Fallen Skies

Pairing: Zosan

Disclaimer: All one piece characters belong to Oda

Sanji had just finished baking the cake for Perona and placed it on the counter. He couldn't wait for Zoro to come over to his apartment and get the cake for Perona. He had asked Perona what type of cake she liked; she didn't give a concrete answer, but she did say the word chocolate. So here he was placing some strawberries on his well-baked to perfection cake. He made the cake a milky vanilla, with chocolate icing, topped with some red juicy strawberries.

It wasn't till late afternoon that Zoro made an appearance. "Why does your apartment keep changing locations?"

"ZORO!~ Sanji twirled 'till standing next to Zoro. He slid Zoro's jacket off in which Zoro was having trouble taking off and placed it on the hanger. Without saying another word the blonde sat Zoro on one of his dining chairs. He leaned down and pressed his warm lips onto Zoro's much colder one. "Your lips are cold..." he smirked against Zoro's lips.

"Really? I didn't know that. Could be because you were baking and your hot."

"I baked a cake for Perona and one just for you. I hope you have room for it, knowing you probably ate before coming here"

Zoro pulled Sanji onto his lap. "You know I can't stop eating your food cook." Sanji smiled, he loved Zoro's appetite, it wasn't like Luffy's but the guy could eat, so cooking for Zoro was almost fun. "I can't believe you made me a cake even though it's not my birthday. Can I have a slice now?- Hey! Why are you pouting?"

"If I get the cake, I'll have to move from on top of you." Sanji placed a hand on Zoro's chest, steadying himself as Zoro's body shook with laughter. "Don't laugh at me!" The blonde slid his hand onto Zoro's head, where the ever persistent bandana was tied. Pinching the material with his slender hands, the blonde was going to take it off, but Zoro's strong hands stopped him.

"I think I'm ready for my cake."

He slowly scooted off; disappointed to not be able to take the bandana, which is always on his partners head off. Sanji took out the cake from the fridge. "I hope you like it, Train tracks." He said, smirking when he saw Zoro's eyes widen at how delicious the cake looked. "Its vanilla."

Zoro picked up one of the knives that were set on the table, slicing the cake for a piece for him and one for Sanji.

"This taste good Sanji! You sure it's vanilla cake?"

"Of course, what else could it be?" He answered, taking a bite from his slice of cake which was noticeably smaller than Zoro's.

Not surprisingly Zoro finished first and without any shame he shoved the last of the blonde's piece of cake into his own mouth. "Oi! That was mine!" Zoro ignored Sanji and leaned over the table, his lips getting really close to the blonde's. Sanji closed the gap, taking Zoro's cake tasting mouth into his.

Zoro ran his strong hands thought the chef's silky blonde hair. The blonde shivered when the ends of his own strands tickled his neck, the blonde leaned closer to the bigger man who was hovering over him, his brow furrowed when he felt Zoro's hands shaking as his fingers went through his hair. Feeling too good in this man's strong arms Sanji ignored it.

It wasn't till Zoro's body was trembling and getting too hot that the blonde chef parted his lips to look into those neon green eyes. "Zoro?"

Zoro's shallow breath was enough to confirm that something was wrong. "Sanji...I feel light-headed." He let go of Sanji, to fall back to his chair. He placed a hand over his chest, trying to even out his irregular breathing. Noticing that every breath he took, his lungs felt like it was getting tighter and tighter, his breathing coming more and more wheezed.

Seeing the red angry blotches that were starting to form around Zoro's arm and neck, Sanji was able to understand what was happening. "You're allergic to something!?" Do you know what it is?" Sanji swiftly stood up from his chair to get to Zoro, but only earning an abnormal reaction from Zoro.

Zoro raised both his hands up in a protective gesture while flinching away. The blonde stopped in his movements when he saw an unrecognized emotion on Zoro's face, his eyes dilated and big. Was that... fear? Zoro seemed to notice his own reaction because he closed his eyes tight, forcing his mouth in response since his throat felt tight and almost swollen shut. "I... can't eat...Ch-chocolate."

