Chapter Text
The heavy dungeon doors open as Sanji gets shoved inside by the Germa guards, falling to the ground with a sickening thud. He’s covered in his own blood and sweat, bruises covering the skin that’s showing.
The cook had insisted that they only experiment on him, but he knows that it won’t be long before Judge starts experimenting on the other Strawhats too.
Chopper whimpered, feeling guilty that he couldn’t do anything to heal him.
Sanji’s ragged breathing filled the room as no one knew what to say.
Nami changed that in the next moment. “Sanji…you shouldn’t have insisted about the experiments. We can all handle it.” For once, her cocky demeanor is nowhere to be found, just worry for Sanji.
A grumble from Zoro came next. “The witch is right, for once. Just because your shit excuse of a family are the ones who captured us doesn’t mean that you have to deal with it alone, Curly.” He shifted against his chains.
“I don’t…doubt that, Nami dear,” Sanji gasped, ignoring Zoro’s comment. “But my fath-…Judge is ruthless. He won’t stop for anything. If you show any sign of fear or weakness, h-he’ll just make it even worse,” he hyperventilated. The trauma from his past becoming too much.
“Cook-“
“Give him a second, Zoro,” Robin cut in calmly. No doubt forming a plan in her intelligent mind. “It looks like he’s letting it out for the first time.”
“He’s hyperventilating. I understand that he might be letting it out, but look at him!” The moss head gestured to the cook with his head. “He’s having a panic attack!”
Usopp gulped down his fears as he tried to force a smile. “H-Hey? Maybe if I tell you a story of when I, the bravest warrior of the seas, encountered thousands of aggressive monkeys that’ll make you feel better?”
That seemed to have got the attention of the Strawhats, especially Luffy, Brook and Chopper. Usopp shot Zoro a smile. One that said: Go help him. I’ve got this!
Grateful, Zoro nodded at him and turned back toward Sanji who was still hyperventilating. The blood covering him certainly did not make any of this better.
What was really frustrating him though, was that he was literally chained to walls and the cook was multiple feet away from him! He needed to get the cook to come closer to him otherwise he couldn’t help him!
Frustration quickly changed to surprise however when Sanji came to him instead.
Well, that was fucking easier than I thought.
Sanji sat down next to him, where he was previously chained up, pulling his knees to his chest.
Now that he could get a closer look at him, Sanji looked fucking terrified. Of what? He wasn’t entirely sure.
“Oi, cook,” he nudged him slightly with his foot. “Dumb question. You a’ight?”
“Yeah, fucking dumb question, you stupid Marimo.” He quickly shot back. “Do I look alright?”
Zoro managed to hold himself back from rolling his eyes. “No, you don’t. In fact, you look terrified.”
A scoff came from the cook in response. “Terrified? Me? I-I’m not terrified. Stop talking nonsense, Marimo.”
Lie.
“I ain’t stupid. I can see that look on your face. The one that screams: I’m fucking terrified. Now, I’m just curious of what,” the moss head asked, staring straight into his eyes.
Sanji grit his teeth. “Fine, you want to know what I’m so afraid of?” He took a deep breath. “I’m scared of what Judge is going to do to us. I-I’m scared that he’ll break you all. I-I’m terrified of what he’s going to do to you!” He breathed heavily, realizing what he just said. “Just…please don’t let Judge…break you. I could never forgive myself for putting you all into his mess,” he muttered the last part, looking away from Zoro.
“Sanji,” that made him pause.
Zoro calling him Sanji was… like…one in a million. He was actually serious this time.
“It’s not your fault you were born into a shitty ass family. And us getting captured was also completely out of your control. He cheated by using sleeping gas on us. And…I’m also terrified of what that bastard will do to us,” Zoro admitted as Sanji looked back toward Zoro. “But remember, we’re all in this together. Forever.” He bumped his knee against Sanji’s foot.
Sanji shifted an inch closer. “You? Terrified? Quit lying so you can make me laugh.”
“I ain’t. I’m telling the full truth, cook. You gonna relax and stop hyperventilating now?”
