Author's Note: Sorry for the delay! Writer's block has been kicking my butt lately. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and hopefully the next chapter comes much quicker (:
Disclaimer: I do no own the beauty that is One Piece or any of its characters. Thank the gods for Oda 3
Part One: The Godless Sea
Chapter Six: Double Trouble
Nami is not a monster. She isn't made of rubber or genetically engineered or whatever the hell Zoro is. She is one hundred-percent normal which means dropping into the sea from the top of a cliff with sharp rocks waiting at the bottom is going to hurt. Best case scenario. Her terrified screams fill the air. Wind whips her hair, pulls at her clothes. Nami curses her decision to stand at the very back of their group, hidden behind Usopp and Robin.
Sanji may have called her name. Usop maybe have tried to catch her. But none of that matters now. Now, Nam is probably going to land on a sharp rock. Or in a sea king's mouth. Or-
Something solid slams into her from behind. Strong arms wrap around her waist. In the blink of an eye, she's no longer staring at the sea below but the sky and the cliff above. Someone is behind her, holding her tight. Protecting her from the impact of the water.
She still feels it though. The force rocks through her as they hit, the back of her head smashes against theirs and freezing water sinks into her bones. The arms around her loosen momentarily, the shock of the impact stunned them. Sea water rushes into her nose and mouth, but then tighten again as the darkness begins to set in. Seconds later, she's pulled up. Her head breaks the surface of the water and she coughs and sputters as she bounces with the waves.
Behind her, her savior coughs as well, a slight wheeze in the deep breathes. Warm breath tickles her ear. "Nami." Zoro. That's Zoro's voice. "Are you alright?"
A wave of water crashes down on them, forcing them under again. Zoro pulls them up in an instant, maneuvering their positions so she can wrap her arms around his neck and cling tightly. As he does, Nami realizes there are two very alert eyes looking down at her. Moss green hair, darkened by sea water, is plastered to his head and there's a scar that stretches from the inner corner of his left eye at a diagonal - across the bridge of his nose, to his right cheek. A bit of blood weeps from his right nostril, from where her head had slammed into his on the way down.
"Nami." That's Zoro's voice. This is Zoro's face. But, it's not. "Are you hurt?"
"You're not my Zoro," is all she can manage to say.
Water drips down his face, some droplets flying from his hair as he shakes his head. "No." A green eyebrow raises in concern. "I didn't hurt you, did I? We hit the water harder than I thought we would."
The back of her head throbs a bit as she shakes it. "No. I'm fine."
He beams, despite the waves still crashing down around them. "Good. Sanji would kill me if I hurt you."
Nami is take aback. Zoro looks happy. Not booze happy. Definitely not that creepy "I'm about to stab the hell out of you" happy. Genuinely happy. Like he had on the beach the day they'd met Usopp, teasing the sniper with Luffy. Or, like he had on the Baratie, with her and Usopp, making their captain wait on them. Before life got tough happy.
Then his words registered. "Did you just call him, Sanji?"
She's not sure she's ever heard the swordsman actually use the cook's name. The bright smile is replaced by bemused eyes and a head tilt.
"Hai. That's his name, isn't it?"
A hand drops behind Zoro before she can answer, grabbing onto the back of his green vest. The happiness disappears from his face, replaced by a discontent acceptance. Both arms tighten around her.
"Damn it, Luffy," he mumbles.
Nami's stomach drops. She's seen that look on her Zoro's face enough times to know what's coming next. They're flying through the air seconds later, water flying up around them as they're launched upwards. Nami screams again, hands balling into fists in Zoro's shirt. He holds her a little closer. For a few milliseconds, they're weightless. Then, gravity comes back and they're falling to the ground. Zoro takes the brunt of the fall again, grunting in a vague declaration of pain. Dust kicks up around them as they slide to a stop and a harsh mumble of colorful curses leave the swordsman's mouth. Far more Zoro-like.
"You alright?" the swordsman asks as he sits them up again.
"Nami-san!"
