Disclaimer: See Chapter One
Third part of my 100 moods challenge. Same rules as always.
Reviews are always appreciated!
100 Moods
Set Three: Creative-Drained
Mood: Creative
Rating: PG
Pairings: None
Word Count: 453
He knew how to draw all of them: Luffy and Chopper were always moving, so inevitably they were sketches, quick strokes to capture the mood or position that he meant to fill in later but never really got around to. It seemed a shame to lose that carefree spirit that always filled their activities; like finalizing a drawing would somehow diminish the meaning.
Zoro was the easiest, naturally. The amount of time he spent sleeping was a bonus, and even the sketches of him were filled with broad strokes; heavy ones, implying a strength that read through even on paper.
The girls and Sanji were almost the same, he reflected, and while that didn't mean Sanji was a girl (the cook would kill him for insinuating that), the technique was the same: sweeping, graceful lines that easily showed elegance, sometimes sketched and sometimes drawn properly; he and Robin were quite alike in that aspect. Nami was a tad blunter: still feminine, still elegant (albeit in a rougher way), but there was something…some quality about her that made her pictures almost closer to Zoro's in a way.
It was troubling that he couldn't explain it, but maybe the difference lay in that Robin was already a woman, whereas Nami, tomboyish and independent, still had to find that part of her.
Regardless, he'd never shown any of them his pictures, and now…now he was attempting to do something he'd never done before.
He knew it was a bad idea.
A group shot, he figured, would be the perfect thing. They could hang it in the galley and…
"Luffy! Chopper! Get back here!" Nami shrieked, stomping (yes, stomping) to drag them back by ears and antlers, and she stood sullenly, arms crossed. It only took a scant number of seconds for them to take off once more.
Zoro yawned, got sniped at by Sanji, and then the two of them were off (luckily it was just words this time, or else Merry would be needing repairs again), which led to Nami turning to add her voice to the cacophony, and he sighed and put his brushes down. It was a lost cause all around.
"Long-nose-kun?"
"Yes, Robin?"
"Perhaps if this isn't working, we can have seven pictures in the galley instead of one?" she asked with a graceful smile and graceful hands tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"I think it's going to have to be that way, Robin," he finally admitted, packing up his utensils.
"Ooh, Usopp's done already? That's so fast! I wanna see, Usopp!"
And now he had to fend off Luffy (and, inevitably, Chopper) as he attempted to make his way to the men's cabin without dropping anything.
He was never going to attempt a group drawing again.
Ever.
Mood: Crushed
Rating: PG-15 (for implications)
Pairing: Merryshipping
Word Count: 487
Zoro watched them with an unreadable look on his face. His crewmates. His nakama. His…well, he supposed 'lovers' wasn't really the proper term for what they did. Sure, there was plenty of love involved, but Luffy really didn't know the significance of what they were doing and Usopp had his true love and Nami and the cook? Something to do; teenage hormones acting up; whatever the reason…
Zoro just didn't fit. It hurt him somewhat, although he'd never admit to something as petty as that. But some part of him always felt a little betrayed, that when they were finished, the four of them curled up in a pile and left him to go on watch.
Tonight, he didn't. He wanted, just for a second, to feel what they all felt for each other. It didn't have to be love; he didn't believe in love as it was so often portrayed, but…
Family. Belonging. He just wanted to feel like…like he wasn't extraneous. Like he meant something to them, all of them useful, needed: to cook, to navigate, to repair, to lead. And he was just the other one that could fight. He slept all the time. Heck, his only real duty was to lift and lower the anchor.
And there they were, clothes flung all over the galley and the four of them in a tangle of limbs and hair in the middle of the floor. And here he was, shirtless but with his pants back on, and he could join them, but it would still feel wrong…
Closing his eyes and leaning his head back against the wall, he sighed and attempted to go to sleep.
Barely seconds later, however, he heard the shuffle of bare feet on the wood floor and felt something drape across his lap, lips lazily connecting with his as he opened his eyes with a start.
"You looked lonely," Sanji informed him rather bluntly. Rather calmly, as well, seeing as how the man was completely naked. "Come and join us?"
"Nah," Zoro looked away from the dishevelled blonde. "I don't belong in there."