Sanji's eyes widen for a fraction of a second. The cake was made of vanilla, but the frosting it was white chocolate. Placing a hand under Zoro's arm, Sanji pulled him to his feet. He had to wait a few seconds for Zoro to straighten and get ready to walk.

Zoro moaned in discomfort when Sanji pulled him to his feet. "Where... where are we goi-going?" He closed his eyes tight, a burning feeling curling itself in his gut and chest. His chest felt like it was being crushed by something heavy since it was getting tighter and harder to breathe, every breath hurting more and more as his throat was also starting to swell.

"We have to carry you to the hospital."

"I'll be-I'll be...fine..."

"Zoro, use your feet and help me get you to my car." Sanji ordered, pulling Zoro a little higher to get a better grip on his waist. "You have to go to the hospital; you can die because of an allergic reaction."

Zoro didn't answer. His legs were starting to feel like jello, but he didn't want to hinder Sanji like he already was. "Just take one step at a time.-one, two, one, one, two..." Zoro could hear Sanji repeat, encourage while helping him walk.

They had to take a few breaks just getting from the kitchen to the door. Zoro's chest would tighten enough to leave him without air. Each time this happened Sanji would stop and lean Zoro against something, making sure to keep him upright. Once he got his breathing relatively under control, they continued till they reached the chef's car.

"Try to stay awake. If you fall asleep I don't know what could happen." Sanji only heard a groan from the passenger side; however, he took it as an "okay", so he ignited his car's engine before speed to the hospital.

Sanji leaned back in his seat, giving him enough room to squeeze his hand into his front pocket to retrieve his cell phone. Lifting the phone to eye level Sanji dialled 911.

/

Since Sanji was already on his way, the kind woman that spoke to him, informed that they will be waiting outside. Apparently, Zoro's condition was worse than he thought it was. Zoro could have stopped breathing, or fall into unconsciousness in which he could still fall into.

Sanji found himself glancing at Zoro almost every second. The nurse said allergic reactions can keep getting worse as time passed. The man next to him skin was getting redder, and his breathing was getting noticeably worse. Sanji wondered if Zoro's current condition hurt more than what he was letting on. Knowing the man was stoic and would try his best to hide emotions he didn't want to show.

"Zoro stay awake, you hear? Just focus on breathing, that's the most important thing now." He felt guilty, watching as Zoro clutched and pulled on his shirt, his other hand holding the seat tightly. He already had a thin layer of sweat and his breathing was coming out short and wheezed.

The blonde was glad when he saw the hospital and the doctors already waiting outside the building. Parking at the front Sanji ran around his car and opened the door, helping Zoro out as the doctor's approached.

It was then that Sanji noticed how bad Zoro actually looked because the car was dark Sanji missed the angry red skin, his swollen face and neck, and something close to (if not hives) crawling up Zoro's throat, making its way to his face. "Shit... I'm so sorry." Zoro didn't respond, his throat almost shut tight, one hand on Sanji's shoulder to keep himself upright.

The Doctor reached seconds later, yanking Zoro from Sanji hands, rather roughly on Sanji's opinion and laid him down on the small portable hospital bed. Not wanting to leave Zoro's side, Sanji grabbed onto the man's much bigger hands, squeezing it tight. The doctors didn't seem to mind Sanji, as they worked around him, putting an oxygen mask and injecting a liquid into his skin.

It didn't take long before they rushed inside. Sanji was still holding Zoro's hand, the blonde didn't know if Zoro was coherent enough to know he was there with him since his eyes were half lidded and clouded with pain and whatever drug the doctors just gave him, but he wished he could somehow tell him that he was sorry. That he didn't mean to ruin everything. Poor Perona, what would she think knowing something bad happened to her brother on her birthday? Shit-shit!

Sanji started rubbing with his thumb Zoro's wet with sweat face and brow, as they waited for the elevator to reach the bottom. A doctor turned around to address the blonde. "You won't be able to pass from here."

"Why not?!"

"Because," A nurse answered. "We need to deal with him and if you want him to live I recommend you stay here and wait. You will be able to see him afterwards, but you must stay here till then."

The blonde scowled at the nurse the same one that was so rough earlier. Before Sanji could say anything, the nurse pulled Zoro's bandana off his head, revealing what was underneath. Sanji's eyes widen.

