The roommate

It has been four months according to Sanji's lines, and the atmosphere was very strange between his kidnappers. He wasn't sure why or what was going on, as usual, but he could definitely tell they going to start something. That so called "something" was going to be big, not that Sanji could even participate in it, but he hoped it won't hurt him more than he already was. Damn he wanted a bath, badly! He never would have thought he would admit it in his life, but a bath was the best thing he had ever had! The fuckers wouldn't let him take one, saying it a waste of water - fuck them!

When he needed to pee, they let him out and technically pushed him to the bathroom area and right back to the cell after he finished. He hated their treatment so much: they looked at him like he wasn't even human anymore. They start to hang around there for more time than before, which made Sanji uneasy and tense to do his daily lines. But he still did them, when they didn't watch him.

It was then when things start to really change. Zeff didn't appear in front of him anymore, and Sanji could not stop himself from wondering what the hell this crazy old man was up to now.

He knew for a fact that he hated his father and would do everything to end his life, but as for his reason, Sanji was lost. It felt empty to even think about the happy times with the old man, the times that Zeff had let him try his cooking, the times he made him lunch boxes, and taught him things he didn't know about the kitchen.

And every time Sanji remembered those times, it was like being stabbed in the chest over and over again. The tears would start go to his face, and he hurried to wipe them away. To hide his pain from his kidnappers and from the world. It was so hard on him in those times…that he thought he would lose his mind.

Then it happened. It was a fight between them and the old man who had finally shown up again. He looked so defeated and wounded, but he still looked strong in Sanji's eyes. That look shocked him to the point that Sanji could not process or understand anything that was happening. He really wanted to ask but his mouth didn't move; he just froze, looking at the defeated Zeff on the floor.

"It's done, boss, from now on we're doing what we want, not you! The revolution will start now! You can stay in that cell with your precious kid over there. You can both die here together, isn't it nice?" The long-haired guy pinned his sword to the old man's shoulder when Zeff only snored at his words.

"You're all useless fools that going to die! Mark my words!"

"Ahh, now to your new grave…oi kid, I hope you're happy now that you have company with you." The long-haired guy laughed, and more people came to shove Zeff to Sanji's cell. It was a little crowded, and Zeff's body was too big, but it worked out somehow. Zeff sat on the floor with curved back

Still frozen, Sanji didn't move. He wasn't sure what to do or how to act at that moment. He was so angry at him before that he wanted to take revenge on him so much, and now, he could. He finally could, but something was wrong with him. He could not move his body or take his eyes off him. He was so shocked, and then the old man spoke

"Soon they'll come, little eggplant. So you'd better behave yourself!" he scolded him with his gruff voice like he was a little kid that going to steal a cookie from a jar. It was so ridiculous and nonsensical to Sanji that he started to laugh.

Sanji's empty laugh came out in full, and soon, he felt the anger risen up in him. Great, now he sure wants to kill this bustard again! And he could do just that.

"What the hell?! Who do you think you are?!" Sanji screamed and got up to his feet. His body shook, and he felt weak and unstable, but he didn't care! Not in front of this asshole that dared to keep preaching him like he was his parent. It disgusted Sanji to no end!

But before he could do anything more to him, Zeff threw at him a small backpack and said, "From now on we need to save our strength since you just piss me off you go to this side of the cell, and I'll be in the other side." When he finished, Zeff took his other backpack, which looked bigger than the small one. Sanji was stunned for a moment but recovered fast

"What the hell is in those?!..and why should I listen to you?!" he said with anger and hatred.

"That is your part of the food, and this is mine." He pointed to his other and bigger backpack, and Sanji quickly connected the dots. So that how it was, that selfish asshole!

"Why's yours bigger?! Like hell, I'm going to let you have it!" Sanji raised his knife at him, but Zeff hit his head strong enough to make him fall to the floor.

"Shut it, little brat! I'm the bigger one, so I need more food than you. Now, do what I say, or I'll kick you to death!"

Sanji knew when something was pointless to argue, and he felt too weak to fight him in his state, so he decide to wait for now. Maybe when he got a little stronger physically, he could attack when he slept. This man had to sleep at some point right?

"Fine!" he said with no will and took the small backpack in his arms. The old man sneered at him and went to the other side of their cell, showing his back to him with the big red cloak he wore completely obstructing Sanji's view.

With a closer look, Zeff was way bigger than him, and he could crush him if he wanted to. So Sanji guessed that he was lucky this time and retreated to his corner of the cell, checking the contents of the bag carefully.

