"Zoro!?" The girls chanted at once, instantly blushing and trying to fix their posture and appearance, standing straighter and patting down their uniforms.
"W-what are you doing here?" Perona cried.
Sanji's heart stopped at his eyes feel on the figure of his lover. The light from the hall shining through the open doorway illuminated enough of his face that he just knew he was staring straight into those dark eyes he knew so well. Zoro didn't stay still for any staring contests though. He rushed over and rammed against the big recording camera, knocking it over with a clatter, though not breaking it and watching the recording light go out from the sudden impact. The sound made the rest of them jump.
"Z-Zoro you can't do that! That was the broadcasting camera!" Kalifa cried, her hand to her cheek. It cost so much money, surely he hadn't broken it.
"Step away from him." Zoro roared, striding forward and to his cook, his glare filled with malice.
He crouched down in front of the cook, so angry he couldn't meet those blue eyes. He was so fucking angry, he should have just stayed with the cook! How did he even get into this situation! He checked him over then with a hard yank on the duct tape around his wrist, and to the back of the chair, released one of Sanji's arms. Then, confident the blond could get the rest of himself free with one hand, he turned towards the ladies who were terrified. Their plan had definitely backfired.
"H-How did you know we were even... We were still taping it!" Kalifa tried to rationalize.
Zoro wanted to strangle her tiny little neck. "Broadcasted it to the whole god damn school!" He was so fucking angry about it, he couldn't even make it into a full sentence.
Sanji moved quickly though, ripping the duct tape off his mouth with a gasp, since that shit hurt, then freed his other hand. He gazed up fast at Zoro and got to his feet.
"Zoro don't! Don't touch them!" He yelled.
He felt stupid. He was mad at himself for even stopping Zoro, his stupid chivalry and love for all that was women holding him back from letting the Marimo have his way. But he just couldn't on guilty conscious. Despite how he wanted to rip all of the hair from his own head at hearing it had been live broadcast through the school. That shock had yet to set in.
Sanji took a few more steps forward, grabbing Zoro's arm forcefully.
"We gotta get out of here now."
Zoro was still slightly snarling, glaring at these bitches, but Sanji's voice always had a way of reaching through him. He turned, glowering at him also for even getting in such a situation, though he didn't deserve it and was the victim, or perhaps he really just wanted to unload some of this anger, before finally giving in and storming past Sanji, grabbing his hand and taking him with him in the process towards the door.
They both walked over the remains of their torn ultrasound and out into the hallway.
"What the hell was that cook!?" Zoro yelled, the moment they were free of that damn room. He just started guiding them in any given direction, since no doubt some kind of teacher or official saw the broadcast and was already on their way to investigate. Unfortunately for Sanji his face and... His secret got publicized as well and it would only take so long for them to find him.
"I-I don't know alright, I didn't know they were going to do that!" Sanji snapped back, forcefully taking back his hand and still following Zoro. He raised it up to wipe at his eyes which, as if everything wasn't humiliating enough, were still watering slightly. His voice lowered then and the regret was evident. "They asked me if I could help them get something off a shelf… I didn't know." Dammit. He felt like such a joke!
Zoro grunted. Sanji's explanation wasn't helping his desire to go back and ensue payback.
"Either way we gotta get you away from here..."
Sanji stopped suddenly then though, angry at himself and at life in general. He turned on his heel and without thinking slammed his knuckle into the closest locker, something he'd never allowed himself to do before but was making a habit of breaking tradition. Then, shaking his hand cause it fucking hurt and running those fingers through his hair because why the fuck not, he looked back at Zoro who had turned wide eyed at his display of anger.
"And go where Zoro!? They all know now. Everyone knows! There isn't anyone in this school who didn't see that if it went live! What do I do? Leave and never come back again?"
Zoro lowered his face. Unfortunately the cook did bring up a valid point.
However a cough to the side caught both of their attention and out of their anger, both of them turning to look. A tall man dressed in fine clothes was peeking his head out from a nearby classroom. Neither Sanji nor Zoro recognized him, since the man had a trade mark afro that was sure to be hard to forget, but nevertheless gave him their attention, a power of the afro.
"If I may be of assistance." He began, stepping out and bowing slightly formally. "I will gladly offer my classroom to you while you wait this out."
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Sanji and Zoro had reluctantly and silently walked into the classroom of the random teacher. It was weird, neither of them seemed to have ever noticed this class here before, yet it was a pretty sizable room with instruments resting along the walls and podiums with sheet music. The teacher, appearing very thrilled they decided to join him, quickly grabbed two spare chairs and brought them by his desk.
Then he eagerly rushed into his seat, rested his arms in front of him and gestured to the two seats.
