Chapter 63

The heart of men

Zoro opened an eye, absently watching the deck of the ship as the sounds of light discussions coming from Usopp and Chopper reached him from the beach. The Hearts submarine was finally ready to leave and as his crew had expected, Luffy had asked a farewell party before the Sunny also set sail. The result had been a joyful chaos since the morning that the swordsman was happy to escape for as long as possible. Indeed, while he was never reluctant to enjoy the abundant alcohol and the general good mood during these moments, he did not particularly appreciate the preparations and he had nothing to contribute to them.

Yet their farewell party was going to be crazy and Usopp and Chopper had been making fireworks for almost an hour already while Luffy and Franky had gone to invite as many inhabitants as possible. Jinbei was still talking with the Hearts crew about the currents surrounding the island and the girls had decided to swing by the market to complete the supplies. For his part, the cook was of course locked in his lair since the end of breakfast, busy making his most beautiful creations in astronomical quantities.

The swordsman stretched and noticed Brook standing near the railing, his violin at his feet. The skeleton was warming up in anticipation of the evening when Zoro had settled against the mast and fallen asleep to the sound of his cheerful music. Now, Brook was observing something on the beach and Zoro slowly got up before approaching.

Arriving near him, he noticed that the blond had joined Chopper and Usopp and that they were tasting several small donuts, which make them wiggle happily with each bite. A broad smile lit up the cook's face and Zoro suddenly saw the fleeting image of an equally sincere Sanji assuring his friends that he would come back before leaving alone for Big Mom's lands.

The swordsman glanced at the still silent musician next to him.

"Hey, Brook." The skeleton turned to him, questioning him with his eyes despite his empty eye sockets. "I wanted to know something."

"Of course, my friend."

Zoro looked back at his companion below. They had come a long way with Sanji and if before the swordsman had felt like he knew him, he knew how much he had only scratched the surface since their meeting in reality. Now, all the blond's actions seemed clearer and it was not only because the cook was finally expressing them. It was also because Zoro himself had done what he needed and learned to listen to his crewmate. If Sanji could talk, it was also because he knew he would be heard.

When the cook had disappeared, Zoro had not perceived all the implications but he remembered that Luffy had not seemed too worried either at first. His captain had changed his mind though and Zoro guessed that he had sensed the dilemma in which the blond would be. Luffy did not intervene in the decisions of his crewmates usually, he trusted them and respected their choice.

Zoro had not understood his sudden change of plans until he had remembered a remark from Brook towards their cook. This remark was, without a doubt, the reason for Luffy's change of position and the swordsman had never really figured it out even if he readily admitted that the captain's decision had been the right one.

"When we joined you on Zo, you knew right away that the cook might not come back. I remember because you were the only one who thought that. Everyone was convinced that he would come back but what happened later proved you were right."

The swordsman was silent for a second. Even without the bitterness that had blinded him at that moment, he wasn't sure he would have identified the entire problem. At that time, he was already missing something to fully understand his companion.

"How did you know?" He finally asked, "How did you know he wouldn't come back?"

"Because of his greatest quality," his friend answered, "His kindness."

Zoro was surprised and Brook nodded, still observing the scene on the beach. "Sanji-san has always wanted to make himself useful and pleasant to everyone he meets. He has a heart of gold like few others. So I knew that in case of difficulty, he wouldn't hesitate to step back to give us a chance to get out of it. I sensed it from Thriller Bark."

Zoro frowned. He knew what Brook was referring to, but he didn't follow his analysis. In light of recent events, he rather thought that this episode was a further illustration of the blond's tendency to depreciate himself. Sanji had asked Kuma to spare the swordsman, thinking that he would be easily replaceable within the crew. It was the first proof that Zoro had had of his more or less conscious willingness to sacrifice himself.

Yet he had never made the connection with the moment when Sanji had headed alone to Whole Cake Island. He had believed that two years had quietened down the cook in this regard. Sanji had come back less fiery, stronger and more adult. Like all of them. But he had not healed the wound that his heart suffered from actually, he had just been even more skillful in hiding it. Dazzled by his presence and power, Zoro hadn't seen a thing.