"Hmm," Sanji paused before curling up close to him and mouthing a quick kiss to his neck. "Do you mind if I stay with you, then?"
Zoro didn't answer, but Sanji took it as an affirmative and got up long enough to pull a blanket over them and coax Zoro to lay down. And Zoro, laying there with Sanji snuggled up to him, felt something stir inside of him.
"Nakama, remember?" Sanji asked sleepily, and even though Zoro knew that perhaps he'd never fit in the same way the others did, he was still cared about. He was still wanted.
And the next time when the others fell asleep in a pile and, after a few seconds, Sanji extricated himself and went to Zoro's side, he thought that maybe he could get used to this after all.
Mood: Curious
Rating: PG
Pairings: None, really
Word Count: 467
Chopper had promised the effects would wear off soon. Of course, that didn't stop him from cursing the strange fruit they had all eaten, but the strangest part wasn't the ears or the tail: it was the urges.
And right now, the cat's infamous curiosity was making a rather lovely and inopportune appearance. Because while he wasn't a cat, exactly, (unlike Nami, who somehow managed to make ears and a tail suit her), he was still from the same family. And while he was pretty sure there weren't any tigers out there with green fur, the stripes didn't leave much to the imagination.
However, what was more distracting at the moment was the darn cook's tail. What right did it have to be so shiny and bushy? So soft-looking? And why did he think that the infuriating man smelled good all of a sudden?
"Oi, idiot, what's the big idea?" Sanji turned, wondering why Zoro now had a mouthful of his tail. His tail. "Dinner's only an hour."
"It's distracting me," Zoro replied, although it was slightly muffled. "It's just swishing around."
"Go bug Luffy or something. He's got a tail, too," Sanji rolled his eyes and continued chopping vegetables. It was a little annoying considering that his claws got in the way, but at least most of his body had stayed the same.
Like his legs.
Which he was going to use to kick the infuriating Marimo in the head if he didn't let go of his tail in the next ten seconds.
"You smell good."
"I what?"
"You smell good, cook," Zoro looked rather bemused, and still had a mouthful of hair. "Dunno why I never noticed it before…"
"Well, keep in mind that I am the only man on this ship that takes regular showers. And no, I'm not counting the times you've jumped in the ocean to save Luffy 'showers,' idiot. Salt is horrible for your skin, and brine doesn't make you smell any better," Sanji muttered, mostly under his breath, but Zoro's new-found hearing picked it up.
"Kinda fruity, though…"
"Well, after all, I don't have money to buy shower gel, and as long as it's just a little bit…wait, why am I telling you this? Get off of my tail!" Sanji blinked rapidly and changed the subject, ears flattening down onto his head as he turned.
"But I…"
Robin glanced up as a man-tiger hybrid flew out through the galley door, and she chuckled before raising a feathered hand to her mouth as Zoro glared at her. "Well, you must remember, Swordsman-san, what they say about curiosity and cats…" she raised a wing in a wave and went back to reading as Zoro growled, tail swishing rather forlornly behind him as he went to take a nap in the mikan grove.
Mood: Cynical
Rating: PG
Pairing: None mentioned; imply what you will…
Word Count: 480
"I have come to a conclusion."
Commodore Smoker sighed and glanced at the man currently occupying his room…not that the man was an invited guest, per say, but since he seemed to show up nearly everywhere that Smoker did, he took it for granted that the brat would try to sneak in with him.
"And what, pray-tell, is this 'conclusion?'" he humoured the young man…at least for the moment.
"You…" the other started, with the air of somebody about to divulge one of the secrets of the universe, "…are a cynic."
"I'm a what now?"
"A cynic!"
"A cynic."
"Yes. As in, you believe that, for the most part, people are scum."
"Portgas, let me assure you that I do not think 'people' are scum. Pirates are a different story…and not really 'people,' as far as I'm concerned," Smoker crossed his arms and leant against the lone desk in the room.
"I'm wounded. You have dealt me a fatal blow, and I'm tempted to crawl off into a corner and huddle there until I die…"
"Then shut up and do it already," Smoker rolled his eyes, completely cutting off the rather dramatic monologue of the man on the bed.
Ace huffed, blowing a few strands of dark hair out of his face, and rolled onto his stomach so he could prop his chin up with his hands. "You're no fun."