"Please, Please! Come in and have a seat. You can lock the door behind you if you'd like."
Zoro glanced over at the cook, who was seemingly still processing the random hospitality before turning and doing as the teacher had said, locking the door. Then they both went to their seats, staring at this teacher. Had he not seen the broadcast that had just happened? The way Sanji had been humiliated, the tears from the event still making his cheeks bloodshot.
There was a small coffee maker on the end of the desk, which the teacher, who only had a small label on his desk addressing him as Mr. Brook, removed the pot and began filling himself up a drink. Then he glanced up, somewhat bashful he'd been rude and forgot to offer any, even if the two boys just shook their heads with a slight "no thank you."
Mr. Brook sat back in his chair, taking a nice refreshing sip before looking back at them.
"Have you always wanted to become TV stars?" He pondered.
Sanji swallowed nervously. The hell? So he had seen the broadcast, was he dumb though? Of course he didn't want to be a television star, he was forced into that! Zoro's scowl mimicked the same thoughts Sanji appeared to have. Mr. Brook couldn't help but laugh a loud 'yohohoho'.
"I am joking, please take no offense." He explained. "My name is Brook and I am nothing more than a music teacher."
Zoro looked the music teacher down. Still didn't explain why the music teacher was helping them out. Usually, or so Zoro thought, any teacher that caught them after that episode would have sent them straight into the principal's office to meet with their fates. So why was this one acting homely and offering tea?
"Mr. Brook...? Aren't you going to turn us in?" Sanji finally asked.
Brook finished a big gulp and shook his head back and forth in his silence before gasping out because he forced down a scorching sip. "No no! Please just Brook is fine. Also why would I? You two seem to be in quite the predicament."
The way the music teacher's eyes traveled down to Sanji's pouting stomach made shivers run up the cook's spine.
"I've heard quite a few rumors about you two and have wanted to meet you for quite some time! Robin-san tells me so much~"
"Robin? You're friends with Robin? She told you?" Sanji couldn't help but say that aloud, though he was beginning to picture it, especially if this music teacher valued the classics.
Brook just nodded. "Yes, she did and for good reason. You see, Sanji-san, Zoro-san, I don't like bullies. Neither of you, especially you Sanji-san, deserve such treatment. Therefore to escape their scrutiny, I invite you whenever to my home away from home!"
He lifted his hand and gestured around the room. Zoro just stared at him with a focused expression. This guy was being real right now? Offering them his 'home away from home'? To do what, hide out until someone comes to find them or did he mean it in a sense of support, that he'd always have an ear to listen should they desire it?
Though, before the pair could ask or say anything more, there was a slight knock on the door, a twist to the lock and a stern faced Robin strolled in. Her eyes immediately fell to Sanji, then to Zoro and finally to Brook. Then ultimately as she was within a few feet she glanced back at the blond.
"Sanji, I saw the whole thing, are you alright?" She asked sincerely.
Hearing Robin's concern over him made Sanji's cheeks warm and he nodded, scratching at the back of his neck and ignoring the jealous glares from the swordsman.
"Y-yes Robin-chan I'm fine. Just a little shaken up is all..." Which was far from the truth when he pulled his hand in front of him, watching as it shook.
Zoro glared at Sanji and then his shaky hand he was purposely watching. Idiot! He needed to calm the fuck down. Then again who was Zoro really telling that to, considering he needed a chill pill himself. Still, he reached over, grasping Sanji's hand with his own and forcefully putting it down in between them and giving it a comforting squeeze. Then he determinedly looked at their raven haired friend.
"They're looking for us, yeah?" Zoro said lowly, staring into her eyes.
Robin nodded firmly. "There are lots of things that they need to discuss with... Sanji. If you go now, then you'll avoid the commotion of class change."
Zoro turned back toward Sanji, squeezing his hand again comfortingly. "You ready?"
Although they could wish all they wanted about not getting caught and questioned after that charade and go on living normally, they both knew it was impossible. If Sanji wanted to keep attending school, it was bound to happen. Sanji stared into Zoro's eyes, the clench of his teeth keeping his anxiety filled tears away. How the hell did he even begin to explain this to someone again? Hadn't he just gotten lucky the other people decided to believe him? Now a school official? Hell it probably wouldn't matter if Sanji wanted to stay in school or not, they'd probably kick him for being a freak.
Sanji averted his eyes back down and nodded his head in agreement.
"Yeah… Let's go." He never let go of Zoro's hand even as they got up and began trekking out of the room toward the office.
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"Shit, we better go now. The teachers will be coming for us." Monet said, rubbing her head slightly and looking at the damage done.
Perona was on her knees whining, something about how un cute Zoro and that whole situation had been. Kalifa was trying to lift the broadcasting camera, slightly shaking.
