A/n: Okaaay so there are some things I wanted to say first before you begin reading.

1. I try very hard to keep the characters in character, because I hate it when they're too OOC and do things that are extremely OOC. But then, when you write fan fiction and make up your own stuff, you end up interpreting the characters your own way. So I just wanted to say that I'm trying very hard to keep everything in character and wanted to apologize before hand if anything seemed OOC. It's just how I think it might happen, in the given situation, that's all~

2. Like i said before, some things might be repeated because every character is perceiving the same things separately. So whenever I explain things in a different character's POV, it'll be the same thing (maybe) but how they interpret it. I.e this is just a warning for repeated information.

3. Here, things are described more clearly than before, when I was explaining things in Sanji's POV, because this is in Zoro's POV and he wasn't affected by the gas as much as Sanji was, making him recover faster than Sanji. Also, OOCness in both the previous chapters and the upcoming chapters, will all always be under the influence of some drug/gas/sleep/alcohol or the like. So no worries about that.

That's all then! More angsty angsty stuff heere! Read on and enjoy!

P.s I have to admit this chapter kinda killed me inside. Just a teeny tiny bit. I am a major sadist after all ahahaha~

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Chapter 15

The first thing Zoro noticed after he opened his eyes, was that his head hurt like a bitch, and someone was constantly screaming and it didn't make things any better. It only served to heighten his migraine and he had to shut his eyes for a time to get rid of the black and white spots dancing in his vision. Once he could see reasonably well, he found that he was in some sort of huge, spacious dungeon.

The room was completely made of large black tiles and the only light came from the vertical saber-like tube lights that ran along all four walls, alternating between square black pillars that protruded from the walls. The two edges of the pillars glowed a sort of dull milky-blue coloured light, the same light that continued down to the tiles on the floor that led to a slightly elevated portion in the middle, where they ended.

On top of the raised portion of the floor was a black-metal contraption of some sort, that looked like it was meant for punishment, complete with hooks and ridges and cables and whips of different sizes and girths. It had two parts, one was the main framework made of black metal and silver accents, while a smaller bit protruded forward from the perpendicular beam on top. This protrusion had a circular wheel like thing in the middle with a slot for whatever it was they decided to use for the punishment. Right then, a black whip was attached to it and the wheel was spinning, lashing whoever it was was tied up to the frame.

And that's when his slow brain put the pieces together. In the middle of the contraption was a blond man he knew all too well, his pale naked body strung up with the cords and tightly held in place, while the whip continued to flog his chest, ripping the milky white skin and leaving behind purpling and bleeding cuts. The wheel moved along the axis from left to right, striking the blond everywhere. The man was screaming his lungs out, tears streaming down his face that was contorted in agony, blood pouring down from the fresh wounds, pooling around his knees. The crimson liquid almost looked horrifically beautiful against his pale, nearly translucent flesh. Then there was a sudden maniacal laughter that Zoro noticed didn't belong to the cook or him and he turned his head as much as his restraints would let him and the rage exploded through him like an erupting volcano.

On a throne like seat made from the same black tiles and the same glowing lights, sat that psychotic faggot Zoro had seen back in the factory. His brain was on overdrive already and recalling the man's name was the least of his concerns. The guy was surrounded by three prostitutes who – thank god for them - looked petrified, as they looked on at the torture unfolding before them.

The man simply tilted his head back and chortled happily, running jewel adorned hands through shining ivory strands of hair. Something moved beside him and Zoro realized there were guards standing on either side of him. One of the men motioned to the crazy psycho and he leered at Zoro from his spot on the high chair. He stretched a hand and curled a finger, indicating Zoro had to be brought closer to them and he was forced forward, scrambling on his knees as they prodded and pushed him.

He stopped exactly in between the chair-throne and the contraption, giving him a clear view of Sanji's face twisted with pain and his earsplitting screams. As the swordsman looked on, it didn't even seem like the blond was conscious. He seemed to be simply screaming from the pain because his reflexes told him he was being hurt.

When Sanji let out a scream that was an octave louder than the rest, Zoro lurched forwards, forgetting about his cage-like bonds and tried to make towards the man. But he was immediately pulled back by his hair and he let out a fierce growl, earning him a stinging lash on the back from one of the many whips that adorned the contraption a few feet from him. He shouted out at every whip, not because it hurt, but because he couldn't see the cook getting tortured like that.

After another loud scream from the man, Zoro looked desperately at the deranged pervert sitting on the chair-throne, "Stop it! He isn't even conscious!"