"Nami!"
"Zoooorrrroooo!"
Usopp and Sanji help her up. Luffy - the other Luffy - attaches himself to the Zoro had rescued her. His rubbery legs wrap around his swordsman's torso as he peppers the green haired man's face with kisses. Nami stares. The others do the same.
Other Zoro's face pinches with a mix or annoyance and pain. "Oi, Luffy, cut that out, will you?" Red spreads across his face his a blush. "I thought we've had a conversation about you throwing me places."
"Hai. Hai." Each word is followed by a kiss to some part of Other Zoro's face. "Wari. Wari."
"For God's sake, Luffy," Sanji growls.
No. Other Sanji. Other Sanji with his hair parted to cover his left eye instead of his right. In a red dress shirt and black dress pants but no tie or jacket, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. A cigarette is clenched between his gritted teeth as he storms out of the forest. Zoro follows behind him, barely masking his own surprise at the scene and dragging Luffy out of the trees.
"Let go of him, you shitty captain. He's bleeding again. How many times-?"
"Zoro's bleeding?" Other Luffy yelps.
The other swordsman's blush deepens and he bats Luffy's hands away. "I'm fine, Luffy, stop. Where are they?"
"Took off into the forest after someone decided to go cliff diving into the sea." Other Sanji's voice is tense and annoyed as he squats in front of the pair.
"Nami-"
"I would have gone after her, you shitty swordsman!" He detangles Other Luffy from Other Zoro's lap and pulls at the swordsman's vest. "Take this off and let me have a look."
"Minna!" Luffy cheers as Zoro drags him back to his crew. "There you are!"
"Here we are?" Usopp echoes. "You're the one who took off. We've been looking for you."
"Oh. Shishishi. You found me"
"Baka," Zoro growls, shaking the captain. "I thought we talked about you being more serious now that we're in the New World."
"Wari. Wari."
The captain turns his attention to the other monster trio. Other Luffy hovers nervously while Other Sanji frowns at their swordsman's torso, unwrapping the bloodied bandages. Luffy cocks his head to the side and the others follow his gaze, watching in silence. Then, the bandage falls away and all of the Strawhats flinch. Nami gags, hand covering her mouth and squeezes her eyes shut while Usopp turns away and Robin stares in morbid curiosity.
"God, Zoro," Other Sanji groans.
The skin on his right side is shrivelled and pink, though bits of black seem to pop up in several spots of the raw, bleeding burn. A deep cut over his ribs flashes white when Other Zoro flushes and shifts.
"Don't move," Other Sanji orders sharply. "You ripped your stitches out. Chopper's going to lose it."
"It doesn't hurt," Other Zoro mumbles.
The other cook gives him a withering look. "That's probably because you've destroyed all your nerve endings, you moron." He glances back at the shocked Strawhats, eyes finding their captain. "Oi, Luffy, our Chopper is just down the way. Remember where we left him? Can you grab him for us, please?"
Luffy nods rapidly, scrambling out of Zoro's hold. "Hai."
"Usopp." Nami moves her hand away from her mouth and turns to the sniper. "You go with him. We don't need him getting lost again."
"I don't need Chopper," Other Zoro protests, a bit of desperation in his words. "It's just-"
"Zoro." Other Luffy says.
Power rings through the swordsman's name.
Zoro watches his counterpart deflate. Hears the message in the single word. You will see Chopper. This is not a discussion. Luffy and Usopp shoot off in the other direction, leaving the rest of their crew to watch the monster trio from another reality.
Other Zoro turns his gaze to the aggravated cook. "Sanji."
"Do us all a favor," the other cook snaps. "And just don't. We should have left you on the ship with Franky."
"I'm fine."
"I swear to God, I'm going to hit you over the head with a goddamn dictionary and teach you what the meaning of that word is, you brain dead moss ball. You're lucky your guts aren't spilling out. And don't give me your martyr shit either. I could have gone after Nami. They." He gestures to the Strawhats crowded together a few yards away. "Could have gone after her. She's their navigator!"
