Sanji's legs were killing him, but he forced his expression to stay sane. He couldn't let the others know about this, even Chopper, who was scolding at him as he looked him over. His body was still shaking as he offered his arm and helped Nami to her feet. His head was pounding, his teeth grinding into each other.
"Sanji! What are you doing?!You need to rest!" Chopper pleaded.
Now that the small doctor had been freed from his weakening seastone chains, his energy had returned. Thousands of things were running through his mind. Sanji just gestured him off with his hand though.
"We need to get going." He grunted, straining his voice.
Nami pressed her lips together and tightened her grip on Sanji's arm. Her own arm had been throbbing since her earlier accident, but her main concern was him. She was overwhelmed with joy to see him come to the rescue, baffled that he was walking, but Nami wasn't dumb. Even if Sanji could walk again, something like that was never like magic and automatically okay. There were always consequences.
"Sanji maybe you should rest..." She began but the blonde just shook his head, trying to guide her to the door.
All that was running through Sanji's mind that he could piece together between his pain was that they needed to go. They were wasting time damn it.
"No Nami-swan!" He tried to lie, "I'm fine, honest we just need to..."
His voice trailed the moment his eyes began to widen. There was a feeling of stiffness through his body and he found himself falling forward, his legs betraying him again. He didn't fall though, as two arms grabbed his shoulders to hold him up right. Sanji's blue met black. Zoro.
Zoro's face was scowled of course, but he was scanning Sanji over. Zoro didn't want to hurt Sanji's pride but the cook wasn't doing so well. He pulled his cook out of Nami's grasp and forcefully pulled his arm over his shoulders.
"Oi! The hell Marimo I told you I'm fine!" protested Sanji, though he was still struggling with his limbs. His heart had begun to race, that moment he lost them again.
Zoro just rolled his eyes. Chopper seemed more relieved though to see someone was taking action. He was about to, having already changed into his human form just to catch Sanji. Instead he turned to Nami, offering her assistance.
Bon Clay had moved closer to the door. He looked at his watch. "Sanji-kun we don't have time..." He explained.
Zoro glared at the cross dresser again as he hurriedly led Sanji through the door way. He could feel Sanji's trembling frame and it terrified him. Why had Sanji gone to such lengths to push himself? What would this mean? He was obviously in pain, what could they do? Why was he so fucking stubborn?
Outside of the room they had been held captive was a very interesting scene. It was the zombie men from before that Zoro had struggled with…except, they had been defeated. How the hell had they defeated those? Zoro cut arms and legs away to no avail! This was bullshit.
They didn't have time for a session of questions and answers though. The crew rushed out of the building, which turned out to be an old factory of sorts none of them really recognized. It had almost appeared they would all get away safe now that they had been rescued by Bon and Sanji, but the moment they had reached the outside things started to change.
A considerably large jolt of pain ran up Sanji's leg and spine. He tensed under Zoro, causing the swordsman's heart to race. Sanji had been able to resist reacting to his earlier attacks but this, this one was too overwhelming. He fell to his knees beside Zoro, letting out an agonizing gasp. Zoro dropped down next to him.
Nami, Chopper and the okama had been ahead of them and stopped upon hearing Sanji. They called back out to Sanji in concern but Zoro just motioned them to go on ahead while they still could. He could take care of Sanji, they just needed to get to safety. Chopper hesitated, but Nami just nodded and urged the doctor to do as their swordsman said.
"Oi Cook! What's happening?" He demanded in his growing fears. "We gotta go."
He was worried and he was mad. Stupid cook doing this to himself! Was he trying to destroy his body?
Sanji knew what the guy must've been thinking, that he was stupid, but he just had to. He couldn't have just not pushed himself. He knew that Zoro had been in danger; of course he was going to do whatever he could to save him. He wouldn't have been able to make it if something had happened to Zoro too. He attempted to stand straight back up, but his leg buckled him back down. He landed on his palms on concrete and hissed between his teeth. Damn.
"The fuck were you thinking doing this?" lectured Zoro. His hand rested on Sanji's shoulder and he watched as Sanji caught his breath. Sanji managed to turn his head and glare at his Marimo.
"Had to save your shitty ass." He spat, feeling it should've been obvious on its own. Then he turned his gaze away. His eyes were moist.
Zoro huffed. That saving him part he didn't particularly like. Zoro didn't need saving, but the assistance he supposed was welcomed. "So you could screw up your legs even more? Stop bull shitting it Cook! I know this hurts."
Like the nemesis he also was to the blonde, he brushed his hand on top of Sanji's leg. It made Sanji cringe and he leaned himself into Zoro. His breath quickened and he closed his eyes tight until it calmed. He looked away. Really Zoro was going to talk about this now? Of all places?