Zoro's hair was... is... Sanji's hand slowly released Zoro's until it dropped lifeless to his side.

Zoro's eyes also widen, his green eyes looking at Sanji as the doctors pushed him into the elevator that opened. The last thing he saw was Sanji's stunned face. A sharper pain made its way into Zoro's chest, not like the one he was having now. It felt like a feeling so deep inside that not even a doctor could reach to stop the pain...He had lost Sanji. Sanji now thought he was a freak and would leave him.

He cried out in frustration and fear of losing Sanji, he didn't know what else to do with the feeling. Sanji was gone. His first love gone...

Sanji watched eyes still wide as the doors closed and Zoro's scream could be heard from the other side.

/

Zoro awoke with the steady sound of his heart beat beeping-filling the otherwise quiet room. Before he could even open his eyes, a flashback of Sanji's stunned beautiful eyes stared right back at him. Zoro's breath hitched. He was alone again. He felt his heart clenched again. It hurts just to think of not having Sanji by his side. Of course someone as precious as Sanji wouldn't want someone like him, he was a waste to this world. He didn't deserve someone like Sanji to love him.

A big white blur was the first thing he saw. His eyes felt extremely heavy to open, but he still managed. His tongue felt like it couldn't fit in his mouth because of how swollen it felt, and his chest and throat still felt tight. The drug was finally doing its work, even with all these discomfort Zoro didn't feel any worse and knew soon it would start to get better.

His eyes finally adjusted to the ceiling. His eyes squinted a little, looking at the fan in the ceiling, wobbling as it made the same circle over and over.

It wasn't till he heard a faint snore that Zoro moved his head that felt extremely heavy to the side to see who was there. Zoro's eyes watered and his breathing becoming short. Good thing he still had the oxygen mask over his mouth, the mask muffling his surprise. Because the person sitting next to his bed with a pulled chair and his torso leaning forward so he could place his head on Zoro's arm was none other than Sanji.

Sanji opened his eyes feeling a gaze on him, looking up the blonde smiled. Zoro was awake, not completely better, his skin was still red with a few hives, and he still needed the mask to breathe properly, but at least he looked much better. "Hey Marimo." He smiled. "I finally got a name that fits, huh?"

"Ma-ri-mo?" Zoro asked after pulling the oxygen mask off his face. He had no idea what that was. But anything about his hair could not be good.

"Yeah. It's a special type of moss; it looks like a moss ball." Sanji answers, only becoming aware of Zoro's discomfort with his hair after he sees a crestfallen face. "It's really special, it's like a national treasure in Northblue."

"My hair doesn't bother you?"

Sanji laughed. "I thought it was dyed at first. But I had enough time to check if it was." Sanji leaned closer to Zoro's face. "The funny thing is, it's now that I notice your eyebrow and eyelashes are a dark green."

Sanji ran his fingers through Zoro's hair, feeling once again how soft it was. It reminded him a lot like grass, but softer and fuzzy. "I do want you to do something for me."

Hearing this, Zoro's green eyes looked at Sanji. No matter how many times he looked at the blonde he just couldn't get pass the beautiful color of his hair and eyes. It literally brought color to his eyes, and going so long just seeing black and white makes him look at Sanji longer than he should.

Zoro nodded, not telling Sanji that he agreed, but more that he was listening. "I don't want you to cover your hair again." Zoro's eyes widen, he made a noise of protest, but Sanji kept talking. "Also, I want you to grow your hair longer than what you have it now."

"But Sanji... I don't think I can..." He had lived most of his life trying to cover his hair. Sanji was just asking for too much. Cutting it as short as possible and hiding it for so long, for him to just stop and show it to the world? He just couldn't."Sanji please..."

"I'm not taking anything but yes, as an answer. You gave me a sense of confidences, and I believe you still have it. Zoro, I'm fine with your hair, and I'm sure that your family feels the same." Sanji leaned even closer, placing one hand on the bed to help him balance while the other grabbed Zoro's chin to make Zoro face him. "Plus, I love a man that's a little different." He batted his eyelashes a smirk forming on his lips.

