A/N: Thank you to all that found this story and followed it all the way to the end! It was an angsty ride (ending with getting bucked off in the end) but I hope that by the end of this epilogue that it'll linger somewhere in the back of your thoughts. :D
Sarge1130: Thank you so much for reading and reviewing each chapter! I'm in awe of the dedication! I'm truly unworthy T_T I hope you continue to enjoy this story as it progresses.
Harmonica Smile: I know, my moods are dangerous! But I'm sticking with the ending I'd seen way back then.
Naghi-Tan: I hope everything's alright!
WulfyFang3: I'm happy you feel that way – it's been a rough ride for both of them, but things are on the good path now!
Fyoyaran: After much hesitation he is! Both of them are recovering nicely from their troubles and the future looks quite promising. I have my fingers crossed that luck continues looking down on them. :B The friendship grew stronger – which is a relief!
Epilogue:
It was the first time either of them showed any vulnerability without issuing a challenge or making it into a competition to be stronger than the other. The hall was quiet and heavy, the hospital setting uncomfortably stark. All that was left in the aftermath was Sanji's sniffling as he grieved. Zoro had his hands in his pockets, battling his own expression because it was silently important that one of them stay composed in order to walk away. He was quite aware that arrangements had to be made and people contacted and he didn't want to leave that entirely to Sanji.
The cook blew his nose into tissue he'd grabbed from the box a nurse had offered nearby. Standing, he asked, "How the hell do we move on?"
Zoro found it a tough question to answer because he wasn't sure himself. So he shrugged, exhaling heavily. His throat felt tight with emotion and it took him awhile to speak.
"Eventually…a step at a time," he said, mangling his original gesture of support.
But Sanji found it agreeable. He wiped his nose, stuffed tissue into the trash can. He was glad Zoro was more composed than he because he felt absolutely useless.
Zoro cleared his throat. "At least he was happy…he was…he had a good life."
Sanji wiped his eyes. "After everything he's been through, I'm glad he was happy. You could tell he was. I loved him so much..."
Zoro had to agree, nodding gravely. He ended up wiping an eye. "I'm sorry…"
"No apologies needed," Sanji said, exhaling heavily in order to compose himself. Both of them were dressed for the winter weather – in thick coats, warm clothes – it had been a mad dash to the hospital, hours of anxiety waiting for answers and sudden acceptance of death that both had known loomed so closely. "Despite our efforts…no one lives forever."
Zoro nodded in agreement. "We did the best we could. But getting that guy to cooperate was nearly impossible. I guess he was ready to go."
Sanji frowned. But he had to agree. He thought of the times he'd spent making meals that went uneaten, the efforts he put into administering support and comfort. But it was well apparent that his struggles, while appreciated, weren't enough to avoid the inevitable.
"What matters is that he was loved," Zoro said slowly. "That's all that matters."
Sanji nodded, tearing up once again. He wiped his eyes. After some moments, Zoro reached out and patted his shoulder with gruff comfort.
Both of them looked up the closed door nearby opened. Sanji stood quickly while Zoro steeled himself.
Seeing their faces, red and strained with grief, Law exhaled heavily. "I made the arrangements."
"Sorry you ended up doing that," Zoro muttered while Sanji blew his nose once more. "Neither of us wanted to leave him so soon."
"It's no problem," Law said, aware that they'd spent as much time as possible with Brook after his last injection. The dog's unavoidable death was the result of natural order – his body had simply given out as the result of age and mill animal breeding. No amount of surgeries or medication could keep him going, and the dog had seemed prepared to go the last few weeks.
"They will arrange for two urns to split his ashes," Law continued. "If that's suitable."
The two men muttered their agreements awkwardly while Law fiddled with the paperwork. He eventually passed them both copies of the forms he'd filled out, both taking them sheepishly.
They left the veterinary clinic, Zoro eventually snatching tissues from the front counter to deal with his own sniffling. Law awkwardly walked them to the sidewalk, hearing twin exertions into tissues and catching sight of similar grieving faces. Death was never any easier; he felt like showing a bit of emotion but had a certain numbness to it, having dealt with others' grief over the years. His emotions weren't any less, just more suspended.
"I can give you a ride home, Zoro," he said. "Unless you called for one of the others?"
"Nah, I'm not going to bother with those guys," Zoro said, wadding up his tissue.
"Those guys would get a hundred times more emotional than us," Sanji grunted. "They'd get nowhere."
"I'll just walk home. I need some time to clear my head. Besides, I see how well you drive," Zoro trailed off, looking to the Camry parked nearby, Sanji wincing humorously. There were new dents to the wheel well, scratches against the passenger side door – Law made a stiff expression. "I'd want to wind up home in one piece."
"What are you saying? Are you suggesting I'm a bad driver?"
"I'm not suggesting, I'm absolutely saying, yes, you're a horrible driver."
"Sorry," Sanji whispered in apology to the taller man, who looked insulted, "but you are, love."
"Fuck you both," Law muttered bitterly, crossing his arms stiffly. "See if I ever offer to drive either of you."
"Thank God because it allows me to decline without having to decline." Zoro looked to Law. "Thank you. For everything."