"I won't lose you like I lost Zeff." He met Zoro's gaze again. "Now get us the hell out of here Marimo because..."
Sanji's eyes began to wander, a feeling of lightness coming over his head. Crap, he had hoped it wouldn't get so bad that he'd actually need to pass out. He grabbed onto Zoro's shirt. "I'm... not going to make it very far."
Sanji's words had hit Zoro in all the right places. He'd sacrifice his body just so he wouldn't lose him? Obviously it wasn't the time to get sentimental and of course he came to save Chopper and Nami too, no doubt, but it lit something inside Zoro. Something that made him want to embrace Sanji here and now and never let go now that he was reunited with him again.
The Marimo was never afraid that he wouldn't be able to escape being captured by the All Blue, but the fear Sanji must've had. He could relate. It was just like when things were unsure for Sanji, or even before that when Sanji had been in danger. He pulled Sanji's arms over him again and with assistance from the drifting cook he was able to get him fully onto his back, his arms wrapped around his neck.
Now it was a matter of getting out in time. He should've asked how much time they had left before this place exploded. Shit why did they always have to have those damn hearts to hearts in the worst possible locations? Zoro glanced around. Not to mention he had lost sight of Nami and Chopper! Where was he supposed to go? He didn't know these things!?
Like he usually did he just picked a location and began to go. Unfortunately, it was still close to the building, so close enough that they felt the heat the moment the explosives inside went off. The ground rumbled beneath them and Zoro struggled to keep his balance. They both braced for it. They weren't far enough away. This was it, it was going to hit them. Sanji tightened his grip on Zoro for what he thought would be his last time.
That was until suddenly all the heat had vanished. Sanji lifted his head, his jaw dropping slightly. What had just happened? The explosion... the flames... they had felt it coming towards them, ready to engulf them... why had it just stopped? Zoro, thinking the same thing glanced over in shock. The explosion hadn't stopped; the building was now engulfed in reds and oranges. It had only stopped right in front of them.
There was something blocking the way. It was a man, one that both of them recognized and were beyond relieved to see. It was Ace, Luffy's brother. He was standing in his usual shirtless attire, both of his arms out straight and had absorbed the flames that shot towards them. Because that was what Ace was. Thanks to his fruit he was fire and could manipulate or absorb it as he pleased. He had saved them. But the bigger question is why he is here?
Satisfied he had blocked the way Ace turned around and grinned at the couple. He pulled down the top of his hat slightly in acknowledgment.
"I reckon I just saved your life." He laughed.
Zoro tightened his grip on Sanji's legs. Thank god, or whoever he had because they would've been so screwed. At the same time though, he was kind of irritated that he had to be 'assisted' twice already in the same freaking day.
"Tch... Ace." He called out to him over the cracking sound of the building behind torn apart by its flames. "What are you doing here?"
Did Ace even know about the All Blue situation? He had thought that the group had made it absolutely certain that anyone outside of their usual circle weren't allowed to know. That's when Zoro remembered. This was Luffy's brother they were talking about. Luffy couldn't lie and loved to talk loudly about anything – especially if there was someone's ass he wanted to kick. It would only be natural if their captain had gone and told Ace what was happening with Sanji. Even so..
Zoro's eye traveled to what he could see of Sanji's face. He looked surprised too though, so Ace didn't come with him. Luffy didn't either, so how did Ace know? There were so many questions to be asked.
Ace just kept his satisfied grin on as he bent down and grabbed at what he had brought with him. It was a familiar straw hat he had found on his way out the door of Robin and Franky's house. He had set it on the ground behind him to also protect it from the flames. He balanced it on his fingers and brushed away some ash and dust.
"Found this on my way out." He began to explain, walking towards them. "Thought you might want it back."
Sanji's mouth dried a little at the sight. That was Luffy's straw hat, the same one he had tossed to the side earlier in his frustrations. How was it he was so determined not to be the victim and to escape that hat he felt labeled him as one, only to end up in this situation where Zoro, the guy he was rescuing, was carrying him and the straw hat was back? Perhaps, it was time for Sanji to just face the fact everyone had to wear the hat sometime. Everyone had their dark moments. It would also help that Luffy found it back in Sanji's possession and not on the floor where Sanji had put it first.
Ace flipped the hat around and settled it onto the cook's head. He rested his hand on his hip and glanced back at Zoro.
"Where were you going anyway?" He asked him. "Were you trying to go back into the flames?"
Zoro jerked his head away in embarrassment. Not that he ever got embarrassed. He just grunted and began moving away from the building. Ace chuckled lightly to himself, already knowing the answer. He shot a glance back at the burning building. The explosion itself was pretty contained to the factory and it would have taken a lot more for it to go out of control. It would seem most of the explosion had been inside, where Zoro, Chopper and Nami had been. It was typical All Blue behavior, done the same way the Baratie had.