"I'm a cynic, remember?"
"Yes; yes. However, I'm sure there's a cure. If I can just convince you that not all humans are as worthless as you seem to claim…"
"Not remotely interested. Sorry."
"Because I can assure you that there are plenty of worthy people in this world and…"
"That man you're chasing," Smoker said suddenly, and Ace went quiet. Too quiet, and as the Marine turned to look at him, he was almost shocked. There was a dark, flickering halo around the pirate and his eyes were hooded…he wasn't a boy in that moment. He was a man who deserved to be the Second Division Commander of the largest pirate crew on the Grand Line.
"The man I'm chasing is a despicable human being who only cares for his own ambition. He took the life of his friend to get farther ahead. I only told you that not all humans are scum, Commodore. There are some, however, that are," Ace's voice was low, and Smoker gazed at the man with a type of new-found respect. "The world is changing," Ace finally said, dropping the seriousness and giving Smoker a smile. "So? Can I buy you a drink?"
"If you promise not to do that again. Being deathly terrifying is my specialty."
"I can play with the best," Ace shrugged. "You coming or not?"
He strode out, and Smoker vowed to never underestimate the young man again.
Apparently there was more to this pirate than first met the eye.
Mood: Depressed
Rating: PG
Pairing: None
Word Count: 500
Sanji looked out the window and heaved a sigh. The swordsman had been out near the figurehead all day, silent and brooding and nobody had dared to approach him.
Not even for lunch.
Or dinner.
But it was nearing nightfall now, and there was only so long one could just sit there (and he hadn't even been napping).
So, after drying the last dish, Sanji put it back into the cupboard and hung up his dishrag before lighting a cigarette and pushing his way onto the deck.
"Oi, baka."
"What d'you want, ero-cook?"
"Want to know why you've been out here in a funk all day," Sanji leant on the railing beside the green-haired man. He noticed that Zoro had the white sword in his lap and he was running his fingers over the bindings almost reverently. "Who was she?"
"Hmm?"
"The girl who first owned that sword," Sanji clarified.
"How…"
"It looks like a girl's sword. Those other two," he pointed at the remaining ones strapped to Zoro's haramaki, "those look like men's swords. But this one…" he held his hand out and Zoro wordlessly passed the white sword over with a warning glare.
Sanji ignored it and inspected the shining blade. "She died, didn't she? That's why you carry this."
"Yeah," Zoro looked amazed that the cook would know such a thing, but maybe it was obvious. After all, why else would he hold the katana in such high regard?
"Why did you take it?"
"A promise," Zoro said simply, and Sanji didn't press. He could understand that. "Today…today is the anniversary of the day she died."
"Wait here," Sanji handed Wadou back and went into the kitchen, emerging a few moments later with a bottle of expensive rum. "Here."
"Aw cook, the best rum for me?"
"No, moss-head, for her. A lady only deserves the best."
"Oh," Zoro shook his head and stood, holding Wadou in one hand while he uncorked the bottle and took a swig, holding it out as Sanji rolled his eyes took his own swallow. Zoro accepted the bottle back before upending it and pouring the rum into the ocean, the dark liquid swallowed immediately by the blue of the sea. "I promised you, Kuina. And I'm going to keep that promise. I will be the world's greatest swordsman," he said, short and blunt like his speeches always were, but it got the point across.
"Kuina?"
"That was her name," Zoro's voice was scratchy.
"I'm sure she'd be proud of you."
"You think?"
"Well, as proud as anyone could be of you."
Zoro shot him a glare but Sanji merely smiled and eventually he shook his head. "I'm going to bed."
"Good night then, Marimo."
"Yeah. You too, love-cook."
Sanji turned and watched him go, wondering if Zoro had loved her.
But no, this was Zoro.
Regardless, the cook was moderately happy that the swordsman was out of his funk, and he lit a new cigarette and stayed to watch the sun set.
Mood: Determined
Rating: PG-15
Pairing: ZoSan
Word Count: 477
It was time.
It had to be time.
It didn't explain why his hands were shaking, though; why he couldn't even light a cigarette.
Didn't explain his rapid breathing, his sweaty palms, his racing heart.
Didn't explain the clenching in his chest when they'd all met again, drawn back together no matter how far Kuma had flung them.