Feeling good in that he could be relied upon, Law just nodded. Sanji rubbed the other man's arm with some amused comfort before looking to Zoro. "Then let us know when you make it back."
Zoro waved an impatient hand in his direction before walking off. Law wore a sad frown as the events of today made him feel heavy, his mind jumbled by the old dog's death. He would be missed but Law was thankful he had the chance to know him. He reached out and touched the top of Sanji's head as the cook wiped his eyes again.
"I'm glad you guys stayed with him until the end. The doc was telling me how many people leave their pets because they couldn't handle their final moments."
"It was difficult letting it happen, but he was in our arms. He knew he was loved. Thank you for bringing us, for taking care of the other details," Sanji added gratefully, then looked at the Camry with skeptic action. "I hope that's not another ticket on the windshield."
Law looked away with a start, seeing the folded slip of paper underneath one windshield wiper. Despite his current feelings, Sanji felt amusement warm him from the inside as the surgeon hurried over to his car to examine the contents. Ever since he'd completed his initial recovery, Law had improved significantly. His eating habits had changed, he'd gained nearly thirty pounds, and Zoro had been taking him to the gym to "make some gains."
It was impossible to believe how things had wound up with a seemingly fairytale ending – after everything the pair had gone through, they'd made so many more advancements throughout these few years that made Sanji think that he'd somehow obtained what he'd only dreamed of since he was a kid. He'd finally fallen in love with someone that could love him back – he'd gained a father figure in Zeff and acquired the title of sous chef – he'd started talking amicably with Reiju, again. His debts were still problematic but they were being taken care of with his attention; his friends were friends again, extending their hands out to Law with the same effort.
The other man found a better employer that was more understanding of his former eating disorder; Law sometimes volunteered at the clinic with Marco to provide support to other sufferers, which made him feel good about himself. The long term effects of his disorder had left him with bone loss and heart damage – he took vitamins and exercised lightly to rebuild, but had to be monitored by another professional when it came to his own heart. Sanji worried about him constantly but Law was determined to make up for lost time by doing things with the others that sounded unreasonable. Law had also acquired his driver's license but ended up being a terrible driver – it wasn't about his vision, which suffered as a result of years of his eating disorder, but a definite lack of experience being behind the wheel. The 'First Time Driver' and 'Caution: Student Driver' signs pinned to the back window was Luffy's attempt at trying to get other drivers to understand the Camry owner's terrible attempts.
Admittedly, his disorder was quiet, but sometimes spoke up to remind the man that it was still there inside of him. Sometimes he'd be fine to eat but other times he'd find himself picking at his meals, thinking about his old habits; it wasn't enough to make him backslide, but always seemed to be present. Especially when he reached new physical milestones – he was still a skinny man, but his shoulders stooped as a result of his bone loss and sometimes his back and bones ached in a way that remind him he was a damaged man. But his attitude and spirit was quite different and he did speak out of line with more confidence, and in such a way that Sanji found himself inserting himself into Law's conversations just to make some peace.
It had been difficult the first couple of years while Law pulled himself out from the crevice with Sanji's help – he battled depression and frustration, which caused most of his decision to resign from his position at the hospital and take another's offer. Both of them clashed heads, sometimes; Law had been single for too long and Sanji was too clingy – but they always seemed to work that out.
Sanji wandered over when Law looked at the folder paper with trepidation, then watched as his face pulled into a puzzled expression. Looking over, he saw, 'U drive like an arshole.'
"Well," he said slowly, "it's better than a ticket."
"Pretty sure I know this handwriting," Law mumbled, crumbling it while looking around them. The veterinary hospital was different from the one across the hospital he used to work for, so the area was unfamiliar to him. There was no one parked around him – but he had to admit he wasn't exactly inside the lines. There was a park nearby, a place for various people to relax in, so he scanned the individuals there.
"Let's go home," Sanji prodded.
"You think he'll be okay?" Law asked while fumbling with his keys. "Should we follow from a distance just to make sure he goes the right way?"
"Nah…just let him be. The walk will be good for him. However long it takes – he's dressed warm."
Sanji moved to the passenger side when something caught his eye. In the distance, there was some sort of a chase going on. He pointed it out as Law accidently pushed the Panic Alarm on the fob instead of the unlocking button, looking over to see what Sanji was seeing. They watched a very tall redheaded man shout in alarm as he tried to keep distance from two other very tall men. He looked away very quickly to quiet the alarm and unlock the doors.
"I see and know absolutely nothing," he said resolutely, climbing in.
Sanji chuckled, watching as Rocinante tackled Kid into the pavement, Aokiji slowing his pace. He could hear Kid shouting as the car started. People were watching with fascination as the "arms dealer" was apprehended. He couldn't understand a single thing Kid was shouting, but Rocinante looked pretty pleased – until he somehow slipped and Kid managed to get away. Aokiji had his hands on his knees, breathing heavily, so once he saw Kid running he looked exasperated. He opened his jacket, sent something flying after the fleeing hipster, and Kid sprawled over the ground once again. Rocinante managed a better grip this time.
Sanji shook his head lightly, making his way to the passenger seat. He shut the door firmly behind him, tightened his seatbelt and prayed hard that they'd get home in one piece.