Work Text:
"This isn't good…" Chopper murmured. He was crouched down next to Zoro in the medical bay, moonlight glinting through the window and lighting up the small room. As the doctor of the Straw Hat Crew, the health of the whole crew depended on him. But now… Chopper stood up, shaking with fear. "I'm afraid Zoro has caught the bubonic plague."
A scattered gasp went through the small crew as the news sunk in. Luffy looked confused, Usopp looked scared… But Sanji? Sanji just stood there, eyes darkened, fists clenched into tight balls.
"Hey, Chopper?" Sanji asked, eyes still trained on the floor. "Can I have a moment alone with the mosshead?"
Chopper, thought for a moment. He was worried about unnecessary teasing. "I… don't know…"
"Let him." Luffy's voice was firm and his eyes were darkened as well. "I dunno what this 'bobby bobby plague' is, but it sounds bad. If those two want a moment alone, let them."
Chopper hesitated before nodding consent, leading the rest of the crew out to give Zoro and Sanji some space. "Don't get too close!" he called back quickly before shutting the door behind him.
Only Sanji and Zoro remained. The two of them. Alone. And then Sanji broke down. Crying. Sobbing. Tears stained his pretty face. Shaking. Shuddering violently. "Zoro…" he managed to choke out.
"Sanji." Zoro's voice was calm, despite the fact he was the one going to die. "Hey, Sanji. Sanji," he repeated when the cook didn't answer. At last Sanji looked up, still quivering and eyes sparkling, wet. "It'll be okay. You're okay. Everything's okay."
"No, it's not okay!!" Zoro was taken by surprise by Sanji's fierce cry. "You're… you're going to DIE!! Anyone who catches this plague is guaranteed to die within four days of getting it. And they suffer like no one's ever suffered before. I… I don't know what I'll do without you, Zoro. I… I won't be able to go on. You're my… everything…"
"Sanji," Zoro interjected firmly, "you are strong. You can do this. I believe in you. And hey, we're almost at the end of our journey. I did the two things I most wanted to do. I think I feel pretty accomplished right now."
"Which is what, drink the most sake underaged and become the world's greatest swordsman?" Sanji muttered, looking away so Zoro wouldn't see the tears still pricking his eyes.
Zoro mustered a laugh which turned into a violent coughing fit. When he recovered, he replied, "Well, yes, becoming the world's greatest swordsman was one of them. As for the other one?" Zoro smiled weakly. "I'll let you figure that one out, lovecook."
Sanji still looked uneasy. Zoro wanted to get up and hug the chef, but… he didn't want to get Sanji sick, too…
"You should go, Sanji," Zoro finished softly. "It's for your own good. I don't want you getting sick too, I don't want anyone getting sick. Isolate me, I'll be fine."
Sanji, in a heat of the moment thought, walked over to Zoro, squeezing his boyfriend's hand tightly, and slowly closed the door to the medical bay. Then Sanji collapsed, crumpling to the floor with his back resting on the door. He ran his hands through his messy hair, thoughts of the uncertain future racing through his mind. A future without Zoro. What kind of future is that?! We had this whole big plan, too— we were gonna go find the All Blue together— he promised—
I feel like… I have no tears left to cry…
It's all over…
"Hey Sanji!" a voice called out. It was Luffy. The king of the pirates. The Straw Hat Crew had traveled together for a total of almost four years, and they were nearing the end of their journey. Luffy was king of the pirates. Zoro was the greatest swordsman. Nami successfully drew a map of the whole world. Usopp was a great warrior of the seas, living up to his dad's legacy. Chopper was one of the greatest, if not THE greatest doctors in the world, having discovered so many medical breakthroughs. Robin finally discovered the secrets of all the poneglyphs, and was working with Franky to rebuild the library of Ohara. Franky saw Sunny through her whole journey, and she came out perfectly fine. Brook was on tour again as Soul King, his last stop being Laboon. And Jinbe had established peace between humans and fishmen at last. Slowly but surely, the Straw Hat Crew was getting disbanded. Brook left first, for his tour, and shortly after, Robin decided to look around the wreckage of Ohara. Franky decided he would join her, however he wanted to make sure the Sunny got through the New World just fine, so they traveled through Fishman Island to drop Jinbe off, and back at Sabaody Archipelago, Franky left, too. Then Nami headed back to Alabasta to see her long-distance girlfriend, Vivi, and then the two were planning on spending some time with Nojiko (Vivi had apparently been wanting to meet Nami's highly praised sister). And now all that remained of the Straw Hats were Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, Sanji, and Chopper, though they were due to arrive at Chopper's home the next day, because he wanted to see Kureha again. As for Sanji… Well, the plan was for Zoro to go with Sanji and the two would search for the All Blue together. Sanji needed to achieve his dream, too. Usopp was going to reunite with Kaya and the little boys from his home village, Onion, Carrot, and Pepper, once they arrived back there, the last stop on their full-crew journey. And Luffy, the king of the pirates? Who knows what that little rascal will do, Sanji thought to himself. Heck, maybe he'll join us. Or, I guess, me, since Zoro's going to die…
"SANJI!!" Luffy repeated, louder this time. Sanji blinked, shaking himself from his thoughts, and looked up at Luffy.
