Fallen Skies

Pairing: Zosan

Disclaimer: All One Piece characters Belong to Oda

He remembers it well, the sound of crying children, pleading to get out, the clawing on wood, the hitting of bars as they tried to get free. The agonizing wail and plead for mom and dad to come and save them, something that would never happen.

Nobody cared, and why should they? We were worthless, not needed, and useless, so why even try? That's why we were there in the first place, no one wanted burdens in their lives.

When the screaming stopped and everything was muted... that was when our hearts pound so hard it was a by mercy alone that it didn't rip from under our chest. It was then, that if we had to we would betray the one next to us just to postpone the pain that was to come. It didn't matter really, we all suffered, but at least the last few got the least since they got tired after so many of us.

And then came the worst of it all...

Water, mute and deafening, suffocating. When you watch that water your only thoughts are- if I jump... let me sink. It would be better than this.

Zoro woke up with a start, his lungs screaming for air, his mouth open, gasping. "Zoro?" Hearing his name, he glanced to his right where he sees Sanji, a worried expression on his face. 'Sanji what are you doing here?"

"You crashed here. You were snoring so loud I think you woke yourself up. Can you breathe when you sleep?" Squinting his eyes to see better with the little light the moon provided the blonde was able to confirm what he suspected. "Zoro your trembling, did you have a nightmare?"

"I'm fine." Zoro rubbed his left eye with the palm of his hand. "I need to get home."

"It's two in the morning. Just stay the night and go home early. I'll cook you a healthy breakfast before I leave to go to work."

"No, I need to leave now." He stood up from Sanji's bed and made his way to the door. "Sorry Sanji." With that Sanji watched as Zoro left.

Sanji flopped back down, his head resting on his pillow. Looking to his side where Zoro once occupied Sanji wondered what was going on. He took the pillow Zoro had just left behind and hugged it tightly, Zoro's warmth and smell still lingering on it. If Bonney liked it or not he was going to get some answers. He needed to know what is going on.

/

The next day Sanji found himself in Kids/Bonney's apartment after work. The older sister had greeted him with a smile and let him in. Sanji could feel he was nervous and Bonney seemed tensed it was probably noticeable.

Fidgeting with the cup in his hand Sanji took a few minutes to ask his inquiry. "There is something wrong with Zoro and you won't tell me."

Bonney was seated on the other side of the table; she didn't seem to be taken by surprise by the question asked. Maybe because he asked it several times before. "He'll tell you when he is ready."

"You know he won't tell me if I ask him! So why can't you?! I'm not going to leave him, so please just tell me!"

Shaking her head Bonney closed her eyes, she seemed to be thinking what she would say, her eyebrows furrowed as she thought. "I don't know if you know this already, but Zoro isn't my brother or Perona's.

Sanji was at the edge of his seat ready to keep begging when he heard Bonney speak. He relaxed a little, his back now touching the chair.

"If we would have gotten him sooner, maybe it wouldn't have been so bad. If I only knew sooner." Her eyes were getting blurry as a few tears slid down her face, her lips trembling. Bonney stopped and whipped her face. "I'll tell you, I just can't...do it now. Please."

Seeing the pain behind those eyes Sanji slid off his chair till he was kneeling in front of her. Hugging her he repeated "I'm sorry for making you cry..."

/

Before they knew it months passed by and soon it was getting cold. Sanji never asked Bonney or Perona again, he decided that Bonney would stay true to her word and tell him when she thinks the moment was right. But that didn't help Sanji, cause during the course of the months the blonde noticed things about Zoro that kept adding to his ever growing pile of "something is wrong."

There were so many incidents that he just couldn't let them pass. For one, when Zoro slept over by him, he wouldn't go to sleep if he weren't next to him, not to mention the tossing and turning and very disturbing mummers he was barely able to comprehend. There were times he would go to Zoro house to find the man he loved sitting by a corner knees to his chest in his own house holding a conversation with himself. And even after months of dating, Zoro refused to take even his shirt off, it was like that one time when they were lying on the couch had never happened.