The man merely quirked an eyebrow at him. Zoro continued begging and pleading, the rage and disgust building up in him as he was forced into begging and crying pathetically to someone. He tried to break the wood surrounding his neck and wrists but it was very well made and he couldn't get it to budge. He continued shouting and cursing while begging for the flogging to stop.

"You can flog me instead of him, just stop it! Can't you see he's in pain?!"

The man finally looked at Zoro for a long minute and then flicked his hand, stopping the wheel mid-whip. He turned slowly and eyed Zoro, piercing violet eyes cutting into the swordsman as he kneeled before him.

"You'll take the flogging for him?"

Zoro nodded as much as his restraints would let him and the man guffawed loudly and spat at him. "What gives you the right to even think you can say something so daring?"

Zoro looked at him, his voice too hoarse and broken to retort or question the man.

"Who do you think you are? No no, let me rephrase that. Who are you to him?" he flicked his wrist towards Sanji who seemed to have just regained consciousness. Zoro just stared wide-eyed at the blond, unable to fathom the meaning of the question.

"I- I don't understand-"

"You don't understand? What can there possibly be to understand? It's an extremely simple question. What are you to him? His friend? Lover? Family? Comrade? Something more? Well, what is it then, I don't have all day!"

Zoro opened his mouth, eyes still fixed on the stirring blond, mind trying to come up with some kind of acceptable answer to the man's question. But his mind was being slower than usual and he simply couldn't find an answer. What was he to him? The cook's words echoed in the back of his mind, from a few days ago,

"What is this shitty swordsman? What exactly is this?"

He.. didn't know. Zoro had thought about it. Especially since they'd come to this island. He'd thought about his relationship with the blond, but he'd never really figured it out. The one conclusion he'd reached had left a bad taste in his mouth and he refused to accept it. So then the answer was simple right? Since their crew was here, they were Nakama. They were always Nakama. Right from the second they laid eyes on each other.

Zoro deemed that a reasonable response and opened his mouth to say it, but something stopped him. He wasn't sure what, but there was this nagging feeling at the back of his mind that his conclusion was wrong. That there was something more to it. But then what were they? They definitely weren't friends, the very notion of that made him want to vomit. They weren't lovers either. They hated each other's guts too much for that. That only left strangers or allies or enemies.

They weren't strangers because, well, they definitely knew each other, whatever minimal knowledge it was. They definitely weren't allies either, maybe sometimes, but they were Nakama who trusted each other with their lives, so allies was a little.. And then that just left enemies. They might hate each other's guts, but they definitely didn't hate each other enough to be considered enemies. Once again, they would never betray the other to save their own ass. So in the end, the only plausible inference was that they were Nakama.

But his brain kept screaming NO! in this annoying voice that he knew so well and would get on his nerves endlessly. But then WHAT. He wanted to scream in frustration and cut up everything in sight. It was so frustrating! Why ask him?! Why not ask that stupid curlybrow?! He was sure to have the answer, being the smart ass that he was! Zoro ground his teeth and looked from the blond to the man who was impatiently clicking his nails against the hard armrest. Finally, deciding their lives depended on it, he licked his lips and answered in as bold a voice as he could muster,

"Lovers. We're lovers."

The man stopped mid-tap and raised a perfectly arched eyebrow at him, mouth twitching in either amusement or irritation, which, Zoro would find out soon enough.

"Oh really now? Lovers is it? Then you had no qualms with your lover sleeping with other men and women?" he said the word like it was a joke and that pissed Zoro off immensely. Fuck that perverted sadist if he had any right to lecture him about how to be a good lover.

"Well, I wasn't exactly in a state where I could do anything about it and I'm sure you can testify that."

The man snorted and waved him off. "That's no excuse at all. As excuses go, that's at rock bottom. You should be willing to get up from your grave to save your lover."

Zoro vowed that he would personally slice this fucker up piece by fucking piece.

"Well if I'm dead, I'm no good am I."

The man simply yawned and slumped back in his chair-throne. "Yes, well I'm bored of arguing with you, so let's get back to more enjoyable things shall we?"

Zoro opened his mouth to protest, but the sound died in his throat when a soft rasp echoed across the room.

"Marimo?"

Zoro whipped his head towards the blond, the side of his neck cracking painfully against the hard wood. But he didn't care two hoots for that or the flogging he was going to get. Seeing those bright blue eyes stare at him in confusion and relief and pure, innocent recognition, Zoro wanted to tear at his chest and rip his heart out.

