Mid: Enjoy that cliffhanger! Don't peek ahead 8I
Sometimes Embarrassment Leads to Bonding
"Oi."
Sanji raised an eyebrow and turned towards the younger, who was already walking up to him. "No hard feelings for kicking your ass overboard, right?" he asked, effortlessly sparking his lighter. Once the cigarette was lit, tanned fingers carelessly removed it and threw it to God knows where. Sanji scowled bitterly; he was running low on tobacco already and the brat goes and does that? "Why did you-"
Soft lips roughly collided with his own, and Sanji couldn't fight the smirk that formed.
Young Zoro held his face steady in case Sanji attempted to escape, which he was far from doing. He wasn't kissing back, not yet anyway. He stood perfectly still, though he his body relaxed so the younger wouldn't think he didn't want this. The older cook merely wanted to see how this played out, and how far the teen would go. The young swordsman noticed the extreme lack of movement, and began to panic. He licked the unmoving bottom lip shyly, receiving no response after. He immediately backed away; Sanji smugly noted the teen's face was as red as a ripe cherry. It made him proud that he could make the younger Zoro lose his composure this much, and he thought, Just imagine how Zoro's gonna react to this.
The younger avoided all eye contact, but refused to leave Sanji's presence. He didn't want to seem weak, no matter what situation he was in. This being the most terrifying. "I-I-I..." Young Zoro took a deep breath and Sanji's smirk grew slightly, "I'm sorry. I...blame you for this."
That was not what the cook was expecting. The apology, yes, but he was being blamed for being kissed? Sanji saw the anger slowly building inside the other as the teen's fists clenched and shook, but he couldn't figure out what the problem was. He hadn't the foggiest clue what to say before Young Zoro exploded. "This whole time," the teen stated, his voice appearing to be trembling, "since you joined the crew, I had to deal with you and everything you did. Your looks, your insults, your cooking, your fighting style; every-fucking-thing you did...it drove me nuts. I tried, I really tried to ignore all those weak and petty feelings, but then...then you showed up! Your looks, your insults, your fucking fighting; instead of them dumbing down, they got even fucking better. How the hell was I supposed to ignore all of this now? Now that it's practically being flaunted in my face? You're the one to blame for my self-control, you're the one to blame for making me say this, and even though you didn't move once, you're the one to blame for that FUCKING AWESOME KISS!"
Sanji was...speechless. He was pretty sure his mouth was agap, and his eyes were blown wide. The anger seeped out of the teen and his body was no longer raked with rage. In fact, it looked as if the other finally realized what he said, well, confessed. No, the cook thought, this idiot! He just told the wrong Sanji, damn it!
The door leading inside the Merry(1) opened as fast as a gust of wind, and Zoro stood in the threshold as flushed as his younger self. The swordsman glared at the grinning blonde, who had taken out another cigarette and quickly lit it. Zoro stomped past him and stalked up to his teenage-self, roughly grabbing his old white shirt by the collar. Young Zoro yelped at the sudden ferocity as his short hair was yanked sharply so the older could have clear access to his ear. "You goddamn idiot," he whispered angrily, "Don't tell him that, tell him that." The older swordsman jerked his head in Sanji's direction twice, making the teen not see his point. Zoro groaned irritably and shoved his timid twin towards the door, urging him on with the deadliest scowl in the universe. Young Zoro's eye widened and he wasted no time in throwing the door open. Sanji watched this entire ordeal, and in his eyes Zoro just...threatened himself? The cook didn't speak or make a single sound as Zoro hesitantly glanced at him; he only appreciated the blush he was receiving.
"Uh, sorry about that, he's an idiot."
"Yes, I completely agree," Sanji mused.
"Oi, I'm allowed to say it, you're not."
The cook chuckled, but soon stopped at recalling a certain memory. Zoro didn't look like he just did went into the galley and practically attacked him, and he apparently didn't have any problem with talking with Sanji after that. Zoro must be an asshole if he thinks everything could be forgotten in the snap of fingers. "Oi," the blonde began.
"Hm?"
"I gotta a question, sorta. More like an observation, really."
"...Okay."
"So, I kick your ass overboard, and you molest me."
It was Zoro's turn to chuckle as he leaned against the railing, "It's not molestation if you want it, too."
"Hm, I'd say a consensual almost-rape since you just barged in like that."
Zoro laughed loudly, and Sanji flashed a bright smile. It might not be best to question whether any of the "feelings" Young Zoro spoke were still there or not, but the suspension was killing the cook deep down. He didn't want Zoro to be uncomfortable around him after an outburst that intense, not to mention the teen called the one-way kiss awesome. Sanji definitely want to bring that up, or maybe he did, depending on how the marimo reacted.