"Y-Yeah?" Sanji managed to shakily ask his captain. "What is it?"
Instead of answering his cook, Luffy just walked over to Sanji. He then promptly sat down and hugged Sanji. Tears welled up in Sanji's eyes again. The two sat there, tightly embracing each other, until Luffy dozed off, and Sanji was forced to sleep, too.
…
Sanji awoke in his bed. Luffy was gone, and early morning sun was streaming through the window. The cabin was empty. Glancing out the window, Sanji noticed a snowy island not too far away, meaning they were almost at Chopper's home. "I suppose I should go say bye," Sanji muttered. Dragging himself out of bed, Sanji took his shirt off, when he saw something that made him freeze. There, right on his stomach. A black, almost undetectable dot. Sanji poked it, and pain shot through his body. Ohhh, shit. Sanji bit his lip. If Zoro and I both have the bubonic plague, none of us will EVER find the All Blue!!
Sanji— who was still puzzling over this dilemma as he walked out the door —nearly ran into Chopper, who was actually looking for Sanji. "Hey Sanji," Chopper said. He looked disturbed about something. "Can I talk to you for a few minutes before we get to the island?"
Sanji nodded. He followed Chopper, noticing that the reindeer looked really, really tired.
"What is it?" Sanji finally asked as Chopper led him into one of the smaller rooms on the ship and shut the door behind him.
Chopper sighed, slumping to the floor. "I've been up all night," he muttered, "trying to figure out a cure for Zoro. I, um… I found something, but… It's only to be used in the most dire situation. Like by a dead person or something." Chopper beckoned to Sanji, telling him to come closer. Here goes nothing, the reindeer thought to himself. Chopper cupped his trembling hooves around Sanji's ear and whispered the cure to him.
Sanji's eyes gradually widened as he took in the knowledge.
"I'm telling you because I trust you to use my words wisely," Chopper said to Sanji, stepping backwards. "I know before I was on the ship you and Nami tended to the wounds of the crewmates, but Nami's not on the ship anymore. Don't do anything too irrational. And who knows, maybe both people can survive… But this has to be issued fast, after three days it will have been too late. Maybe you can find someone on my island who has the bubonic plague? And like, kill them? We are pirates… anyways. Bye, Sanji."
As Chopper exited the room, Sanji smiled at him, sad to see the reindeer go but hopeful the two would have an encounter in the near future. Or… will we? Because with this new info Chopper told me… I know it's supposed to be specific to people outside of our crew, but it's too late for me anyways… "I have to do this, don't I," Sanji muttered to himself. "Saving the stupid marimo again." But his mind was already made up. I'm going to save you, mosshead. Then we'll go find the All Blue together. I know we will. We have to. Because I don't know what I would do without you… Plus, Zoro's words… Does he really mean..?
…
Zoro smiled weakly as the door opened to reveal Sanji walking in that evening. Day two of my sickness, Zoro thought to himself. Third to last day to see the crew. To see the cook. "Hey, curly," Zoro called out, mustering up all the strength he could.
"Save your strength," Sanji muttered kindly. "I'm here, don't worry." He sat in front of the door, across the room from Zoro. He had already told Luffy how he was going to save Zoro. At first the captain had protested, but Sanji pushed his plan, chipping away at the king's will until finally Luffy relented, allowing Sanji to go through with it, hiding his tears.
"I'm not worrying." Zoro heaved himself up into a sitting position, resting his back against the wall of the medical bay. Chopper had come in to say goodbye earlier that day, staying at a distance and stating he wished the farewell was in better conditions, so Zoro still ached from the loss of a close friend. "I'm more worried for you."
"Hey, hey, don't worry about me, I'm fine," Sanji interjected warmly. "You're the one who's dying, moss ball. I'll survive, don't worry. Can we just… sit here, in peace?" Sanji felt a cough coming on, but held it back. I can't let him know I've got the plague, too.
Zoro nodded his consent. The two sat for some time, staring at each lovingly from across the room, each thinking about far away dreams never accomplishable due to death. It's almost… comforting, they both found themselves thinking.