"That is also why I was particularly keen to get the copy of Big Mom's poneglyph," Brook continued. "So that he wouldn't feel even more guilty if he really decided to stay."

"I don't get it. Wasn't it another one of his stupid sacrifices because he thinks he's not worth as much as the others?" The swordsman pointed out to him.

"I think his dedication couldn't be more sincere, Zoro-san," the musician replied peacefully. "He doesn't think highly of himself, sure, but his humanity will always make him prefer the happiness of others to his own because he is a deeply empathetic human being. That's where his greatest strength lies."

"What do you mean?"

"Have you not noticed that he has the gift of turning people's hearts upside down? If our captain finds allies wherever he goes, Sanji-san has the power to penetrate the hearts of our enemies to make them fall. His sincere concern and real selflessness touch them. He perceives their suffering and distress beyond their displayed indifference. Perhaps it is because he has suffered for a long time from his own emotions," he added sadly. "How I wish he could see himself with the same kindness with which he envelops everyone…"

Zoro unconsciously looked back at the figure of the cook who was now helping Chopper fill his rocket with powder, the skeleton's words bringing back memories.

"There was this guy on the Baratie," he remembered after a moment. "No one wanted to give him food because he didn't have any money, but the cook did. Luffy told me that this guy stood up for him against his captain in the end. And there was this princess in Dressrosa who helped us find Doflamingo. Her mission was to kill him, but she changed her mind."

"That is also what happened with Pudding-san at Whole Cake Island," Brook said. "That young woman wanted to kill him and he knew it but he could never blame her. Yet she betrayed him in the worst way when he still believed that she would be his only light in the darkness of the life that awaited him. He saw her pain and real beauty beyond her mask of hatred. Pudding-san helped us to escape afterwards. I think she had a real new-found respect for him when we parted."

Zoro still observed the cook who was guiding the little reindeer's gestures with a gentle hand so that the powder filled precisely the reserve before carefully screwing the rocket. Suddenly, reality hit him.

"Luffy's always known. It was when he saw the cook feeding that pirate against all odds that he wanted to bring him back among us."

"The determination of these two young men was pushed to its limits at Whole Cake Island," the skeleton confirmed. "I am happy that it turned out in our favor."

The swordsman didn't reply and let his gaze wander in the contemplation of his busy crewmates, the last pieces of the puzzle slowly coming together in his head. He understood now. If it had meant the survival and safety of the crew, Sanji would have gladly accepted to live under Big Mom's banner. It didn't matter if he was a trophy or a transaction object serving two interests that he had nothing to do with. It didn't matter if he was despised, humiliated or even hated by his crewmates who would never have known the truth. He would have endured it all. Because Sanji was not just suffering from his past, he was also one of the most resilient and determined men Zoro had ever met. Brook was right about that. This self-sacrificing tendency was not just an expression of his guilt or an unconscious attempt to redeem himself. It was also a proof of his immense kindness and one of his greatest qualities. His humanity.

The party was in full swing. Most of the islanders had responded positively to the straw hat boy's invitation and everyone had met at the port, the market square being far too small to accommodate them all. Food was overflowing from the tables set up everywhere but it wasn't just the cook's doing for once. Indeed, many islanders had insisted on bringing their own dishes as a thank you for the pirates who were about to leave them. Sanji had been really touched and he had spent a good part of the evening asking everyone for their recipes so that he would always remember this island once they were far away.

Several hours later, the festivities were far from over and Franky and Brook were still igniting the atmosphere with their instruments. Several dozen inhabitants had started dancing, dragging Luffy, Usopp and Chopper with them as well as the majority of the Heart Pirates. A little further, Nami was surrounded by many kids. They marveled in front of the little clouds she produced with her Clima-Tact and that Zeus was devouring greedily. Sanji was twirling from one place to another to make sure everyone was served and a few steps away, Robin and Jinbei were talking with the scientists who had offered them their brand-new shipment of Adam's wood. Indeed, the finishing works on the Sunny were complete, but they wanted to give them more for the rest of their journey, filled with gratitude towards the pirates who had saved their colleagues and friends stuck in space.