Mouths drop. Sanji glares at his counterpart, biting down so hard his own cigarette snaps in half. "Nami-san should be saved by anyone who can-"
Other Sanji whips around with a murderous look. "Shut your shitty trap. Don't encourage his martyr bullshit."
Venom fills the words. Rage that the Strawhats have never seen from their cook. Even Zoro raises a surprised eyebrow. The cigarette falls from Sanji's lips.
"Enough." Other Luffy's voice is firm. Like it had been at dinner a few nights prior. "Zoro is not jumping off anymore cliffs. And he's going to do what Chopper says. Captain's orders. Sanji, nakama are nakama."
The words recieve a brief glare from Other Sanji, but are otherwise accepted. The Strawhats don't dare start up another argument and Nami hugs herself slightly. Robin leans toward Zoro, clearing her throat to get the swordsman's attention.
"May I borrow your sash?" she asks, voice hushed. "Something needs to be done about that wound."
He glances over at her then back at the other monsters, eyeing the disgusting wound still dripping blood. Without a word, he pulls the red sash from his waist and hands it to her. Robin smiles her thanks and makes her way over.
"Cook-san," she says gently. "Perhaps you'd allow me to help."
Other Sanji glances up at her, blinking down at the sash in her hands.
"I tend to help our doctor when the crew need medical attention." Robin's gaze flickers to Other Luffy, who beams at her.
"I don't need medical attention," Other Zoro mumbles.
Growling in disgust, the other cook throws his arms up and stands. "Do whatever the hell you want, I need a smoke."
Robin blinks as he storms off to the treeline. Other Luffy shakes his head.
"Don't worry about Sanji," the captain says. "He has a bad temper."
Robin gives him a smile as she kneels down, inspecting the wound carefully. Other Zoro eyes her cautiously, body tense as the others watch in silence. It isn't until Other Luffy puts a hand on his shoulder that Other Zoro finally relaxes a bit.
"Well, you don't look in danger of bleeding to death." Robin tells him with a slight smile. "Though, I think your captain is right and your do well not to jump off anymore cliffs, my dear swordsman."
Red spreads across Other Zoro's nose and cheeks. "Hai, Robin-san."
Nami pulls away from Sanji to shuffle forward, careful to avoid looking at the blood. "Are you alright?" she asks Other Zoro softly.
He smiles up at her, the blush still clear on his pale cheeks. "Hai. Sanji and Luffy get all upset over the littlest things."
Nami bites the inside of her lip, glancing up at the clear annoyance in Other Luffy's eyes. "That doesn't look like nothing, Zoro."
"It's better than it was." He winced as Robin finished the makeshift bandage. "Chopper wouldn't let me out of bed for days after it first happened."
"If I may be so bold as to ask," Robin begins.
"What in the shitty Four Blues happened to you?" Sanji cuts in.
"Sanji-kun," Nami scowls. "So rude."
"Wari, Nami-san."
Other Zoro gives them a slightly bemused look while Other Luffy eyes Zoro critically.
"Kaido didn't hurt Zoro?" the other captain asks.
Zoro's brow furrows. "We all got knocked around," he replies. "Especially waiting for Luffy and Dartboard to show up."
Other Luffy shakes his head rapidly and gestures down to Other Zoro, who shifts uncomfortable under his counterpart's gaze. "Kaido didn't hurt Zoro like this?"
Nami gapes at them. "Kaido did that?"
"Where is he?" Chopper's worried voice cries and the small reindeer scurried toward them at breakneck pace. "What happened? How badly does it hurt? Are you dizzy? Sanji! Sanji, how much blood did he lose?"
"Chopper," Other Zoro whines. "I'm fine. It's just a-"
"Zoro tore his stitches again," Other Luffy announces.
Chopper lets out a cry of despair and scuttled over to where Robin is knelt. He smiles at the archaeologist and thanks her for her help as he begins to undo her bandaging. In the distance, the others begin to arrive, Luffy and Usopp leading another Nami and Robin.
