I hate posting anything that hasn't been read through at least once by another person, it makes me way nervous, but I hope you'll still enjoy an unbeta'd version!
Chopper furrowed his brows in worry as he watched Zoro finish yet another drink. How has this guy's liver survived for so long? The swordsman must've been able to read his mind though, as his untouched eye glanced over at the tiny deer. It made Chopper jump and flush at being caught. Zoro just chuckled lightly to himself, putting his glass down before turning his face towards the doctor.
"What?" He asked, curious himself.
Chopper's eyes looked down at the table. "You're going to get really drunk if you keep drinking like that. Think of your liver!"
But his concerns only seemed to amuse Zoro more, as the swordsman reached over and gently ruffled the deer's forehead. Chopper would've blushed if his face wasn't hidden by his soft fur. Oh hell, he did blush and even Zoro could see it. He was so adorable.
"Nah, Chopper. I don't get drunk." Were Zoro's reassuring words and he went back to finishing his drink.
Robin, who was also sitting there but kept her eyes elsewhere – on her cyborg husband embarrassing himself to a few of Usopp's guests by singing and speaking ecstatically- just lightly chuckled, shifting her chin resting in her hand to glance at Chopper.
"Perhaps Zoro has something to celebrate?" she mused.
Zoro's face couldn't have gotten any redder in that moment and he nearly choked on his drink. How did this woman always know? Choppers eyes seemed to widen and he looked back up at Zoro's flushed face, taking it as a sign what Robin had said was the truth.
"What? Really? What else are we celebrating?!" He chirped, standing up on his chair. He was still so small compared to them in his chibi form.
Zoro hit the front of his chest a few times to get himself under control before sending Robin a glare. There were some situations you just really didn't bring that up. One of them being in front of the most innocent member of their crew. Luckily he was off the hook from answering, as one of the main guests and their sharpshooter friend, Usopp, strolled up to the table.
"Usopp!" Chopper said, shifting his attention over.
Usopp was grinning ear to ear, dressed in his Sunday's best. He stood a little taller than normal, his nose angled in the air with pride. Zoro wanted to snort at the sight, but opted not to. He set his drink down among the plates Luffy had left behind on their table.
"You look nice." Robin continued to smile amusingly.
Usopp blushed a little, scratching the back of his neck. He let out a nervous laugh. "Uh thanks!"
"You look like a dork." mumbled Zoro.
"Pfft! Foolish Zoro! This is the best suit they had in the store! They only kept the best in stock for me!"
Zoro raised his eyebrow slightly. Already they were into the lying mode? Alright, whatever, let the guy tell his story. It really wasn't his day to step on, he figured anyway. Usopp turned, gesturing to the people doing whatever they were in the crowd.
"They knew that I, the great Usopp, would be meeting with only the most important people tonight- Oi."
Zoro had already gone back to eyeing at his drink again, not paying attention. Robin had zoned herself out as well, finding something on the table cloth even more amusing. Chopper however was quite the opposite, his eyes wide with curiosity. He snapped out of it though at the break in Usopp's lie, tilting his head to the side. It caught the swordman's attention too and he glanced back up at Usopp.
Usopp dropped his arm to his side, his eyes narrowing. "Who's Sanji talking to?"
Just hearing Sanji's name on the sharpshooter's lips made Zoro's heart jump. Sanji? What about him? What was happening? He perked up from his seat, moving to look around. Was something happening? Damn he couldn't leave that cook for a second could he- his stomach churned.
Sanji was off to the side, a stern expression on his face. His eye was wide, glaring furiously into the ground. He was holding Zoro's cellphone to his ear like his life depended on it. From his lips, he could tell he was talking really low. The whole scene set off alarms in Zoro's mind. No one who wasn't at this party already should have that number. Who was calling Sanji?
Before the others could even process Usopp's words or get a good look at Sanji, Zoro had already made his deductions. He pushed himself out of his seat and began moving quickly towards Sanji. Something was wrong. Sanji's eyes were getting wider, his body was lightly shaking. There was a panic to his face.
Zoro's knuckles went white as he dug his nails into his flesh. If it was one of them, calling and threatening him, he swore to himself there would be hell to pay. His eye watched as Sanji's lips parted, waiting and trying to read what he was saying. Then it came to him.
"Nami?"
Either he was really good at lip reading, or he had heard it. He was still a little far away from Sanji, but he could've sworn it was right. No, he was right. Sanji had said Nami. That could be confirmed as he said it again. This time louder. People were beginning to glance over. Robin rose from her seat.
"What did he say?" Usopp asked, glancing over at her.
"I think he's calling for Nami, but she hasn't arrived yet," Robin informed, crossing her arms apart. Something was happening here. Slowly she began to follow Zoro's footsteps. Chopper and Usopp exchanged glances and did the same.