On this occasion, the archaeologist and the Fish-Man had learned that the inhabitants had decided to resume their research about the conquest of space. They were now aware that this was not a profitable business though and they had the idea of diversifying their income. They hoped to be able to trade with some neighboring islands and wanted to make them benefit from their long-range radios or highly developed measuring instruments in exchange for materials and food for example.

For his part, Zoro had taken full advantage of the bottles provided and he had grabbed several before sitting against a wall not far from the buffet. The locals were rather friendly now that they were no longer terrified and the swordsman had even found some interesting drinking companions until they ended up collapsing because they couldn't cope with his frantic pace. Other islanders had then come to find him and offer more bottles or try to make conversation but Zoro was not as sociable as his crewmates and after accepting the alcohol, he had gotten up to move away and find some peace and quiet.

As he approached the edge of the party, he walked past a crowd gathered around the cook and the straw hat boy for several minutes. Perched on the blond's shoulders, Luffy described a scene with large gestures, his eyes wide, and the crowd hung upon his every word as they did Sanji's when he added a detail to the story.

The swordsman didn't try to stop and he soon collapsed on a seat near the surgeon of death, his last bottle of sake in his hand. Sitting apart and in the shadows, Law had remained discreet since the beginning of the festivities, clearly not at ease in the middle of the joyfully noisy population that surrounded them. He had had no choice but to come because of his crew's insistence, but they had not been able to make him participate further and his friends had not insisted too much, knowing their captain well enough to know that he had already made an effort. So maybe Luffy would force him to get up at some point, but in the meantime, he had faded into the background and clearly did not intend to move.

Zoro took a sip from his new bottle and followed the gaze of the man sitting next to him. He smirked then and tilted the bottle to his lips again.

"They're exhausting, huh?"

Law raised an eyebrow although he didn't bother to turn to him and in his chair, the swordsman pointed at the scene with his chin.

"Those two. Always talking and mingling with others. They never stop." The doctor nodded slowly as he observed the cook and the straw hat boy without hiding and Zoro stared at them in turn. "All this light and burst of energy they always bring wherever they go, I don't get where it comes from."

This time, the surgeon agreed as he grabbed his own glass placed on a small table in front of him. "I couldn't agree more," he admitted. "This attitude is totally beyond me." Law stared back at them, thoughtfully sipping his drink, and Zoro swallowed a large mouthful of sake.

"Why us?" The surgeon suddenly whispered, his eyes fixed on the two Straw Hat crew members still showered with attention, "We rather choose shadows and silence, so what do they see? And why do they attract us so much? Is it this part of light that they cast and that we lack?"

"I don't lack it," the swordsman groaned. "But there's something exhilarating in knowing that despite the number of glances he gives everywhere, it's towards me that the cook turns in the end," he added then, a satisfied smile on his lips.

"I didn't know you were so possessive, Roronoa," the other captain noted while swallowing another sip of his drink.

Zoro shrugged. "I've always been more comfortable alone, but since I met Luffy, things have changed. They both have that effect, and the cook and I complement each other. For a little of his light that warms me, I give him a little shade so he can rest."

Law considered his answer for a moment. "For my part, I don't think Straw Hat-ya needs to rest," he finally sighed. "He absolutely never stops and I constantly feel like I'm under an overpowered spotlight when he's around…"

Zoro followed his captain with his eyes. His face was open and he was laughing but his first mate was not fooled. "Luffy has his own pains. He faces them without looking down but that doesn't mean he feels nothing. He surrounds himself with those he loves to fight them and this is where you belong now. You'll adjust."

The swordsman then leaned the already almost empty bottle to his lips and swallowed another swig of alcohol. "That's probably why they appear so bright," he realized as his conversation with Brook came back to him. "Because they're willing to give everyone what they lack and what they seek. That's how they bond with everyone they meet."

"I don't know if they give or if they just suck up what they need," the surgeon muttered. "It's hard to resist them…"

"Here's a tip, don't resist." The doctor turned to him this time, clearly surprised, and Zoro kept his eyes on the blond who was beaming because he had grabbed a tray to make the crowd taste another one of his dishes. "If you resist, you take the risk of missing out on who he really is. And there'll be hell to pay. Trust me."