Sanji furrowed his brow. He wasn't totally with it anymore, his body pretty numbed by pain. He felt exhausted and weak, but he heard Ace's words over the commotion. With his head resting over one of Zoro's shoulders, he turned his face towards Zoro's so that he could whisper in his ear.
"Seriously Marimo. Lost again?" He teased softly. "You had two options, building or not building."
The Marimo just flushed at the feeling of Sanji's breath at his ears. Zoro's silence, fueled by annoyance not to answer, made Sanji want to hum. Now that he knew he was out of the way of the explosion and getting himself blown sky high, thanks to Ace, Sanji felt relieved. He didn't need to keep forcing himself; he could just... rest here, his arms still around Zoro's neck.
Ace followed the pair as they continued walking out of the Factory's parking lot. They found the others behind the brick fence that lined the property. Chopper was beginning to wrap Nami's arm with what had been her dress jacket. Both their faces lit up when they saw their friends.
"What took you so long?! Where did you run off to and..." groaned a worried Nami. "Ace?!"
Zoro ignored them, looking around the area. Chopper stood up on his two hooves and glanced at Sanji on his back. He frowned. Sanji was the one he was most worried about. Sanji was resting his eyes for now, opening them for a few moments just to see the worried doctor. He sighed.
Ace looked just as surprised as Nami and Chopper were. "Oh you guys are here too?" He asked with a smile. "Where's Luffy and the rest at?"
Zoro raised an eyebrow and rolled his shoulder, making Sanji come back to attention. The cook groaned. "Where are Luffy and the others?"
For some reason the swordsman had just assumed that it was all of them who had gone after them, but from what it appeared Sanji and Bon had come on their own and then Ace... that was still up in the air too.
"Not sure." Sanji responded honestly. Though he assumed they might have not had the right location to travel to, considering they didn't have Bon.
"You didn't come with them?" Nami had narrowed her eyes, holding her arm closer to her. She had assumed the same thing. Sanji just shook his head. "Then how did you get here?"
They all followed Sanji's eyes to the okama standing a few feet away. Bon Clay had yet again felt out of the loop. Not to mention he was hiding his overwhelming tears from having watched Ace display true friendship in protecting Zoro and Sanji. This whole group of people, he admired them so much. He jumped when he noticed all eyes on him.
"Oh hm? Yes! Me and Sanji-kun came here on our own."
Ace gave one final look around. "Where's your car?"
They'd need to get in it fast and leave the area before any authorities came to check out the massive factory burning just on the outskirts of town. An explosion like that wouldn't go unnoticed and they didn't need to be here to get the blame placed on them. Ace, a known pyromaniac being found at the scene wouldn't help their case very much either.
"We don't have one. We..." Bon Clay paused, realizing the shock this might bring. "walked."
All of their eyes, minus Sanji's who had already closed again grew wide. Ace held his hat down on his head, his jaw dropping slightly. Zoro swallowed thickly. Nami's face went pale. Chopper let out a squeal and they all looked at Sanji. Chopper's hooves went to the sides of his cheeks.
"Sanji!" He cried. "You walked that much!? What have you done?! Your legs!"
Sanji's forehead wrinkled in agitation. It didn't even feel that bad now. They were pretty numb. "Chopper..." He said tiredly. "I'm fine I swear."
"No you aren't Sanji! Your legs were probably still healing! It's much too soon! You could've done permanent damage!" Chopper rushed to Zoro's side. "Zoro please help me get him down, I've got to look at him."
Zoro nodded, giving no protest. He never imagined it to be that much. The cook walked here? Hell they had to be miles away from Robin's. It was still night time too though, so he must've... Did he run? Shitty Cook! What the hell! He lowered himself, letting Chopper peel the blonde away.
"Chopper, I'm serious, they aren't even hurting..." protested Sanji, but Chopper still lowered him onto the ground.
"You've probably been in shock Sanji." The reindeer lectured, sitting down on his knees. He reached out to softly touch one of Sanji's legs.
Sanji jerked his head back in pain. Alright, he felt that and it hurt. He grimaced. The expressions on Chopper's face weren't very uplifting. He looked almost mortified again. The doctor continued anyway, wrapping a hand below his leg and settling one on his knee. Although it was already hurting Sanji, he attempted to straighten the leg. Instantly a yell left Sanji's throat and his arms moved up in protest.
Zoro was fast, grabbing his arms and holding him back while Chopper did his work. Ace slid in on the opposite side, bending over for extra support if need be. He tried saying some calming things to Sanji instead. Chopper continued to try and move them, observing something about them. Bon just cringed and tried to find his happy place.
