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The Sunny docked on the island, sparse of houses but littered with flowers of every variety. Usopp was the first to leap up and look over the railing, pointing excitedly at the winding vines that climbed the cherry blossoms. Chopper joined the excitement, climbing on his shoulder and staring at the pink trees in excitement.
Sanji watched from afar, a slight smile on his face. But that frown quickly faded as he retreated to the infirmary to check on Zoro.
Thriller Bark had put Zoro through hell, and he was still recovering.
Sanji didn’t even want to think about it anymore, but his mind forced himself to replay the image in his head over and over and over again until it broke him. It drove him up the wall in pure annoyance, anger, and sorrow.
Shitty Bartholomew Kuma, shitty Zoro, shitty everything..
He didn’t know who to blame, didn’t know who to turn to. Everybody else seemed to have recovered mentally, but Sanji was still struggling with his own inner demons.
That’s what it felt like, always the last one to mentally recover from an ordeal. Even Usopp got over things quickly. But whether or not Sanji could control it or not, he toiled over it until it gave him a headache.
It sucked, he was too sensitive for his own good. He didn’t even care that much about Zoro. That’s what he always told himself. Maybe as a form of comfort, maybe as denial. Even the real reason wasn’t clear to Sanji.
He sighed, pushing a cigarette between his lips, swinging the door open. Sanji flicked on the lights, stationing himself in the chair he’d been in for the past day and night.
In the bed lies Zoro, tired and covered head to toe in bandages. Blood still spotted through in various areas, and he had bruises littering every part of his uncovered body.
It was a sorry sight, but Sanji had been forced to get used to it; forced himself to get used to it. That was just Zoro’s other look, when he wasn’t sweaty from working out, he was covered in blood and wounds.
Hell, even from the moment they had met all the way back at the Baratie, Zoro had been embarrassingly defeated by Dracule Mihawk. That fight, even thinking about it now, shook Sanji to his core. At the time, he brushed it off. But thinking about it now always gave him that chill, knowing he could have lost Zoro before getting to know him.
Zoro was always so quick to throw himself into battle, being less of a thinker and more of an actor. Sanji found it charming, sure. But he wanted to kick Zoro’s ass every time it happened.
“Are we at the island yet?” Zoro croaked out in a weak voice. Sanji glanced up at him and nodded.
“Mhm. Docked a few minutes ago,” he said, lighting up his cigarette and taking a long drag. “Some… Flower field paradise type deal.”
“You going?” Zoro asked. He was straining, clearly still too weak to muster up anything else. It was better than when he had first received his injuries, however. He had been on the brink of death, weakly clinging to Sanji.
“Nah,” he answered, tapping the ashes of his cigarette into the tray Usopp had crafted for him. “Wouldn’t want you dying on us while we all left to have fun.”
That made Zoro let out a dry chuckle before he coughed out in pain and shut himself up. Sanji winced at the noise, frowning through the cigarette between his lips. Even though it was so common, Sanji couldn’t stand to see Zoro in grueling, writhing pain.
But yet it kept happening. And sometimes, Sanji felt helpless when it came to Zoro’s actions. He couldn’t stop him once he started. The bastard was stubborn.
And that’s what Sanji loved so much about him.
Zoro had gone quiet, staring up at the wood grain ceiling. He was lost in thought, perhaps. That’s what it looked like from the outside.
Finally, he managed to blurt something out.
“I wanna go to the island.”
Sanji looked up at him, scanning the swordsman’s face for seriousness. And he looked it alright. So he just nodded.
“Yeah?” He grinned, setting the cigarette in the tray. “Didn’t take you as the type to frolic in flower fields.”
“And I didn’t take you as the type to deny me,” Zoro shot back. It was argumentative, biting. It lit that fire within Sanji, the one he always so dearly craved.
“I’m not at your beck and call, y’know.”
“Sure as hell are now.”
Damnit, Zoro was quick. It made Sanji clench his teeth, picking the cigarette back up and taking a drag. Sure, Sanji was always known to swoop in and be the mama bird when one of the crew members fell ill or became injured. It was in his nature. Zoro knew it well by now.
And Zoro would use it to his advantage in more ways than one. It would piss Sanji off, but part of him enjoyed taking care of his friends. Since it was Zoro, however, the anger came easier.
“Said nobody,” he retorted. “Just cause I’m keeping an eye on you doesn’t mean I’ll do anything for you.”
“What haven’t you done for me, though?” Zoro shot back just as quickly. Sanji felt his fingers press harder into his cigarette, pinching the end into a thin line.
“You’re injured. It's not the same thing,” he said like it was the easiest thing in the world to understand.
“Tch, yeah. Okay,” Zoro huffed, his pout very pronounced. Sanji clicked his tongue.
“Don’t give me that stupid face,” he rolled his eyes. “If you want, I’ll take you to the flower field. I’m sure Franky will guard the ship while we’re gone.”
Zoro grinned. When he pouted; especially when he was sick; Sanji would give in. It worked time and time again. Sometimes, Sanji was just too easy.
He got to his feet, snubbing out the cigarette in the tray.
“Come on, get up,” Sanji demanded, reaching his hand out to help Zoro out of bed. Zoro flopped his hand out of his blanket cocoon, being about the only thing he could do. With a groan, Sanji pulled him up and helped him swing his legs over the edge of the bed.