Sanji looked like a starved, lost puppy, all energy gone, on the verge of death, when he finally recognizes his master and weeps tears of joy before giving in to the beckoning darkness. His chest twisted painfully at the thought of the cook dying. Because of him. Because he was weak. He ground his teeth and looked desperately at the man, afraid to say anything in case the psychopath decided to start whipping him again. Sanji's mouth curled into his trademark smirk, blood and saliva mixed with tears, ruining the daunting beauty of it. "I always knew you were a weakling Marimo. You look pathetic."

Zoro felt his head fall limp, his throat pressing against the wood and nearly chocking him. He shook his head, his eyes stinging, his chest burning, he just wanted to run and caress the man and never let him go. He didn't understand his feelings. He couldn't possibly understand them. He'd never felt them before. Maybe once, when a certain raven-haired girl somehow always managed to best him in everything, especially the things he loved most. Her superior smirk would always piss him off but it always egged him on to do better, to try harder, to reach farther. She meant the universe to him and losing her was like losing a part of his soul.

'And what if he died?' his mind questioned and Zoro's eyes widened, his heart thumping so hard against his ribcage, like it would just rip out of his chest and race away.

Suddenly Sanji started screaming again and Zoro looked up, his anger boiling as he watched the whip start hacking away at the raw flesh that was already red and bloody. He turned his head slightly and met the cook's eyes, those unbelievably blue orbs looking at him with so much encouragement and belief, Zoro wanted to scream about what a spineless wretch he was. About how he was a cowardly, pathetic man who didn't deserve to live. Who didn't deserve to be looked at with so much confidence and belief. With so much emotion -so strong, so caring, so gentle.

Sanji laughed then, a strained croaking sound, tears spilling down his face even as the blood spilled down his chest.

"It's ok Marimo. You'll be fine. It's ok."

Zoro shook his head, he couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't understand. Why was this man, who was strung up, being flogged to death, his own blood pooling around him, his screams of agony so sharp and so pained, able to show such a tender and caring expression to someone like him, who couldn't do anything but watch as he bled to death? Why? Why was it that he was still able to smile at him, despite screaming from pain? Why was it that he could even look at him, let alone show him such a gentle face? Why was it that this man, who he had never given a second thought about, was able to make his heart race and twist and crumble in such a way? Why was it, that just seeing those blue eyes look at him and seeing that smile directed at him, made him feel like everything was going to be okay with the world? Why? Why? Why?

The tears spilled down his face even as he shook his head, unable to comprehend the web of emotions that wound themselves around him, not letting him escape or even look away.

Because he didn't want to look away. Because he never ever wanted to look away. Because he always wanted that gentle smile to be directed at him. He always wanted those playful blue eyes to look his way. He always wanted that smirking mouth to belong to only him. He always wanted those kicks and insults and jabs and nicknames to be only for him. He never ever wanted that voice to call out anyone else's name while trembling and shaking in pleasure. He never wanted that body to be held by anyone else. Because it was his. Because it belonged to him. Every part of that shitty cook, including his shitty curly brows, belonged to Zoro and no one else. He was the kind of man that didn't share his possessions with anybody. And the cook wasn't his possession, but something else, something more, something…

"You're ok. You'll be fine. It's all ok."

And everything within Zoro just melted away as the realization dawned on him. So strong, yet so gentle. So intimidating, yet so timid. So dangerous, yet so exciting. He would probably never ever say it out loud or even admit it for that matter. But as the tears poured down his face, his mind finally reached an answer that he could fully accept.

He was in love with the shitty curlybrow.

A/n: Aaaah yeah well. I've always wanted Zoro to suffer with his simple brain and think things through for once without any outseide help. I've also always wanted him to admit to himself that he's fallen in love with Sanji. And I'm sure all of you have too so I hope that bit made everyone happy :D

I wanted to add in a bit about the girls too, but decided to leave that for next chapter. So yeah, sneak peak: Nami and Robin stay behind in the clinic and wait for Amoret to go do whatever it is she claimed to be too important to wait and when the clinic gets raided, the two women somehow manage to escape, but find themselves in the red-light district surrounded by hundreds of lusty males and females. Will the two manage to escape before Amoret finds them missing, or will the constant bad-luck the crew seems to have, cause them to end up in the same situation Zoro and Sanji did when they first arrived? (Will mostly be in Nami's POV because I adore her waaaay too much and wanted the girls to have a pretty important scene in the story.)

That's all for now!

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