"This is all your fault Monet! You just had to press the button without making sure it was the right one! Now we're all screwed. Do you know how bad a suspicion looks on a college application?!"
There was a purr of laughter from the doorway. "I think that's the least of your problems ladies."
The trio, wide eyed turned to look, their hearts still beating quickly in their chests, having not a moment to calm themselves down yet. The infuriated Zoro had just left after all and any moment they were going to get caught in the biggest trouble of their lives yet. So then why was that bitch Nami hanging out in the doorway? If she wasn't an idiot and saw the show like most of the rest of the student body, would she not have seen Zoro come in to rescue his Sanji?
"W-what do you want?" Perona finally managed, jumping up from her knees and glaring.
Nami wasn't much of a threat to them, they could handle her wise crack talking. Nami glared them down though. How dare they make a fool out of Sanji like that, in front of the whole school no less! He had enough going on without some punk ass bitches bullying him. Girls like these three were the worst and Nami despised them.
"You know it was awfully clever of you girls to use Sanji's weakness against him. He would never hit a girl. But you know, he has friends to make up for that."
"What are you going to do then huh? Black mail us?"
Nami chuckled again, stepping out of the way of the door frame.
"Oh no, that comes later, I won't do anything now. But I can't say the same for my friend..."
Another person appeared in the doorway, this one a bit more iconic. He was wearing sandals and cracking his knuckles. The trio of bullies felt shivers run down there spines, watching as he lifted his head, his eyes glaring at them from under the brim of a straw hat.
"No one touches my nakama."
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Luckily, Robin had gathered Sanji and Zoro in time to avoid any class changing crowds. It relieved the blond. He wasn't sure what exactly he was supposed to do when he knew everyone knew, as the glances from the office staff were far too uncomfortable on their own. He calmed down though at a familiar face waiting for them near the principal's door.
It was Chopper, who offered a weak smile to them.
"Chopper? What are you doing here?" Sanji couldn't help but ask.
He never really pictured the small guy as someone who would ditch class just to come and check on him. Wait, scratch that, he was his extra special patient, it made total sense. Still, it was a pleasant surprise and it actually felt nice, having yet another person to show support and come to his aide. Zoro wasn't buying it though, narrowing his eyes. Why did the mini doctor have such a guilty expression?
"I knew they were going to want to talk to you..." Chopper jumped straight into explanations, avoiding Zoro's eyes for obvious reasons and opting with the safer choice of just Sanji. "So I made a few calls."
Sanji's heart sank though. Calls? What calls? Who could Chopper have called? Oh god, not Zeff. Please not Zeff, he wasn't sure how he could handle that, if Zeff knew what he had just gone through and then having to tell the principal some shit about his adoptive son being pregnant? He'd rather die! Again! Ten times! Sanji didn't have to wonder long, hell he hadn't even had enough time to open his mouth and ask Chopper himself before the questioned solved itself.
"The hell Blondie!?" Dr. Kureha spat. "What did I say about keeping this low huh?"
As if this whole day weren't humiliating enough. Sanji and Zoro dared to glance backward, knowing the awkwardly, bodily attractive old woman would be there glaring at them. Zoro cringed slightly, remembering the last time he'd seen this woman and just how much he personally knew what she was like.
"S-Sorry! I knew they were going to ask questions so I called my mom!" Chopper was quick to try and justify.
Sanji clenched his teeth though. "No offense to you Dr. Kureha, but it's a bit hard to do when they're growing in my stomach."
Zoro gently released Sanji's hands and crossed his arms.
"You can tell them it's just some kind of tumor or something right?" Was his question.
It confused Sanji a bit, causing him to glance over. He knew Zoro wasn't really addressing their children as tumors, but the fact that he'd had the same idea he first did about this was a little more than amusing.
Dr. Kureha rolled her eyes, wrinkling her nose at the two love birds. Shitty kids these days didn't know what the fuck they were getting into.
"You kids and your tumors!" She bitched, purposely moving through them and towards the principal's door. Then she stopped and looked back at Sanji. "I'm only doing this cause' your old man would have a heart attack trying to explain this crap. When we get in here, both of you keep your trap shut and let me do the explaining. You might not like what we come up with, but it's the best we've got if you want to graduate. Got that?"
Zoro glanced over, looking at the blond's face. The way he was still able to remain somewhat stable and calm during all this was the only thing keeping Zoro from rampaging. Everything about this day was pissing him off and he wasn't sure if he'd be able to control himself from the next person trying to ruin their lives. But, looking at Sanji's eye while he nodded to this doctor chick, he felt reassured.
"Alright, Chopper you stay out here. Blondie, grass head, you're coming with me."
"Oi! It's Marimo!"
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