Zoro flushed. What could he say now of Sanji puts it that way.

Taking the oxygen mask around Zoro's neck Sanji placed it back over the green hair man. "I really love your hair. Ma-ri-mo." Sanji purrs, saying Zoro's new nickname in a sing-song voice. "I think I like this name for you. What do you prefer, Marimo or seaweed head?"

Zoro smirked at Sanji. Cause Sanji didn't pity him, and that's what he wanted. He didn't want Sanji to start treating him differently. Because even though one of the things that really attracted Zoro to Sanji, he would have to confess is Sanji's ocean blue hair and almost golden hair, but the other thing was how Sanji could tease him, but at the same time say it with love in every tease.

"Marimo, that sounds better." Zoro says. He leans back while closing his eyes, starting to feel sleepy because the drug has yet to leave his system, and now all he wants to do is sleep. Maybe if he asks Sanji to lay down next to him he would. Before he could say anything, he felt the bed dip with an extra weight. Zoro opened his eyes to see Sanji curling up next to him like a giant cat.

"You don't mind do you?" Sanji hummed, feeling Zoro's still overly warm skin start to warm his cold skin because he stayed the night seated in an awkward position the whole night, and it was cold inside the hospital room without a sheet to cover his body.

Zoro didn't answer, but instead pulled Sanji higher onto his chest. He didn't mind Sanji on him. Sanji was a bit cold, but it did wonders to his hot skin. And having someone next to him the way Sanji is now would help him sleep more comfortably.

"I won't be able to stay on you, cause I called Bonney and she is coming soon. So get some rest while you can. I don't want to get caught in this position, especially if your dad is planning to come as well."

"You told her?" He sighed. Sometimes his family can over react. But he guessed it was ok, since it was Sanji that called them. Sighing again, he closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.

/

It wasn't long before he opened his eyes again. The first thing that registered was the loud talking. He opened his eyes slowly. The first voice he heard he recognized it instantly. Bonney.

"Perona stop your crying! He's not dying; he's just sleeping... and be quiet! She screamed, her voice growing louder than Perona's wailing.

"But, but this is twice this happens! He could die! And on MY birthday no less!"

"I'm sorry this happened. It's my entire fault for not telling him the cake has chocolate." Zoro heard Sanji speak. The blonde's voice sounded guilty and sad. The one way Zoro didn't want Sanji to sound.

It didn't occur to Zoro that Sanji might feel guilty for what happened. Which was not his fault at all; if anything, it's him that should have the fault.

"You better say you're sorry! It's so un-cute when people hurt others." Perona lectured. Zoro gritted his teeth. Perona could be so stupid sometimes. Couldn't she see that Sanji was already feeling bad as it was. Don't rub salt on an open wound!

Zoro was about to make himself known-that he was awake when he heard Mihawk's voice. "You're the chef. It's your responsibility to ask and know. You could kill someone one... And a stupid excuse like I didn't know or he didn't tell me would mean nothing once you know YOU killed someone."

How could he say that to Sanji? It was not Sanji's fault that he didn't say anything. He saw it was a cake and there was the possibility there could be some form of chocolate in it.

Zoro removed the mask from his face, instantly feeling his chest tighten slightly. He didn't care, his family was accusing Sanji and putting all the blame on him. When clearly it was his own fault. "If someone cared about their life they would tell the chef if they are allergic to something."

"Zoro!/Roronoa/Marimo!"

"Zoro-kun you're alive!" Perona cried as she flung herself on top of Zoro. Person's hands snaked around his neck before giving him a death hug.

"Perona too tight!" Zoro pleaded, to his relief she did lighten her grip, but he had to peel her completely away from him.

"It's not Sanji's fault. It's mine and mines only. And I don't feel like playing the "who's fault it is" game now".

"No, he should have asked you. Or at least one of us." Perona pouted, now seated on Zoro's hospital bed next to his feet.

"I should have asked. I made the frosting out of white chocolate, which made it harder for you to identify. I did the same thing for Peron's cake." Sanji added from the corner of the room, looking like an outcast.

"My cake has white chocolate?! I want it!"Perona squealed.