“Fuck- fine, annoying Marimo.” Sanji sneered, a small smile appearing on his face.
—————————
The sudden slam of the dungeon doors woke the Strawhats up.
“Yohohoho! Is that a sign of escape?” Brook joked, still slightly drowsy from his sleep.
“Stop joking, Brook!” Nami scolded, turning her gaze toward the dungeon doors. “I doubt we’re getting out of here anytime soon.”
Three similar chuckles came from the doors and Sanji’s blood ran cold.
No, not those bastards.
“You’re damn right you’re not getting out of here soon, dearest,” Sanji recognized it as Ichiji’s voice and all three of them showed themselves to the Strawhats.
But their gaze was on Sanji. With wicked smiles.
They each had their own color. Ichiji: Red. Niji: Blue. Yonji: Green.
“It’s been a while, little brother,” Niji mocks as Yonji quickly speaks up after him. “How’s it like being the Vinsmokes failure even after years? Huh, Sanji?” Yonji and Niji laughed a mocking laugh as Ichiji stood beside them with a serious expression.
“Hey, man. That ain’t cool,” Franky interjected.
Yonji laughs. “Wow! Look at their weird crew! They have a reindeer, a robot and a skeleton!”
“Enough,” Ichiji demanded. “Remember what we came here for.”
“A-And what did you come here for…?” Usopp nervously asked.
“Something that only concerns us and Sanji,” Ichiji inquired, glaring at Sanji.
Sanji glared back. “Woooah!! Look, the failure finally grew a backbone!” Niji expressed.
The rest of the Strawhats watched the interaction with different expressions: Luffy looks unhappy. Nami looks like she has beef with them. Chopper is still worried but also scared now. Usopp is nervous. Franky is frowning. Brook is…being a skeleton. Robin has her classic unreadable expression. And Zoro is glaring at the three, quite obvious that he isn’t fond of them one bit.
He still remembers the red one from the battle he had mistaked as Sanji.
“I must say, Sanji. I didn’t think you would be this dumb to practically lead your friends to us. When you ran away all of those years back, you must have known that father would find you again, right?” Ichiji approached Sanji, his usual frown on his face. “Besides, I missed the times we all had. Did you?”
Ichiji pulled his leg back, preparing to strike him when Reiju stepped in. “What are you doing, brother? I thought father explicitly told us not to harm the Strawhats unless it’s for the experiments. It’d do you well to back off with Niji and Yonji. I doubt father would be proud to hear that you are defying his orders.”
Niji frowned. “Ugh, fine. Maybe next time then.”
Ichiji leaned down to Sanji’s ear. “You better sleep with your eyes open tonight, little brother,” he threatened and left the dungeons with Niji and Yonji behind him. Their footsteps faded away and when they weren’t heard anymore, “I hate your brothers, Sanji,” Luffy immediately admitted, frowning at the doors.
“Yeah uh, me neither,” Sanji murmured, his gaze on the cold stones of the chamber.
“Sanji,” Reiju’s voice echoed causing him to turn his attention toward her. She seemed to hesitate for a moment, making sure no one is nearby. “I’ll try to help you and your friends out of here. I don’t know how long it’ll take. I don’t even know if I’ll succeed, but I’ll try. And don’t mistake me being on your side, I’m not.”
And then she just walked out and closed the dungeon doors behind her.
A few of the Strawhats seemed surprised, even Sanji. Then Luffy smiled widely. “I like your sister though!”
Zoro hummed. “What if it’s a trap?”
The cook shook his head. “No, that’s not Reiju. She’s also the one who helped me escape all those years ago…”
“So she’s being sincere?” Robin inquired, humming.
“She looks nice though and I trust Sanji!” Chopper chirped.
“Yeah, bros!” Franky nodded. “She seems super!”
“We’ll trust Sanji’s decision now, but if she shows any signs of being our enemy. Then we consider her our enemy.” Nami explained as Usopp nodded, feeling slightly less nervous now.
“Yohohoho!” Brook laughed. “Sanji, your sister is quite beautiful! May I see her-“ “No!” Nami immediately cut in.
The tension had dissolved…for now…