XVX
It was extremely weird, Usopp thought. The future cook and swordsman were only on the ship for almost a week, but it felt like long months, and the younger look alikes were always with the older opposite. The older first mate was rarely seen without the younger cook by his side, and the same goes for the older cook and younger swordsman. Usopp has been watching them for a while, as well as the rest of the crew, and they couldn't figure out why. Robin always had a smile on her face whenever the topic came up, telling everyone that she most likely knew but wouldn't inform them. The sharpshooter observed more frequently than the others did, considering his doubtful nature of the olders. It was perfectly clear to everyone that Sanji was Sanji and Zoro was Zoro, but the fact that they came from the future uneased Usopp. What if they caused time itself to rip apart? Though, Robin clarified that that couldn't happen, the sniper didn't want to take any chances.
More importantly, it seemed like the olders were avoiding each other. The only time Sanji and Zoro would be in the same room would be for meals, and the men's quarters to sleep. Why avoid the other, but still hang around the other? Usopp asked this question multiple times to himself, but hadn't got an answer yet. Nami watched just as carefully as he did, and she instantly noticed as well. On Day Six of the olders' arrival, the navigator and sniper met with the archaeologist in the girls' room, since it was the only private room on the ship besides the bathroom.
"But why, Robin? I mean, can't it cause some weird...dimenson flip or something?" Usopp asked.
Robin sipped her light coffee with the same smile he always sported when Zoro and Sanji were involved. "It really is perfectly fine, Longnose-kun. No matter what significant thing they do in the past, Time-Time Fruits won't allow history to be changed. For instance, say we were on a dangerous course, heading straight for demise. It doesn't matter if Cook-san or Swordsman-san tells us that and we escape. The Time-Time Fruit would make another course of demise, perhaps a replica of the original. No matter what they do here, the future will stay the same."
"But isn't it weird how the future ones are hanging out with the other's past ones? I haven't seen future Sanji-kun talk to future Zoro in days! That's got to mess with time somehow, right?" Nami inquired.
"It is not that they are avoiding each other," Robin stated, a tinge of worry in her voice, "It is that the youngers want the olders to themselves."
"Why do you look concerned if you said nothing bad will happen?" Usopp said, noticing the woman's head lower.
Robin sighed, "I didn't say anything bad wouldn't happen. Not to the rest of the crew. I fear that our Cook-san and Swordsman-san are getting too...attached to the other's older-self. It could break their hearts when they finally leave, which is only a week away."
"What...what should we do to help?" Nami asked.
"We cannot do anything. It is the olders that need to put a stop to this." Robin stood from her desk chair and headed for the exit, carrying her empty cup. Nami and Usopp stared at each other for a split second in pity, wishing the olders good luck on trying to pry the stubborn teens off of them.
XVX
Zoro had a sinking sensation in his stomach. Being around the young Sanji he's come to love is great, but the swordsman knew he wouldn't be staying here forever. He knew that this was utterly pointless considering he'd only be staying for another week or so. Zoro shouldn't be in the kitchen, watching the young blonde make preparations, Young Zoro should. But the shorter cook wouldn't let him leave; always talking and occupying the first mate with something so he wouldn't have to. Zoro missed his Sanji, though technically they were the same person. God knows what his foolishly impulsive-self is doing to the poor bastard. No new memories appeared, which he couldn't tell was a good or bad thing. All Zoro knew was that his younger-self was wasting precious time, the time that he could be spending in here with the cook and fixing his fucked up future.
Zoro stood from the table and headed for the door, alerting the blonde warden. Young Sanji must not have wanted to seem desperate since he didn't speak, but the swordsman could feel the anxious aura clouding the room. He could feel the disappointment rolling off in huge waves. Once he left, his body slumped and he sighed in relief as soon as he stepped outside. Of course he didn't want to upset the teenager; Sanji was known for his flaring temper. Zoro felt compelled to seek out the older cook for some reason. He couldn't put his finger on it; he just knew he wanted Sanji.
While rounding the corner, his younger-self and the cook weren't there at the stern, where they usually were. Confused, Zoro searched the deck, but only found Robin's empty lawn chair. Usopp was below deck, Robin and Nami were in their room, and Chopper was undoubtedly in the infirmary. The sun was setting over the horizon, and the first mate smiled at the sight. Maybe he'd sit back, relax and watch it. Finding Sanji could wait, couldn't it?
And then he heard a low moan.
Me: (1) I don't know what the technical name is for "the door leading inside the ship," so if there isn't one, oh well. If there is, someone better tell me what the hell it is. Haha.