Bonney rolled her eyes. She made her way to Zoro and leaned close to him. "What did he say?" She passed her hand through his hair to indicate what she was talking about.

"He didn't say anything really. He's ok with it. But he wants me to stop hiding." He said it for only Bonney to hear.

Bonney looked at the blonde who was still arguing with Perona. "I feel the same way. Zoro your hair is part of who you are. And if Sanji accepted you, then what is there to fear? Sanji loves you. And I know you know that."

"But I don't want to world to know about this." Zoro said, looking away for Bonney. "How much longer do I have to stay here?"

"You should be able to leave soon. You look better from what you looked when we reached." Taking the mask hanging around Zoro's throat she placed it back over his face. Turning around, she addressed the rest of her family. "Zoro still needs rest. Out."

"Awww, I don't want to leave Zoro-kun alone."

"Bonney is right." Mihawk said, getting up from his chair. "Roronoa needs rest and we will give it to him." Grabbing Perona by one of her pig tails he pulled the now complaining Perona out. Sanij stood up to follow.

Zoro pulled the mask of his face again. "Can Sanji stay?"

Before Bonney could respond Sanji was already sitting back down. Bonney made a face, a small scowl taking her lips. "If you really want. You don't want me to stay instead?"

"No, it's ok Bonney. I know how busy you are with kid and just moving out. Sanji staying is enough."

Bonney smiled at Zoro, the smile, feeling to fake. She turned on her heels to leave her brother and new replacement. She wasn't jealous. She was the older sister the one that always looked after her brother. That would never change. Eventually, Zoro will come back to her because she knew and Zoro didn't have to hide it from her. When the feelings get too much for him, he will come back.

She didn't want him to leave Sanji. But she wanted to keep her role as cool, reliable and special older sister to stay the same.

Sanji felt a shiver go down his spine as Bonney left the room. He moved to sit closer to Zoro. "You should be leaving soon... Zoro I'm-"

"It's not your fault."

"But the only reason you ended up here was because of me. I'm the chef, I should have known!"

"And what remember every single person that you ever served their "do and don't eat?" Sanji be realistic! As a chef you have millions of things to do as it is, to try to remember if someone is allergic to something is just crazy. I only have one person to take care of and that's myself. If I know I can't eat something, it's my responsibility to say something.

Sanji had a shock expression on his face.

"So stop doing this guilt thing already. Plus, it doesn't matter what you do, I'm not going to give you up, especially not over something like this."

A smirk worked its way to Sanji's lips. "I'm not saying sorry Marimo."

Zoro smirked right back. "I wouldn't take it anyways."

It wasn't long till Zoro was in Sanji's car again heading home. Perona was waiting outside the house. She had a pout on her lips, most likely because her birthday was interrupted, plus she didn't get to taste the cake Sanji baked.

Zoro got out the car. Still a little sluggish because of the drug's he took before leaving the hospital. "Thanks Sanji for everything." Sanji almost laughed at that. Surely he wasn't saying thanks for the allergic reaction.

"Bye Sanji!" Perona waved him off. "Don't forget to get my cake when you come back!" Zoro just smiled at Perona before stumbling to his room and lying down in bed. He couldn't be happier that Sanji was ok with his hair color. Getting out the hospital was hard. Trying to not to attract attention as Sanji and Zoro made their way out.

Zoro did at some moments want to cover his head with a paper bag, but Sanji was next to him and helped him. Maybe he could show his hair without feeling uncomfortable about it if Sanji was with him. Zoro fell asleep thinking on Sanji and his beautiful hair and eyes.

/

"Ah, Mihawk glad to see you in my office. I thought you were coming for the medication next week."

"Hello doctor Law, I was here so I decided to go ahead and pick them up if you don't mind."

Taking out some papers from inside his cabinet the doctor gave Mihawk. "Sign this here and here." The doctor turned around and picked up the pills that were on the counter. "Once a day, no more no less."

Mihawk picked up the pills, "Did you get to check him while he was here?"

"Yes I did. I ran some test and they should come back within this week" Law stood up from his chair. "I'm sure everything will be fine, you'll see."