But the most disturbing of all was the day Zoro was helping clean the dishes, it was an accident. He dropped the plate, but he took it on himself to pick the pieces off the floor with his hands- cutting deep into every one of the sharp pieces he picked up. After cleaning the mess he went to Sanji's room and locked himself in, he stayed there for two days. The only sign he was still alive was the repeated footsteps going back and forth. He called Bonney and Perona and not even with their help Zoro would come out. And when he did come out two days later he acted like nothing happened, and when Sanji asked him about it, he would change the topic completely.

It was downright frustrating!

/

"Tomorrow's Zoro's birthday?! Why didn't you tell me sooner?" The blonde asked the petite girl.

Shrugging Perona made her way to Sanji's fridge. "Maybe cause somebody never gave me my cake.

"I know, I know." Sanji said quickly. "What can I get the Marimo?"

Perona took her head out of the fridge a doughnut in hand. "Get him something cute!"

"I don't think he'll like that very much."

"Fine, make him a song or something." Looking at Sanji face Perona's smile faltered. "I was joking."

"Now, if I can get Saga to help me then maybe I can make Zoro something nice!"

"You think Zoro would really like that?"

"That won't be his only gift. I'll get him something else too, like booze."

"No booze if you want to stay on Mihawk's good side. Plus, knowing the other guys like Ace and Saga they would probably get him something like that. But I'm sure he would like it. Zoro lives on that nasty thing."

Sanji laughed because what Perona was saying was technically true. There were times he had to take the alcohol away from that brute.

Good thing Zoro and Saga were going out tonight, Sanji didn't know Saga's number or where he lived so the blonde went with Zoro to be able to talk with Saga. Once they reach the bar, Sanji asked Zoro to get him a drink that way he could ask Saga without Zoro knowing.

As soon as the green hair teen was out of sight Sanji turned his gaze to the tan man next to him. Sanji opened his mouth to ask Saga, but the other man beat him to it. "I hate it."

"Excuse me?" he asked. He wasn't sure if he missed something.

"Zoro's hair! Doesn't it bother you?"

The blonde looked at Saga with a questioning gaze, it was kind of out of the blue. "No, it's actually a really nice shade of green."

"What the hell are you talking about? Since when does green have a pretty shade? I just can't believe he would just not care anymore and just walk around as if it were nothing. Can you believe that?"

Sanji swallowed thickly. Saga was starting to talk nonsense; there was nothing wrong with Zoro's hair if it weren't for the color. It smelt nice, was soft and fuzzy and it actually matched Zoro just fine. He couldn't imagine Zoro with any other color, it would look down right weird. "It doesn't bother me at all. Actually, I kind of like it."

Saga snorted. "Why, cause it helps you look better? That's a little selfish of you, don't you think, blonde?"

"What? NO! I would never want to look better than Zoro! Where did you get that ridiculous idea from?"

He shrugged, "It's the only conclusion. Sorry if I gave you a bad impression of me." Saga said while sighing and leaning back. He pulled both his feet on top of the table and crossed them.

Ignoring Saga's earlier outbreak Sanji asked his question. "Hay Saga you know that tomorrow's Zoro's birthday, I wanted to know if you could help me with making him a song."

Saga's eyes went to Sanji, the blonde almost coward under the hard gaze. "Nope, can't do. It's too late for that anyways. Plus, what can a guy as dull as you come up with anyways? I'm sure it would either put Zoro to sleep or make him depressed on his big day.

Sanji felt horrible and embarrassed. What Saga said was partly true. He had never created a song before and making one would probably sound bad. Zoro wouldn't like his present.

"Anyhow, I wonder what's taking Zoro so long?" Saga asked, pulling his feet back down to plant them on the floor.

As if on cue Zoro sat down with drink in hand, bringing Sanji's attention to Zoro as he sat. The teen had flushed cheeks and talked sluggish, meaning he probably drank a few rounds before returning.