They had come together seamlessly, as always, but he hadn't spoken to…
Him, yet. And really, what would he say? "Oi, good to see you're alive, Marimo?"
Didn't cut it. Didn't come close to explaining how he truly felt.
How he realized he felt, eventually, and Thriller Bark was just a capitulation of everything.
Didn't help that those freaky Okama people had kept trying to figure out 'his type,' when he already knew it.
And now, now it was time.
But…
"Talk to him."
A gentle push to his back, a glance at haunted dark eyes, and Sanji heaved a breath. "I…"
"Life's too short to have regrets."
And he would know. Oh, how he would know. "Ace…"
"Go."
Sanji nodded and went, not bothering to mask his approach, although Zoro would have heard him no matter what, and sat down beside the swordsman.
"So you're alive."
Deep voice, and he didn't turn; didn't look, although he knew without a doubt who was now beside him.
"You too."
Scratchy, so he cleared his throat. Awkwardly, and this was all far too awkward.
"Sanji."
A name. So simple, and yet…
"Zoro."
So he replied in kind, because what else was there to do? They had never been awkward around each other, but now even insults and banter hardly seemed appropriate.
He felt a brush; a touch, and glanced down. Zoro was still staring straight at the horizon, but his fingers, calloused and rough, lay over Sanji's own.
"I missed you."
And that's how it would be. No outpouring of emotion, no confessions; just a simple truth said with simple words and a simple touch.
"Idiot."
Returned the only way it could be before Zoro looked, dark eyes and dark intent as he moved, slowly, just a press of lips to lips that couldn't even be called a kiss.
Pulling away, walking back into the surrounding forest, seeing a flash of a familiar yet subdued cocky grin, too broken and too breakable, but Ace was coming back. All of them were coming back.
They were healing.
And later, in his tent, emotions kept too long boxed in, but they were silent out of necessity: the slide of skin on blankets, the jingle of golden chimes, the harshness of their breath.
And if one, or both, of them said 'I love you' into the other's mouth, or mouthed it into their skin, or thought it when they were entangled, the other would never hear.
But they would know.
And that was enough.
Mood: Devious
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: LuccixKaku
Word Count: 432
Notes: It's bad when I have to do research for fanfiction, isn't it?
"You're having far too much fun on this mission, you know that?"
A low growl was his only response as he continued to trudge through the jungle, taking his cap off to fan himself whenever the humidity got to be too stifling.
"I don't quite understand why we've been relegated to searching out a pirate settlement in the middle of an island," he said next, not really expecting a response, but the air was thick with moisture and without at least one voice speaking felt rather claustrophobic.
"You do realize that leopards are a sub-Saharan species, don't you? They're not accustomed to rainforests. I think you're getting yourself mixed up with a jaguar."
Another growl from the large cat prowling through the treetops above him, until it stopped and he found himself glancing at a swishing tail. "You're asking for it, you know."
"Try it, boy. You're just jealous that if you transformed in here you'd get your pretty neck caught in some vines and never get out."
"And you, being the compassionate soul that you are, would let me suffer."
"Naturally. It would amuse me greatly."
"That's it."
And he yanked on that tail, earning an almost surprised yowl from the cat perched above him before it was snarling and pouncing off of the branch, two hundred pounds of solid muscled pinning him to the jungle floor.
Into a puddle, regrettably, and now he was sweaty and wet. "You've made your point. Off."
"No."
"Lucci…"
He watched as the grin on the feline face turned into a grin on a much more human one, and then there were tongues and teeth and hips involved and really that wasn't fair.
He could feel himself sinking into the mud; tried to buck his way out but that only resulted in more friction and it was obvious that, if Lucci had anything to say about it, he was staying on the bottom.
However, just when it got to the point when he refused to care that he was now muddy and debauched on the jungle floor, there was a satisfied cat sitting on his chest who bounded into the trees a second later, tail flicking almost in a mocking way as he headed off.
"Need I remind you that I have the map?" he called, futilely, as he tried to squelch his way out of the sucking mud.
Well. As soon as they got out of this irritating jungle he wanted to try a little experiment.
And then they'd see how two hundred pounds of leopard would fare against twenty-six hundred pounds of giraffe.