“So lazy,” Sanji complained, mostly to ruffle Zoro’s feathers.
“Moron,” Zoro scoffed, a grin returning to his face. He stood, leaning against Sanji for support. Sanji, gently, wrapped his arm around Zoro’s waist to keep him steady as they left the infirmary. Zoro was hobbling, mostly, his legs shaky underneath him. But having Sanji right next to him helped.
“You guys going out?” Franky asked, glancing over at them as they stepped out onto the grassy deck of the brand-new Thousand Sunny.
“To explore, yeah,” Sanji answered, guiding Zoro still to the stairs.
“Is Roronoa okay now?”
“He definitely acts like it, the idiot.”
In response, Zoro kicked his leg out, hitting Sanji’s ankle and almost making him trip. He winced, fighting the urge to hit Zoro back.
“You guarding the ship?” Sanji then asked, recovering from Zoro’s kick, keeping his feet firm on the ground.
“Yeah, me and Nico Robin,” Franky answered, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Alright. Take care. Don’t let Robin get hurt,” Sanji gave Franky a nod before guiding the hobbling Zoro to the stairs. Franky waved his goodbye before leaning against the railing to watch the crew disembark. Usopp and Chopper ran out into the fields, petals kicking up around them. Nami was walking alongside Luffy into the town, mostly to keep him in check. Brook was trailing behind them at his own pace, admiring the simple shacks that had been built.
After a long moment of struggling, Sanji managed to help Zoro down the stairs. Their feet hit the dock and Sanji let out a sigh. The most difficult part was done.
“Where do you wanna go?” Sanji asked, glancing at Zoro as they walked down the dock together.
“Over there,” he extended his hand, pointing at a large cherry blossom tree. Its branches acted as a sizeable canopy, blocking out the sunlight.
“Sure,” he answered back. Once they got to the main part of the island, they started to walk through the town, the path being the safest choice for them at the moment. If Sanji could minimize the chance of any pain for Zoro, he’d do it.
Zoro wasn’t one to jump at exploring islands. When they got to a new one, he would. But when it came time to draw straws, he wouldn’t be disappointed if he didn’t get the short end. Sanji was much the same, the only reason for exploring an island he had would be to find native foods and restock their pantry. Occasionally an island would strike his fancy, and he’d look around with Luffy or Usopp.
As the path came to an end, Sanji guided Zoro out into the flowers. Most of them were bright pink, occasionally dotted with white and yellow. It sure was a beautiful island, one of the prettiest Sanji had ever seen.
“Why’d you even wanna come out here anyway?” Sanji asked, adjusting the arm he had wrapped around Zoro’s waist (that was definitely just for support).
“Dunno,” he responded. “Just felt like it. Needed some fresh air.”
“I get that,” Sanji hummed. “You’ve been cooped up in the infirmary for a couple days now.”
He paused before continuing. “Feeling any better, Zoro?”
“Sort of,” he answered back before his ankle promptly gave out underneath him. Sanji’s eyes widened as he struggled to hold Zoro up. He got a good hold on the swordsman and kept him steady.
“I’m not sure if I believe you,” Sanji said, a flash of humor in his tone.
“Shut up,” Zoro just rolled his eyes, but Sanji noticed the little smirk on his face. They continued their slow walk through the flowers, the slopes forcing them to take it extra slow. Every time Sanji would feel Zoro stumble, he’d tighten his grip and prevent him from falling.
Finally, they reached the top of the hill, the cherry blossom tree blotting out the sun entirely. Sanji guided Zoro over to a nice spot between a few rocks before helping him sit down.
Zoro seated himself, exhaling softly. Sanji sat down next to him, leaning back on his palms.
“It’s nice out here,” he commented. Zoro glanced over at him, watching as the wind tousled through his hair gently. And he couldn’t help but smile as he silently admired the cook.
“Hey,” Zoro began before clearing his throat. He had wanted to tell Sanji something, and finally, they were alone in a place Zoro felt comfortable. “Uh. Sorry for scarin’ you… Back at Thriller Bark,” he said before turning away to avoid seeing Sanji’s reaction. But out of the corner of his eye, he still caught him glancing over.
“Yeah…” He sighed with a nod. Zoro had really scared the shit out of him for a minute there. But it was okay, right? Zoro survived, he didn’t lose any limbs or crucial body parts, and he was already up and moving after two days. Still, though.. Sanji had thought he was going to lose Zoro. And, God… Sanji would be so lost if that happened…
“Don’t worry about it,” Sanji tried to give his best reassuring smile. Though Zoro was observant, his eyes flicked back over to look at him.
“Don’t lie,” he murmured, carefully scooting himself a little closer. “I didn’t mean to make you worry.. I just didn’t want you to get hurt either.”
Sanji sighed and nodded, leaning over to gently rest his head on Zoro’s shoulder. “You’re okay now, though,” he said, brushing his hand through the flowers underneath them. “That’s all that matters anymore.”
He hummed softly, nodding. Zoro laid his own head against Sanji’s, relishing the closeness. Slowly, his fingers moved across the flowers until he felt Sanji’s hand. He intertwined their fingers, giving Sanji’s hand a slight squeeze.
Sanji let out an exhale, closing his eyes as another breeze pushed past them. The wind carried flower petals along, dappling the blue sky in pink. Sanji was content. Zoro was content.