Luffy, who was indulging himself on the buffet still, pulled himself away for a moment, glancing around in confusion.
"Eh? Nami?" He said to himself. Who was yelling for her?
It was the final yell of Nami's name that tore Zoro apart. He was only a foot or so away from Sanji, his hand about to reach out to him and he hesitated. That tone to Sanji's voice. That panic and fear drenched in regret, it tore open his wounded memories. The last he had heard Sanji speak that way had been that night when it all went down.
When Zoro had grasped onto Sanji's drenched hand he watched the blood drain from Sanji's face at a deathly rate and he watched the tears stream down Sanji's face as he coughed up more blood from his wounds. Then finally, in that voice that held no hope, "Zoro, I'm sorry."
Zoro's heart was pounding in his ears and it took an immense amount of self-restraint to push those thoughts away. His hand reached out, grabbing Sanji's shoulder as he shook. The cook had dropped the phone, letting it bounce and hit the floor. His eye was wide and open and he began to glance around in distraught, breathing rapidly. Who knew what was rushing through his head in this moment. He was in a full blown panic attack.
"Oi, oi, oi." Zoro said aloud, moving in front of Sanji.
He moved so that he was holding both of Sanji's shoulders, then angled his neck around so that his face was in front of Sanji's, forcing him to look at him.
"Oi, Cook. Look at me." He growled, not so much angry at the situation but more so because he was slightly terrified.
Sanji's open eye found Zoro's though, and much to the marimo's relief, he seemed to come back to himself. He had never seen Sanji have a panic attack before. Chopper had warned him he might possibly, part of a being in such an event but as per usual he had never believed it. Certainly that it could be triggered off a phone call. He had enough brain cells to figure it had been Nami on that phone.
But what had been said? What would have made Sanji snap like that? There was only one possible explanation. Sanji reached his arms out and tried pushing Zoro's arms away, digging his fingers into his flesh.
"We've got to go. I've got to go! Nami! I- I have to save her." His glare was pleading with Zoro. "They're gonna to kill her!"
Zoro's eye widened and his mouth seemed to go dry. So the shit was already hitting the fan and Nami was chosen first. He swore under his breath, and Sanji tightened his grip.
"Alright, I'm going." Zoro announced though, pulling his scowled expression away and standing up. By this time the others had already gathered around. Everyone was seemingly watching as they had begun to start a scene.
"They've got Nami!?" Exclaimed a terrified Chopper.
Robin motioned over to her husband from the crowd and Franky nodded without protest, rushing off towards the door. "Franky's getting the car." She announced, turning back to them.
Sanji balled his hands into fists, glaring in the back of Zoro's head as he turned to leave. "Oi!" He shouted out after him, and his body moved forward to get out of his chair. It was halted though by the weight of his lower body, trapping him. He clenched his teeth. The whole world was against him in this moment and it was smothering him. Zoro was going to go on without him and there was nothing he could do about it.
Zoro's body tensed, but he continued moving. He glanced at Robin as he passed her. "Watch him, will you?"
Everything was out of Sanji's reach. It was his problem that had escalated into something much bigger and dangerous and now the person closest to him, Zoro, was going off on his own to fix it. He hissed to himself, his hand going to his head in agitation. It pulled at his locks. What was he supposed to do? Why couldn't he do anything?
Robin nodded then glanced down at their small doctor. "Chopper you should go with him." She suggested.
Chopper looked up at her slightly confused. Couldn't Zoro do this on his own? After all Chopper had just witnessed his patient have a full blown anxiety attack. It could be dangerous to leave him now! He swallowed nervously, reading an unsaid message in Robin's eyes. He nodded before trotting off after Zoro.
Luffy waddled over, a chunk of meat in his hand. He watched as Zoro faded into the crowd towards the door, Chopper on his tail before glancing over at Robin, Usopp and a distraught Sanji. Usopp seemed to be sweating nervously.
"Why are they leaving?" He wondered aloud.
"Perhaps we should discuss this somewhere else?" Proposed Robin, glancing out at the crowd.
Usopp nodded, taking a step forward towards his guests. Kaya, his fiancée had moved towards the front in her concern.
"Usopp, what's going on? Is he going to be okay?" She asked softly.
Usopp shook lightly. He didn't want to have to ditch Kaya and at their engagement party of all places! He clenched his teeth and frowned. "I'm sorry Kaya I have to go..." He began, but Kaya cut him off with a smile.
"It's okay. You can go."
Usopp smiled awkwardly, leaning over and giving her a small peck on the cheek. Then he spun around quickly rushing back to his crew. He grabbed the handles of Sanji's chair.
"Alright let's get out of here!"