Other Nami sighs and shakes her head at her first mate, slipping past her counterpart to touch his shoulder. "Are you alright?"
"Hai. Sanji's angry."
The Other navigator rolls her eyes. "What else is new?" She glances around at the rest of the small group and settles in next to Other Zoro. "This is freaky."
"Almost as freaky as Bon-chan," Other Zoro replies around a wince.
"Bon-chan isn't freaky!" Other Luffy protests. "He saved Zoro."
"Hai. Hai. But he still put Nami's face on his body. And that's freaky."
"Zoro, you promised never to mention that again!"
The swordsman smiles. "I promised a lot of things, Nami. I can't remember them all."
Zoro glares at his counterpart. Any promise should be remembered and taken care of. But Other Zoro is too busy smiling at Other Nami to notice.
"Nami," Other Luffy says, nudging her. "Robin will stay with me and Zoro. Will you go get Sanji?"
With a sigh, Other Nami stands. "Hai, Sencho. Where did he go?"
"Into the woods for a smoke."
"Wait!" Sanji cries before she can go far. "Nami-san shouldn't be wandering in the forest by herself. It could be dangerous."
"Nami can take care of herself." Other Zoro's voice is sharp and almost angry. He glares at Sanji with surprising animosity as Other Robin sits beside him and giggles.
"Our navigator is quite capable, my dear Cook. And, should she require assistance, her white knight should arrive."
"At the last minute," Other Nami sighs dramatically as she turns towards the forest. "As always."
"Other Zoro's okay?" Luffy asks, bounding over to stand next to his own Zoro.
"Hai," the Other swordsman answers. He winces again, squeezing Robin's hand as Other Chopper pokes at the oozing wound. "Just a scratch."
"Don't let Sanji hear you say that," Other Robin advises softly.
Nami turns back to the rest of her crew, all watching the other doctor work with morbid curiosity, and ushers them all together.
"Now what?" Usopp asks, voice hushed. "We got Luffy back. Do we just split up? Leave them here?"
"Their Sunny is hurt!" Luffy protests. "Franky can help Franky fix it."
"I don't like this," Sanji interrupts. "There's no way that any of them are us."
"Their Zoro saved me," Nami says.
"They aren't us." Robin's words silence the group. "We may have the same names and the same appearances. We may have come together in the same places, but their experiences are different from ours. I think their Zoro's injuries are a fine example of that. We aren't the same people. We won't act the same."
"That's true." Nami's gaze wanders back to the other crew. "I wonder how that happened."
She meets Other Robin's eye and the older woman smiles at her. "We don't bite." The other archaeologist's eyes move to her counterpart. "I'm sure you know that as well as I do. I'd like to hear what you know of this sea, from your world, if you don't mind."
Other Luffy glances towards them and beams. "We gotta take Zoro back to Sunny. But you guys can come too!"
All eyes turn to their Luffy, who girls back at his counterpart. "Yosh!"
"Wait a minute!" Usopp cries. "What about our Sunny? And the rest of our crew?"
Luffy cocks his head to the side. "What about them?"
Zoro cuffs him on the back of the head. "Baka. We can't just not go back to them."
"Oh. Right. Usopp can bring them to us!"
"What? No! Why me?" The sniper yelps. "I don't even know where their Sunny is."
"Straight," Luffy replies, as though it's obvious.
"What about whatever's out there? I could be slain and you'd never know-"
"Oi, Luffy." Zoro's gaze goes to the other captain. "What is out there?"
Other Luffy blinks. "Eh?"
"You said "they" were out there," Nami pipes up. "Who are they?"
"I'll take Usopp to your ship." Other Nami's voice interrupts the answer. "We can compare notes when we get back. Then we don't have to tell the story twice."
Other Sanji trails behind her, still glaring at the ground as though it's personally insulted him. The rest of the Strawhats look uneasy but Luffy nods.
"Yosh! The rest of us will go to Other Sunny."