Sanji felt like he was back to square one. He didn't know what to get the Marimo. He could just give him an expensive drink, surely he would like that better, considering Zoro loves his alcohol. But he wanted to be different, to have gotten him something from his heart. But sadly sometimes the thing we plan may never go as we want them to.

"I'm going for a next round. You want more Sanji" The blonde looked up only to get captivated again by Zoro's neon green eyes, but at the same time he couldn't miss the dimming light behind them. He remembered them being brighter than what they were now.

"Sure, just get me something less strong than this one if you don't mind."

"No problem Sanji. I'll be right back." With that Zoro left Saga and Sanji alone again.

Sanji was starting to feel uncomfortable with Saga. The guy was nice and all, but at the same time there was something about him that just didn't settle right with him. Maybe it was the double personality, like the guy would be happy one minute then upset the next. It was downright unnerving.

'I'm sorry Sanji. It's just that I have a lot to deal with right now and it's stressing me out." Saga leaned back on his chair. "I won't be able to help with the song even if I wanted to, since it's kind of too late as it is."

"It's ok Saga." The blonde found himself saying. "I think Perona is throwing Zoro a party tomorrow, you coming?"

"Yeah. Me and Zoro are like brothers, you know what I mean."

"I think I do." Sanji chuckled to himself, thinking how lucky he was to have the Marimo with him.

Zoro came back shortly after, and Sanji wasted no time in kissing his green hair boyfriend. Zoro seemed confused, but he allowed Sanji. By the time they parted lips, Saga had disappeared, leaving even his drink behind.

/

Sanji woke up early the next morning he didn't get the Marimo anything yet, and he didn't want to get him alcohol. But if push comes to shove, then that's what he would have to buy. He'll buy the best alcohol in the world, even if it leaves him broke. But it's ok cause it's for Zoro and soon he would have his All Blue. A small smile spread across Sanji's lips. Then he would have enough money to buy Zoro anything in the world.

The blonde found himself in clothe stores, jewelry store, and alcohol stores, but for some reason he didn't find anything good enough for his Marimo. This was his first gift for the big brute and he didn't want to get him anything stupid. His own had to be special.

Determined once again, Sanji kept running into every store he saw. It wasn't till an hour or so later that Sanji bumped into Saga. The man was looking at some wine.

"Hey Saga." Sanji said, walking behind the man.

"Sanji! I'm just here getting something for Zoro. Oh!" Saga said, seeming to remember something. "Perona said that she moved the party to Bonney's house, same time."

"Good thing I bumped into you then." Sanji said with a light laugh. "I'll see you there." Sanji waved as he left, scratching wine from his gift list.

/

Saga had insisted for Zoro's party to be moved to his house, he insisted so much that Perona finally agreed to it. The party was crazy to say the least. There was drinking, games and a whole lot of laughing and shouting. How could it not be crazy with Luffy and Ace as the life of the party. However the most important person to the birthday boy didn't show up. Sanji.

Zoro tried to call him, but before he got the chance to Saga had reached over his shoulder and stole his phone, saying something about calling him himself. Zoro found himself asking Saga if he got a hold of the cook almost every ten minutes, but sadly Saga denied saying all he gets his voicemail. Zoro had even asked Perona to see if Sanji knew where the party was being held. She said yes, Saga said he had bumped into him and told him. It wasn't till later that night that Saga told Zoro that Sanji called saying he had something more important to do and could not make it, to please forgive him.

Now Zoro finds himself outside, on his doorstep after the last guest left, his knees up to meet with his chest and arms around them. It was cold, but he didn't care. Sanji didn't come. He just wanted the blonde to be with him. He won't lie, it hurt knowing Sanji hadn't shown up, but he won't get mad at Sanji, he refused to.

"You're going to catch a cold if you stay out here."

Zoro didn't have to look back to know it was Bonney talking to him. After walking home with Perona and Zoro, Bonney decided to stay the night. He waited till she was next to him before he spoke.

"I missed Sanji tonight; I really wanted him to be here."

"I thought you didn't care about your birthday?"