Mood: Disappointed
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: LawxKidd
Word Count: 500
"Do you think they suspect anything?"
"Do I think who suspects anything?"
"Your crew."
"At this point, it would be hard not to. We run into each other an awful lot more than coincidence would have it."
"Strong coincidence, perhaps?" he smiled, glancing into the mirror.
"You're a woman, you know that?"
"Eyeliner brings out my eyes," he shrugged. "And you're one to talk, Mr. I-Wear-Lip-Liner-And-Black-Nail-Polish."
"It suits me."
"Eyeliner suits me." he snapped the case shut and put it down before staring around the room, proceeding to create a small Room in order to pick up one of the bedside lamps and a fountain pen from the desk.
"Will you stop with that infuriating thing? One of these times you're going to catch me in it."
"And a right pity that would be, wouldn't it?" the objects continued to fly around in the small space until he set them back in their original positions.
"Look, stop all of this nonsense and just tell me if we're ending this," the man on the bed sat up, his yellow eyes narrowing. "Because I'm sick and tired of this game."
"Who says it's a game?"
"I'm leaving."
"Wait," one tattooed arm was raised almost beseechingly.
"The morning's wearing on. We have to get out of here regardless; two men worth over half a billion berries won't go unnoticed for long," he stood and started to pull on his clothes.
"So it's over?"
"You tell me, Law."
"Don't put this on me." His voice was still quiet, but his eyes spoke of a barely concealed anger. "You're a part of this as much as I am, Mr. Kidd."
"Don't tell me where you're going next, then," Kidd said with solemn finality. "If we meet again, we meet again; otherwise I guess this is goodbye."
"Goodbye, then," Law went back to playing with the lamp and the pen, and Kidd snorted before walking out of the room.
000
Sabaody, however, was one of those coincidences. And it didn't take long for there to be an anonymously booked hotel room and a late-night rendezvous to occur.
"How long are you staying?"
"A while, probably. There's no rush at the moment," Law was almost apprehensive in the morning light. Normally one or both of them would have up and left, but they were still lying together. "And yourself?"
"A few more days, at least."
"Mmm."
"Same time tonight, then?"
"Just…" Law sighed. "Stay here today," his voice dropped, as much as his gentle tenor would allow it, and he propped himself up to lean over the taller man. "If you're not too busy."
"I spoil you, you know that?"
"It's nice to know somebody does," Law smiled before lowering his head for a brief kiss.
"Is it?"
"Don't be coy, Mr. Kidd."
"Wouldn't dream of it. But you realize that if I stay, we can't hide this anymore. Our crews will find out."
Law stared into his eyes for a moment before replying firmly, "Let them."
Mood: Ditzy
Rating: PG-13
Pairing(s): Sanji Zoro, OFCxZoro, SanjixUsopp (although not really)
Word Count: 500
"S-Sanji?"
"What, Usopp?"
"Y-you're going to break your glass…"
Sanji glanced down, noticing the almost white-knuckled grip he had on the wine glass. "Thank you."
"What's wrong?" the sniper asked, before following Sanji's eyes. "Oh."
The reason for his 'oh' was the fact that Zoro, seated at the bar, had a lapful of a buxom blonde who was nibbling on his earrings and pawing at him rather inappropriately. Zoro looked unconcerned, but Sanji was livid.
"How dare he let that woman climb all over him and not respond?"
Ah. Denial. Usopp nodded. Just like Sanji to be concerned over the woman's well-being when it was so painfully obvious that he was only angry because he wasn't the one doing that.
"Denial," he murmured.
"What was that, long-nose?" Sanji glared at him.
"Huh? Oh, nothing," Usopp shook his head. "Nothing at all."
As the evening progressed, the girl got bolder and bolder and Sanji got angrier and angrier. "Look at that overgrown hunk of moss! He's got a beautiful woman rubbing against him and he doesn't even notice her!"
"Just let it go," Usopp rolled his eyes and stared forlornly at his juice. He probably could get away with ordering alcohol; he was a pirate, but still…
"Usopp, I bet if you had a girl like that in your lap even you'd know what to do with her," Sanji sounded mournful.
"I only have one girl I'd be interested in," Usopp sighed, thinking of Kaya. He spent a few minutes daydreaming about the lovely blonde, long-nosed children they'd have before Sanji was gripping his arm again.