Nami tried covering her ears with her hand and shoulder, since one of her arms had been wrapped up. A pair of headlights encouraged her to stop though as a vehicle came speeding towards them. They all glanced up from what they were doing. The car made a sharp turn, stopping feet away. The front door swung open and a familiar face met them.
"Nami! Zoro! Chopper!" It was Luffy. He jumped out of the car door and glanced around. His eyes landed on Ace. "Ace?"
"Luffy!" Nami cried happily, pushing herself off the ground where she had been resting. She wandered over.
Ussop, Robin and Franky were getting out of the van, their senses alert at the sirens filling the night. Robin rushed over, looking Nami and the others down. "Sorry we were late; we were heading the other way until we heard the explosion. Are you all alright?"
Nami opened her mouth to explain what was happening when Zoro interrupted her by yelling to Chopper.
"Oi! What's going on?!" The swordsman questioned, trying to wake Sanji up. The cook had gone quiet, his body limp. "Sanji!"
Chopper took in a deep breath, looking up at Sanji's face. "He's passed out from the pain. We need to get him somewhere fast again."
Luffy, who had been preoccupied with the fire and seeing the others, glanced over. His eyes widen. "Sanji!"
Robin and Ussop both followed his glance.
"Sanji? What's he doing here?! We left him at Robin's!" cried Ussop. How did Sanji get here before them?
"He walked," returned Nami's scared tone.
Robin gave her a beyond skeptical look. "Walked?"
Zoro clenched his teeth, then stood up, pulling the cook up with him by his arms. "It doesn't matter." He instructed the others, giving them a determined stare down. His gaze stopped at Franky. "Franky, you think you can help us get out of here?"
Franky, who had taken his sunglasses off and been watching in surprise nodded, his jaw open. Sanji had walked? He motioned back towards the van with his thumb. "Yeah, dude. Let's go everyone, those firetrucks are gonna be here soon."
Chopper helped pick the lower half of Sanji up and both he and Zoro brought Sanji over to the van. Zoro wasn't listening, but he knew the others were probably talking about Sanji's miracle of being able to walk. They laid him in the back before Chopper went to go and grab his bag. That left Zoro and Sanji alone a moment. Zoro's heart hadn't calmed the whole evening.
He watched Sanji's face, saw as he was still breathing lightly. He was okay, for now anyway. Stupid idiot pushing himself so much for them...for him. He reached out and lightly moved Sanji's bang back into place. He'd be pissed if anyone saw his other eyebrow underneath it during the move to the van. It made Zoro's lips twitch a smile, but he dismissed it. He wasn't going to rejoice until they were all good to go.
The rest fled into the back of the van, Ussop and Franky in the front. The shipwright was about to pull out when Robin interrupted them.
"Captain." She called out.
Luffy tilted his head, glanced over at her. She was smiling, bent down low like everyone else in the back. "What?"
Robin glanced to the person next to him. "I didn't know you had a twin."
The rest of the crew followed where she was looking, trying to understand what she meant. Then they knew. Right next to Luffy, in a dark colored outfit he had not arrived in, was a Luffy clone. The Luffy clone laughed nervously.
"Oh!" Luffy said in excitement, looking him over. "SUGOI!"
Franky, who was watching in the rear view mirror raised his eyebrow, and then he glanced at his side mirror. Ussop looked out the side mirror on his side.
"Uh, guys we really got to go." He explained, watching the approaching lights.
"Who is that guy?" Ace asked, glancing over at Nami who was next to him in the back. Nami just shook her head. "Not sure. He arrived with Sanji."
Franky pushed the van into gear. "Friend of curly cook? Good enough for me!" He announced before pulling off into the street. He stepped on the gas.
The crew in the back nearly tumbled over, desperately holding onto the sides of the inner van. It would have really helped if it had seats and wasn't just a cramped open space. Luffy just laughed. He had wanted to kick some ass and was furious, but now that all his friends seemed to be here he wasn't as angry. He would deal with it a little later; right now racing away from a burning fire scene was way more fun.
"Franky." Chopper said as he finally fought his way to the front of the van. His head appeared between the two front seats as Franky pulled out and onto the express way. "We need to stop by the hospital."
Franky nodded. "Roger that."
Zoro took a deep breath. He had his arm extended over Sanji and against the side of the van, practically protecting him from any of the others as they tried staying still. His mind was still filled with concern as he looked down at him. He honestly hoped the cook hadn't messed himself up too bad over this. Things were just starting to look up.
Author's Note: If you thought this was going to be some happy magical time when Sanji is back to normal I'd like to apologize ;n; Im going the more realistic route, cause drama and fluffy zosan worrying about each other moments. Im sorry I torture you so Sanji. QnQ Same to my readers by making you wait. I apologize every time so.. its only normal I do it this time too! Be sure to review okay~ xoxo You're all the best! Please keep enjoying my story!