Sanji pinched the bridge of his nose, his elbow resting on his arm rest. His mind was filled with nothing but awful thoughts and concerns. Honestly, it was eating him alive. He had never felt betrayed by his own body so much before. Feeling so utterly useless in this moment, it was absolute hell. Instead of going out there and helping rescue Nami, he was here, being pushed down a hall by Usopp.
Luffy and Robin were steps behind him.
"It would seem that Nami has been targeted first." Robin explained to the captain.
Luffy was walking with the brim of his hat down, a shadow cast across his face. His hands were in fists at his sides.
"Where is she now?" He asked monotonously.
"She was on her way here." Sanji rasped silently in his rage.
Robin glanced down at the back of Sanji, a frown on her face. She could only imagine what the cook must've been feeling in this moment. She too had had a similar experience, where she placed the blame on herself. "They must've stopped her on the way."
Usopp glanced back at them for a second, adding in his word. "Zoro went ahead with Chopper to try and stop them."
Luffy nodded. "He should be able to handle them."
Sanji let out a sorrowful laugh and lightly shook his head. "No he won't." His words took his friends off guard. They had never expected that kind of comment from Sanji. Sure, they knew he was in a pretty depressed state, but never did they hear him question Zoro's capabilities. The pair had an unspoken pride for one and other, it was unusual to hear doubt about Zoro coming from Sanji.
Usopp swallowed thickly. "Come on, you know Zoro he-"
"It's not just one guy anymore." Sanji explained, pulling his hand away from his face. "They're all here, the whole organization. They want to lure you all out. We're playing right into their hands!"
Robin narrowed her eyes. "Sanji, how can you be so sure-"
"I just know okay. He's going to get himself killed."
Robin could feel her body tense. She honestly hoped it wasn't that type of situation. From the information she gathered she would have never imagined the whole organization being at their heels. Then there was the matter of if Sanji knew this, what else did he know that he wasn't sharing with them.
Usopp stopped Sanji's chair and opened the door to a familiar room. It was the room Sanji had stayed in when he was in recovery,
Franky called out to them and zoomed down the hallway. "Alright I got the car ready. Let's go."
Luffy nodded and then looked off at Sanji. Usopp easily guided him inside the room.
Sanji's eyebrows furrowed. Wait a moment, what was going on here? He had been too spaced out in his panic that he hadn't noticed. His hand flew to his wheel, and he turned around to see his crew members watching him from the hallway.
"Sorry Sanji," choked a nervous Usopp. "We just want you to be safe."
Sanji's eyes widened. They were leaving him. All of them! They were going off on their own and were just going to leave him stranded here?
Luffy frowned and took his hat off. He looked at it for a moment. Sanji's heart pounded in his chest. He swore to god if Luffy was going to do what he thought he was going to do he'd... he'd... well…what could he do? God dammit. His captain reached out, and placed it on Sanji's head.
"Don't worry Sanji." He spoke in his usual determination, a tone that calmed and reassured all who listened. Sanji bit into his bottom lip. "Everything's going to be okay."
And all fell silent except the noise of the room's door being closed. Sanji's face fell into his hands and he let out a yell in frustrating. Fuck the world! He wasn't a victim here. This wasn't right! He should be out there! Not in here, locked away for safety. He knew they meant only the best, he understood he would get in the way but why? Why did it have to be like this?
He snatched the straw hat off his head and frisbee'd it off to the side. He just couldn't deal with that right now.
Zoro pulled his truck off onto the road like a madman. It made Chopper squeal and hold onto his seat belt for dear life.
"Zoro! You're 20 over the speed limit!" He squeaked, his eyes bulging out at the speedometer.
Zoro seemed to not hear him, or just chose not to answer. His eyes were glued onto the road, his usual scowl adorning his face. Chopper swallowed nervously, and looked back at the road. This whole situation was unnerving, even more so than the driving. He really hoped that Nami would be alright. Now he understood why Robin had told him to come. If it was anything like when they found Sanji...
"Do you know where she is?" He asked curiously instead, frowning.
Zoro understood that at least. It made him blink, his attention coming back to the cabin of the truck. Shit, did he know where she was? Fuck! He didn't ask anyone, he just went! He pressed his lips together in a thin line. Well, it wasn't like it would be really hard right? There were only a few ways to get to Robin's house, each he had explored himself once or twice for different reasons – because he got lost.
Chopper's jaw dropped, seeing the change in Zoro's expression. "You don't know?!"
Zoro shot him a glare, and his eyebrow twitched. He reached out and messed with the buttons on the dashboard.
"Just shut up and listen to the radio. I know where I'm going."