"Look at them, Usopp! Look at them!"
Usopp did, noting that Zoro only looked more bored than ever and the girl was now sliding her hand along one of his katana hilts in a rather…suggestive way. Zoro calmly removed her hand and she merely attached herself to him again.
"Usopp?"
"What, Sanji?"
"Do you think that…maybe…he doesn't know how to kiss? Maybe he doesn't know what to do at all?" Sanji muttered to himself.
"Denial," Usopp mumbled again, followed by, "I'm sure he's not that inexperienced, Sanji."
"But maybe he needs a demonstration! Maybe if…" Sanji glanced around the bar, and Usopp sighed in relief. Now maybe the blonde would leave him alone…
Of course, he hadn't expected hands hooking into his overalls as he was pulled rather awkwardly into a smoke-flavoured kiss, and couldn't Sanji find another cheap bar tramp to do this with? He shoved the other man away and coughed, chugging his juice.
"I don't think he saw us," Sanji glanced at Zoro. "Maybe we just have to be a little more…"
"You find somebody else to be your guinea pig!" Usopp was still scandalized, and a little amazed that Sanji didn't seem to care he'd just kissed a guy.
"You're leaving?"
"I'm tired," Usopp faked a yawn. "See you in the morning."
With one last glance at the oblivious Zoro and a last mutter of "Denial…" Usopp happily left the bar.
Mood: Drained
Rating: PG
Pairing(s): Implied ZoroxSanji, LuffyxUsopp
Word Count: 499
Thriller Bark had sapped them all. Some more than others. Luffy not at all, and Usopp would have had to have been a heck of a lot stupider to not put two and two together after that one.
Luffy. Completely healed.
Zoro. Almost dead.
And despite the fact that nobody was telling the truth, he knew one had something to do with the other.
And Sanji…
The blonde was a mess of nerves and moodiness unlike anything Usopp had ever seen, and frankly it was a little worrying. Once again, it was no real secret that he and Zoro were more than shipmates, but this was more than concern. There was this underlying and almost stifling guilt leaking from the cook, and Usopp hated it.
"Oi, Sanji!"
Currently the blonde was seated on one of the broken chunks of rock littered around, smoking and staring forlornly at the horizon. "What?"
"Everyone's wondering where you are. The party's still going strong," Usopp said, quieter than normal but something about Sanji's posture sapped his enthusiasm. When Sanji didn't reply, Usopp went to sit beside him, and to his surprise the blonde leaned against him, looking completely weary. He slid his arm around the cook's shoulders and held him, wondering if he was going to get any answers this time around. When it seemed like none were coming, he decided to take matters into his own hands. "I know how you feel."
"How could you possibly…"
"Luffy," Usopp said quietly, and Sanji immediately snapped his mouth shut. "He…he's made of rubber, right? But…but when he uses those Gears…it scares me. How long will it be until he reaches his own limits? A normal man would die after taking it once…" Sanji flinched at the words, and Usopp had a feeling that maybe this had something to do with why Zoro was so injured and Luffy was fine, but he kept going. "Luffy's not normal, but he's only human. It's like…it's like I'm watching him die, you know? I'm watching him die and I can't do a thing about it…just wonder when his body will give out. How many years has it taken off of his life? How…" Usopp stopped and bit his lip, aware that Sanji's shoulders were shaking and short, clipped-off sobs were coming from his mouth. "Sanji? Oi…"
"I'm fine, Usopp," the cook assured him, but shakily; his normal confidence and suaveness was gone, and he sounded like a scared child. "How long?" he finally asked. "How long until one of us loses that battle?"
"We…we can't know," Usopp swallowed. "But it won't happen. As long as we're together, it won't happen."
"How can you know that?"
"Because we have dreams. And until we reach them, none of us are going anywhere."
"Hmm," Sanji made no move to stand, so Usopp stayed.
And as much as his rational side told him that hoping that way was only wishful thinking, in his heart he prayed beyond anything that he was right.
I have no idea why there's so much Usopp-introspection, but generally I write whatever first comes to mind with these prompts!
I also have no idea why there's so much ZoSan, but I make the excuse that it's my OTP.
Once again, I love reviews, so don't hesitate to leave one :)