cottonpaw, CrAzY'pOtTeR'fAn, Cvrious, Cyanococcus, Daisuke Kazamatsuri, DeathlyRanger, Demon Kai13, Destiny Aitsuji, Daiclover269, DraconisLily, Dragon6125, Dyloa, EmperialGem21, Feares Solen, Fedski, Fhia, Gumbyfair, HeavenHellanime, HollyWoodFix, IAmTheTaintedAngel, ICherishMyFangirlisn, INCUBUS3, Imsotiredxc, July's fantasies, KAGUYA-hime0706, Kakashi's Library, KappasRule, Kathi1225, Keera12, Keitsu Han'ei, Lady Histoire, LadyZiggyStardust, Leannamiko, Legolas. , LettersLover, LightTheDarkness14, LiMizFuNsiZe, Lithium012, Lorelei95, LorieLreader, Lynaru-Chan, Magic126, Maritere125, Megenhason ZOSAN-LAWLU LOVER, Michi-chi, Michikuni Mayu, Miss Meep, Mizohu, Moping Blues, Move-2-da-beat-femme, , MysticWaterWolf, Nara Kimidare, NaruHinaLuvr13, NinaRose475, Ninjdragon, Non-Original Name, NotExactReflection, Oktoberskies101, OnePieceDoesExist, Picu, Pineapples, Plume-now, Rabid Mite, RedWolf Lover, Rejah, Ringochan94, RyuuTsukiko, Sadekuuro, Saemoon, Shadow Lily Potter, Shadowsanji, Shastakine, Sherry-ShikaLover, ShitCook, Shizuka Taiyou, Son Kumkio, Soul Kagome, Spad3z, SpiritMusician, Subaru's dreams, SunnyDe, SwordsgirlJackie, TKS-bishies, Takrno, Tamul-chan9090, Tatsuki74, ThatOneUndertakerFan, ThePoliceLlama, Tohveli, Unicornbaby5, VeryFineAutumn4869, We Can Be ExtradinHARRY, WritingLoser, Yunalecia, Zrsj, aadamoo, abidaisy, alts92, animelovertillend, aninonymm, arunmryuu, bakayaro onna, bakeum44, bed of nails and sandpaper, betsybugaboo, black. , bloodyredfox, blossomerry, blueexorcistfansince2012, bronze andromeda shun, .m, ceeeeeeeec, .e.27, chibi oruichi, clementyneoh9, dominygringa, dyingmockingbird, ema670, fullbleach, .12, hourhercrevan, humgranola, indescribable music, , jojich, k-chii, , kitty-cat-666, kuollut98, kurodaddy, leon-andrew, lilcutieprincess, lovewolf, lunafly123, lupcy, minichampi, misha-usa, moonrise heart, moonsmile931, nekonesan, nero922, ninjalena, ougley, ranchan-akari, razephyr, roaer, rydesventure, sanzaya, shadows in the fire, shikanta17, siberianRS, silverfox45, slo19969, sweetkakes35, theLoveablyLovelyNinja, tomari, tuckwoo, villagernumber40, xXKaidaXx, xX Zeode Xx, yukiichama, zabani-chan, zymiko

I really am sorry it took so long, but I honestly appreciate everyone who's read this story. Sorry if you've gotta re-read it to remember. The next chapter comes next week. I swear, I'll try to make it longer. I hope you're all still with me.

Question for this chapter: Miss me?