Chopper face palmed. This was the worst! Anyone knew that Zoro's sense of direction was whack. They were supposed to be the first to the scene, but at this rate they could be going the total opposite way! He looked around the isolated street, squinting his eyes for any signs that were coming up. Perhaps he could save the day but-
Both their hearts dropped into their stomachs. In the distance they could see the headlights pointed at them. As they moved closer, it was easier to tell. Two black cars had turned into the road, essentially blocking it off. Off to the side was a blue car they both regretfully recognized. It was overturned, and it was Nami's.
"Bastards. They're waiting for us." Zoro hissed. Keeping a hand on the wheel he reached back into his back seat, grabbing the duffle bag he was currently storing his swords.
Chopper sat back in horror. "That's...Nami's car! Is she okay?"
Zoro brought his swords into his lap, and put his foot on the breaks slowly. He turned off onto the road's shoulder a good enough distance away. He let out a grunt, the excitement of finally getting to slice his blade into some of these people running through him. "Guess we'll find out."
He unbuckled his seatbelt and reached for the door handle, when a feeling ran through him. There were people there yes, but he could sense more. In the forest lining the road, there were others. So that's what they were planning? An ambush of some sort? He gritted his teeth. Alright then, if that's what they really wanted.
Chopper unbuckled his seat belt next, pulling his arms into the loops of his bag. He hoped that this could be settled quickly and not amount to too much bloodshed, but he had the feeling it might.
Zoro glanced around at the outside, watching as black figures seemed to make themselves known all around them. He swore. "They've already surrounded us."
Chopper looked at him shocked. "What?!" He screeched, glancing about too. "What are we gonna to do?"
Zoro looked over at him for a moment, contemplating what to say. Then finally he grinned, taking out his swords. "Give 'em hell."
Chopper studied Zoro's face. He admired how confident the swordsman was in these situations. He wished he could be like that someday. Then, in an unspoken understanding, Chopper nodded and they both were on their way out their doors.
Zoro stood tall and ready, his swords at his side. He hadn't unsheathed them yet. In these types of situations he knew enough that any moment now there should be some kind of loud mouth around to talk down to them about their ultimate defeat. Chopper jumped down onto the ground, shifting his weight on his hooves before quickly trotting around the exterior of the vehicle to be by Zoro.
"Zoro! Chopper!" A voice from the side caught both of their attention.
It was Nami, being held by each arm by a henchman. Her face was dirty. Blood stained her temple, causing her hair to cling. There were scratches down her arms and in her clothes. Her face was pale and it was obvious she was terrified.
"It's a trap! Go get Luffy!" She shouted towards them, tears still in her eyes.
Chopper gasped at the sight. "Nami!" He gripped one of his bag straps.
Zoro gripped his swords hilt. A hostage situation, that's what they were going for? He glanced around again. Did he need Luffy here? His stubbornness told him no. He grinned. This should be fun.
Sanji stared down at his legs, willing them to move. It had been quite some time since everyone had left him. He wondered if he should just try and follow them on his own, but the furthest he got was to the back door, where a set of stairs laughed at him. It wouldn't matter how far he got, if he couldn't do anything. He turned away from the door and dug his fingers into his leg.
"Fuck...work damn you!"
His mind went back to the few times he had thought he was going mad. That sensation of feeling in his legs again. Although each time had been at random, they fueled his hope. If only he could just get up! The cook bent over, gently knocking his feet from their footplates. Then he put on its brake. He could do this.
Sanji moved his hands to the end of the arm rests. He had to try this. Mind over body right? There was a saying like that wasn't there? Focusing and furrowing his brows he began to lift himself up. It was still an unusual thing to do, lift himself up with his hands. Although he had been in physical therapy to mold his upper body, he wasn't sure he would be able to get used to it.
His arms shook, and he tried to straighten himself over his legs. Perhaps if he could just get himself to stand – maybe they would work on their own? A muscle memory? He didn't have time to think this over! He had to get going! Nami and everyone could be in real trouble. It was his fault! He couldn't accept that he was useless here.
But as was expected, his legs betrayed him and they buckled. The floor approached him fast, but at least Sanji had enough focus to angle his body in midair so that he'd land on his arm. He swore loudly, closing his eyes. His palm made its way to his forehead, pressing in as he hissed back some frustration tears. What was he thinking? No one could change the inevitable.
He dropped his arm off to the side, letting it rest on the floor. He stared at it, his eyelids lowering while he thought. He really hoped it wasn't as bad as he thought. Maybe Zoro would be able to save Nami, Zoro was always full of pleasant surprises. Sanji took a few more moments to think, then with another deep breath, rolled onto his stomach. He propped himself up with his arms. Time to keep trying.
Author's Note: Comments, Questions, Concerns? 8D? Wanna talk about it? If you do you are free to add me on my public skype, 'Turtlefriedrice' . (I appear offline) or tumblr of the same name. Shamelessfriendmaking ANYWAY I hope you liked this chapter. ~ Thanks for your wonderful reviews, I look forward to any more!