Law observed a moment of silence. Zoro seemed to speak from experience and even if he didn't know exactly what his relationship with the cook had suffered from, he had quickly understood that the blond had deeply regretted it.

"I thought about your question," the swordsman suddenly continued with amusement.

"My question?"

"Yeah, when you were wondering how the cook had managed to get better."

"Oh. You were such a great help back then," the surgeon recalled with irony.

"I think I've got your answer this time."

"Really?"

Law seemed doubtful but Zoro nodded. "If I learned one thing from this whole story, it's that the cook changed his way of seeing what happened to him. He's been through hell and he'll probably suffer from it for the rest of his life in some way but he doesn't regret it. I couldn't believe it when he told me."

"It is surprising, indeed," the surgeon agreed. "Did he tell you why?"

"Yeah. Because it was worth it."

The doctor raised an eyebrow while the swordsman continued to follow the blond's figure with his eyes.

"He thinks that everything he has experienced allows him to finally be happy today. It's thanks to that that he figured out that we'll be with him no matter what happens and that's something he always lacked. He believed that he needed to play a role so as not to be alone but now, he can be himself even if it means wanting to help people who have never considered him or who hate him. That's why he doesn't regret it."

The silence stretched for a moment between them and in the end, Law sighed. "I see. Well, I'm not there yet," he admitted. "I passed… a milestone but I'm not gonna rejoice in having seen my family die before my eyes."

"I didn't say he liked what they did to him, Trafalgar. I said he decided to get the most out of the experience and turn it into something better."

"Hmm. Sounds like his thing about creating new memories."

"You know that?"

Law nodded as he took another sip of wine. "The first night I spent on your ship, he came to see me. He asked if I had any memories of the North Blue and I told him I'd rather forget them. That's when he told me he wanted to create new memories to erase the old ones. I found that a little weird at the time but it's not stupid in reality."

"It's working for him," the swordsman agreed.

The surgeon's gaze wandered beyond the harbor into the darkness of the night then. "Good for him, but I don't think I can be so lenient and simply ignore what I've seen and felt. Even if I've started to get answers to my questions, my resentment won't disappear so easily," he whispered after a moment.

"Don't push yourself, Trafalgar. We're not like them anyway. His method probably won't work on you."

"And why not?" The doctor said, offended.

In response, Zoro kept his eyes fixed on the figures of his captain and his crewmate for a moment. Amidst the play of light in the port from the large wood fires burning here and there, they seemed almost incandescent.

"Look at them," he finally continued. "Their hearts beat not only for themselves but also for all men, no matter who they are, even those who have hurt them. Our hearts tend to be harder, closer to reality. Theirs creates miracles because they live to be among others. If being left alone strengthens us, it kills them."

At these words, Law looked back at the two men sparkling with light and life a few steps away. The crowd had finished tasting the cook's dishes and they were now encouraging the two pirates who were bending more and more to pass under a limbo stick. The straw hat boy was obviously at an advantage thanks to his elastic body but Sanji was impressively supple and his exploits drew cries of admiration.

"Have you ever wondered if they really were men, Roronoa?" The surgeon murmured as Luffy sparked euphoria among the inhabitants after he passed a few centimeters above the ground. "I don't know enough Black Leg-ya but Straw Hat-ya… Luffy seems almost out of this world. He doesn't ask for anything but he demands everything at the same time. Unlike him, I'm not used to giving and I don't know how much he'll take."

"He'll take everything he can but he'll give you even more in return, that's how they are," the swordsman replied without taking his eyes off the cook who had just equaled his captain's record, making the crowd scream with joy. "They're much more men than many of us. What they give us is a part of the purest humanity. It's their hearts."

When I wrote this chapter, I took a long time to be satisfied with it. I wanted to convey a lot of emotions and stakes but it needed to be subtle enough, especially for the scene between Law and Zoro about their feelings. Interesting challenge!

Anyway, in the next chapter, our favorite couple will share a private moment!