The Games We Play
Chapter Two
Zoro stared down at his plate with genuine disinterest, hunger being the farthest thing from his mind. Bits of the dream floated through his mind's eye like dissipating fog, unorganized and unwilling to form any sort of solid shape. However, while the landscape of the dream remained undefinable, the emotions it brought to the surface were painfully sharp; anger, guilt, cold, hatred, and one he did not want to admit... fear.
But the dream was not all there was to worry about today.
Zoro curled his hands into tight fists beneath the table, jagged nails piercing the skin of his palms. He had attacked his nakama. No provocation, no reason. Granted it had been the kuso-cook, and a small part of him was thankful that it had been. Sanji could take care of himself, but still...
He had lost control, and it frightened him.
Zoro became vaguely aware that a platter was being handed to him by the sniper, bringing the swordsman partially back to reality. He accepted the dish, dazedly placing some of its contents onto his own plate. Nami's voice was the only outside sound that he could understand beyond his buzzing skull.
"...well you know, Zoro killed Kuina-"
The platter fell from Zoro's fingers, greeting the floor with a sickening crash. Ignoring the indignant rant from the cook who had only just entered the kitchen, the swordsman turned a blanched face to the ships navigator. "What did you say..."
Nami recovered from her initial shock of the plate hitting the floor. "I was saying that tomorrow we should clean the storage room," Her eyes narrowed. "But if I had known that you were so against it, I would have waited until after lunch to suggest it," she finished, motioning to the spilled food upon the floor.
"Right," muttered Zoro, attempting to gather whatever shreds of sanity he might still posses.
Sanji gave an irritated tut, throwing a damp rag at the swordsman. "It's bad enough you're late for lunch, now you gotta waste it."
Fortunately for Zoro, who was still trying to remove the cottony effect from his vision, Luffy made quick work of the spilled food. Doing an incredible imitation of a vacuum, the rubberman managed to suck up all edible particles, spitting out fragments of the ruined platter as he did so. Zoro scooped up the pieces without so much as a glare in the cook's direction and blandly dumped them into the wastebasket, taking his seat without so much as a word.
The silence was deafening.
"Oi, Zoro... you feelin' ok?" Ussop asked after a few painfully long minutes.
Chopper squeaked. "Are you sick? Do you need a doctor?" Chopper stood in his seat, arms flailing. "We need a doctor!!"
"You are the doctor." Ussop, Luffy and Sanji reminded the stammering reindeer.
"Oh yeah..."
"'M fine." Said Zoro blearily, rising from the table.
"Well, I wouldn't go that far." Sanji said, walking to stand in the swordsman's b-line to the door. "And where the hell do you think you're going? You haven't even eaten lunch crap-swordsman. Don't think I'll feed your worthless ass later if you skip."
Zoro glared, "I'm not hungry, so get out of my way kuso-cook." Gruffly pushing the blonde out of his way, Zoro reached for the doorknob, only to have his hand kicked out of the way.
"Never let it be said that one of my meals was ever refused." Heel of his foot resting on the doorknob, Sanji gave the swordsman a death glare. "So sit your ass back down."
Zoro gave an inward sigh of exasperation. Now was not the fucking time for this. And while he could admit to himself that it would all just be easier to follow instructions for once, he would be damned before he listened to the kuso-cook.
Sighing, Zoro turned to the counter, picking up one of the many knives strewn across its surface. Contemplating the utensil for the briefest of seconds, he caught the now thoroughly enraged chef by his shoulder. Ignoring the hissed promises of death, Zoro pulled out Sanji's tie and, with the material still circling the blonde's neck, drove the blade through the black fabric and into the wall.
Sanji blinked in confusion, brain cells slowly coming to the realization that the swordsman had just pinned him to the wall. With his knife no less. The proverbial storm clouds settled in.
"You fucking bastard!" Sanji snapped, now attempting to pull the knife out of the wall, and his tie. "Get the hell back here so I can kick your ass into that empty shell you call a skull!"
Zoro allowed the cook a final 'shut-the-fuck-up' look, before he exited the kitchen.
Luffy looked from the door to the seething cook. "... soooooo... does this mean I can eat Zoro's lunch?
Luffy's question drifted to the deck, Zoro smiled slightly. Lobsters could dance through the kitchen, wearing tutus and shooting lasers from their eyes, and Luffy would still ask for an extra helping... and then probably try and eat the lobsters.
He ran a hand through his hair, and took the moment to enjoy the sun's late afternoon rays. He had to get a hold of himself. He was of no use to anyone if he was too out of it to even pick a fight with the cook. Which must mean it was time for some Zoro based activities.
Sleeping was definitely out of the question, he was still trying to figure out the first dream, the last thing he needed to do was compound the problem. Obviously drinking was out, as the sake was stored in the kitchen which was currently occupied by a homicidal chef, and a roomful of confused ship mates. Which meant that, on his highly short checklist, the only thing left to do was train.
Zoro looked down at his katana, the barest lines of worry making his eyebrow twitch. Yes, he was fully conscious now. Yes, he was in full control of himself. However, all that could change in a matter of seconds, and if one of his nakama happened to be out on deck when it did...
Zoro gave a choked laugh, he was a swordsman unwilling to take out his blades...
He shook himself mentally. There were other ways to train. Weights, weights were good, they were dull. Removing the three blades from his side and leaning them against the wall, Zoro took out his weights and began counting back from three-thousand.
Unfortunately, the repetitive movements did little, actually they did nothing, to keep his mind occupied. So he found himself, yet again, attempting to dissect the dream
He had, had the dream before. Granted, it had changed in appearance as Kuina had still been alive the first time, but the meaning was still the same. It meant he was getting far too close to someone, past the boundaries of normal friendship. Something the rules did not allow.
Who was it, was now the question. Fortunately there was not a long list of people to go through.
Zoro's muscles began to hum happily as he reached rep 1,896
It would have to be one of his nakama, that much was painfully obvious. As much as he may have missed the friends in his old life, it was not like he was overly depressed that they were not there. Besides, what situation was better to fall for someone when you had to be trapped with them on a boat in the middle of the ocean. It just seemed to scream relationship development.
So he ran through the checklist, starting with the girls.
First to pop into his head was Robin. She was dark, mysterious, and could obviously handle herself if the moment arose. She was attractive, he would give her that, as well as dangerously manipulative. But, he just did not trust her, at least, not completely, and how many times had he heard from people that relationships had to be built on a foundation of trust.
Next was Nami. Zoro cringed, having a relationship like that with her, would be like making out with a little sister. No thank you.
Which meant that it had to be one of the g-.
Zoro stopped that thought right there. No, no no no no no. No. He was not gay. No way in hell was that the case. Of course, he had never had any proof he was straight, but he knew he was not gay. He was to fucking strong for that.
However, he morosely realized as he finished the final rep. If he was not gay... then he was back at square one, because the thought of loving either Nami or Robin like that nearly made him sick.
V: And there you have it, chapter three! Sorry for the delay, but my beta got caught up in some of her own stuff, one thing lead to about fifty... any way I am now in the process of looking for a new beat as my old one no longer has the time. So if you're interested just shoot me message. Thanks.