"Don't waste food. We might have to stay here for a while, and don't count on them to give you anything"

Sanji looked away from the wall to Zeff's back. His words were harsh, but Sanji knew he needed to know this, and that meant that this small bag was his only food left to survive. He didn't want to believe the old man's harsh words, but from what he seen, they didn't seem too happy to feed him in the first place, so it might be true, and Sanji wanted to be prepared for anything that came and survive this shitty place, so he going to listen to him. Only for now since he wasn't in any position to resist him.

Those were the last and only words he said to him, and Sanji still was pissed off so much! What was was he trying to achieve here anyway and why? Sanji didn't care or want to know. The only thing that was important right now was to survive, and he had to admit that getting angry so much took a lot of his strength away. The strength he needed. So he decided to concentrate on keeping his strength and to preserve the food that left for how much he could.

The days become weeks by Sanji's lines, and they were alone in that room. Sanji wondered where all the other people Zeff had controlled went off to- it seemed like they betrayed him just like he betrayed Sanji. He deserved it, Sanji guessed, but it didn't made him happy.

Sanji wanted to believe that this would make him happy, but it didn't. This pain was horrible, and he didn't wish it on anyone else, not even the old man. He knew it was stupid, but that how he felt.

The weeks started to grow for Sanji's lines, until he had to find another place to do them. He guessed it was over three months because the lines didn't lie. The little food become much less, and he was thirsty, but he didn't worry. He still had the food of the old man, after he finished with him. The hunger killed all his will to fight right now…it just been so long of only the two of them in the silent cell.

His head started to think long and depressed thoughts about what he was before all this and about what he had done with it, all his luxuries. And he realized how it destroyed him and how spoiled he was. He used to throw so many things out that he didn't like, toys he didn't like, clothes he didn't like, food he didn't like.

And now, he looked at his scrawny hands and the little bread he had left. How could he do that?! He felt so bad about what he had been. He had been throwing away so many leftovers in the kitchen in spite of the cooks' warnings; he never did listen to anyone or think about others that might not have food at all.

He was a horrible selfish and spoiled brat who didn't think about anyone else. Maybe, the old man was right when he scolded him all those times and yelled at him and insulted him, and that hurt more than anyone's words in the entire world that Sanji had heard in his life. The tears started to fall again, but he didn't made any sound.

In these moments he swore – he would never throw food away again! Unless it was poison, and he would never let anyone feel this hunger feeling again, no matter what. That was what he swore to himself in the silent cell.

The time came. It was now or never, Sanji knew, and he made himself stand up. He ate the last bread and turned to the old man who just sat there and didn't move.

If he didn't win, he would die from hunger, so he had no hesitation or doubts this time. He had to finish it quickly since he was weaker, and with this decision made, he sneaked closer to the old man's back, ready with his knife, but when he jumped at him to hit his chest, he fell backward on the floor with wide eyes. The old man was skinnier now than him, and his backpack was full.

What was going on? Something was off; Sanji was sure he would have more food but started to doubt himself. What was he thinking, this man?!

"What the…Why?!...How?!..."

"What are you come here for brat?! Can't you wait a little longer?! What a spoiled little shit you are!" The look of his skinny and pale body scared Sanji to no end.

"Why…why didn't you eat that…why did you do this?! I don't get you stupid old man!" he screamed, and the scream hurt his throat, but he didn't care. He had had enough of him and his shit! He needed some reason, or he really was going to go insane, and it was all this old man's fault!

The old man looked at him tiredly and then at the wall again.

"You and me…" he started, and Sanji looked straight into his eyes.

"We share the same dream, the dream I could not reach, but you…young brat…you can still reach it. You have to reach it, don't ever forget that." His voice was soft and calm, he look like a heavy burden had fallen from his shoulders, and he laid down on his back on the floor.

Sanji stayed there with wide eyes, so many things going through his mind. He never knew they shared the same dream. Why didn't he tell him anything? Why couldn't he just say it from the start? This old man was so stupid! And for the first time, he felt at peace.

Someone accepted his dream, and he encouraged it, and he shared his dream. He didn't feel alone, even if he didn't like the old man at first…tears fell down from his eyes again. But these tears were not tears of sadness or pain, these tears were of deep relief.

The old man went on as if to say his last wish

"I always wanted to start a restaurant in a castle, a place that designed to suppress and rob the people will become a place that will actually feed them for free. Ha, isn't it be ironic.."

After that Sanji didn't remember much of what happened; only that big explosions occurred with earthquakes, and soldiers destroyed the door and the bars. He guessed he fainted, but he wasn't sure.

TBC