Zoro shook his head. "I don't. But it was an excuse to be able to see him. I woke up this morning looking forward to seeing him." He glanced away from Bonney. "But he didn't show up. It wouldn't have bothered me if he showed up late...I just really wanted to see him."

Bonney frowned. She like Sanji, don't get her wrong. But sometimes she felt like her brother was that blonde's puppy. Seriously, once Sanji was with them Zoro forgets about anyone and everyone and follows Sanji. If Sanji had come tonight, Zoro would have stayed with him and only him.

She could feel something in her gut start to turn just thinking of her brother following Sanji like some kind of a loyal dog. She didn't recognize the feeling, but she has felt something close to it before, but she didn't want to feel that way towards Sanji and Zoro's relationship, it just wasn't right.

"Maybe it was good that Sanji didn't show up tonight."

Zoro looked at Bonney, eyes wide, his head tilted to the side. Seeing his expression she continued.

"You don't pay attention to me or Perona when you're with him."

"If you wanted to spend time with me, you wouldn't have left."

Rolling her eyes, she stood up. "Don't stay out too long, you'll catch a cold. And if you are planning to stay out here long at least wear something warmer. " With that the older sibling went back inside.

Zoro didn't know how long he's been out, but he woke up with something on top of him. Looking down at himself Zoro was able to see it was snowing, dusting it off Zoro stood up on aching joints, the cold making them stiff. He looked down the empty, dark street...

Sanji never came.

Looking down his street one last time, so he could head inside and hopefully not catch a cold, Zoro saw something, or better yet someone walking his direction. He squinted his eyes to see if it was Sanji. The moment he saw the blonde hair, he knew who it was.

Practically dashing, Zoro jumped on the blonde, hugging him tightly, almost afraid to let go.

"Hey Marimo."

"Do you know what time it is?!"

'Some really late time. I know. I wanted to see you, I went to your house and Bonney's and you weren't there. I tried calling, but you wouldn't pick up." Sanji watched as Zoro's big green eyes studied him, as the wheels in his head actually started moving.

"Saga had my phone, and he insisted for the party to be by his house. He told me he told you."

"He did tell me, just not that. He said it was being held at Bonney's."

Zoro looked away, a deep frown etched onto his face. "Saga said you were busy and couldn't come. He lied to me. I'm such an ass."

"It's not your fault Marimo." Studying Zoro's face a small smile formed on the blonde's lips. "Your nose is red. Were you waiting outside for me to reach?"

Baffled, Zoro answered with a quick, no!

"How did you know I was going to show up?"

"I didn't. I just stayed here hoping to see you." He smirked at Sanji. His smirk eased, when he saw a small bundle under Sanji's hand.

Noticing Zoro's averted eyes Sanji looked down at his box. "OH! I almost forgot. Happy Birthday Marimo!" Sanji extended the present with both hands for Zoro to take.

Taking the present in both hands, he started ripping it slowly, as if scared to break it under his rough hands. "I didn't know what to get you."

Zoro's eyes widen, he bit his bottom lip not knowing what to say. "Do you like it?" He could hear Sanji ask nervously.

Bringing the blue scarf to his face, he murmured almost in a whisper. "It's the same color as your eyes... I... Thank you Sanji."

Taking the fabric, Sanji wrapped it around Zoro. "There, that way if you have to wait for me again, you won't be so cold."

Zoro really loved his scarf, it reminded him of Sanji's eyes, those beautiful blue eyes that people associated with the vast ocean and sky. He's never seen the color of those two things, but if it was Sanji's eye color, then it must look pretty.

Zoro smiled down at his new scarf before looking at Sanji again. "Since you're here, why don't you stay the rest of the night?" Zoro asked with pleading eyes. His eyes shining even more with the blue scarf around his neck.

Blue looks good on the Marimo... Sanji can't help but think. "You mean morning. You do know it's past midnight?" Zoro just shrugged. "I see no problem staying the night."

"Let's go inside."

"Wrong way, Marimo."

"I know!" Zoro turned around and headed in the right direction this time- face red.