Finally Sanji got up, slowly walking up to Zoro and kissing him on the lips. "Zoro," Sanji stated, staring into the swordsman's eye. "I love you."
"You're… you're gonna get sick—"
"No, listen to me. I love you." In that moment Sanji poured his whole heart into one sentence, aimed straight at the mosshead.
Zoro looked so startled and flustered, he just stared at the cook. "I— love you too," he finally managed to choke out. Sanji smiled, kissing Zoro one last time, and walking out. What is Sanji up to?? Zoro thought intensely to himself. This can't be good… But it's too late to stop him. I know more than anyone that he wants to accomplish his dream. So what's happening?
…
The pen danced along the paper, words springing up from his heart. This has to be perfect. This has to be perfect. More speech from the heart, furious scribbles of victories and losses. This has to be perfect. This has to be perfect. "Can love be described? Is that possible?" This has to be perfect. This has to be perfect. The letter built itself, constructed on pillars of sacrifice. This has to be perfect. Sacrificial altars. This has to be perfect. And then it was complete. His time had come. This will fucking work.
…
Zoro blinked open his eye to see bright morning sunlight streaming into the medical bay. He sat up, stretching, waiting for the violent coughing fit to hit him. But there was… nothing. No coughs, no blood-puke, not even a hint of black boils on his body. "I'm— I'm healed?" Zoro slowly stood up, waiting to shakily be forced to the ground. Nothing. He was perfectly fine. "Holy… holy shit!!" Zoro exclaimed. "This is amazing! I've gotta go tell everybody!!"
Zoro raced out of the medical bay into the dazzling daylight, searching for the remaining crew members, Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji. The Thousand Sunny was docked at some small island, and Zoro could tell that somehow overnight they had left the Grand Line. First he noticed Usopp, who was standing on the deck and staring solemnly out at the water. "Hey Usopp!!" Zoro yelled at him. "I don't know how, but I'm healed!!" Before the sniper had a chance to react, Zoro was bounding off again, trying to locate either Luffy or Sanji now. Next he saw Luffy, who was sitting in the aquarium diner. "LUFFYYY!!!" Zoro called out. The captain turned around, and Zoro could see that for some reason, Luffy had been crying. "Luffy! I'm okay! I don't know what happened— a miracle, for sure —but I'm healed now!! Hey, do you know where I might find Sanji? Probably the kitchen, right?" However as Zoro turned around to head in the direction of the kitchen, Luffy's stretchy arm reached out and grabbed Zoro's shirt.
"Zoro." Luffy's voice was stiff, dark, monotone. Dampening Zoro's joyous mood. The king slowly walked up to Zoro, however halting when just a meter away. "You… you haven't heard yet, have you."
"Haven't heard… what?" Zoro stared at Luffy with confusion.
"Sanji… he…" Luffy looked like he was holding back tears, choking on his own words. "He sacrificed his life for you. Sanji's dead."
Zoro stared at Luffy.
Memories.
Flashes.
No.
"LIES!"
Impossible!!
Flashbacks.
Emotions, a tsunami of emotions.
"YOU DIDN'T STOP HIM, WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP HIM?!"
Why.
WHY?
"WHY ME, WHY THE FUCK DID IT HAVE TO BE ME?"
Panic.
There was no escape.
No escape.
"Help— I'm drowning—"
Me instead, take me instead!
Leave him be, HE DOESN'T DESERVE THIS!!
Crushed. Shattered.
"I WILL FUCKING MURDER EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!!"
Anger. Anger. A blazing inferno.
And then Zoro was off, blindly racing off the ship onto the small island, unsheathing his swords and slashing every tree, vine, bush in his path. There was rage, but melancholy. Regrets, but hopes. Disbelief, yet complete understanding. Confusion. Zoro let out a blood-curdling scream, not caring if anyone heard him or saw him. Bashing his head against a tree. He was in a frenzy, and only one thing could calm him. But apparently that one thing was no longer alive—
"WHY?"
The sword trembled in his hand.
"WHY ME?"
The blade of the sword rested upon his palm.
"WHY HIM?"
A drop of blood formed.
"WHY NOT—"
And now a memory, blooming like the blood on his hand or the flowers around him.
"The All Blue. That's my dream. To find the All Blue." Sanji's hair was blowing in the wind as he stared out into the vast ocean. The two had been dating for a few days now.
Zoro rolled his eyes. "The All Blue doesn't even exist! It's a fairy tale, a legend, a myth!!"
Sanji laughed. It was a beautiful laugh. "That's what YOU think. But I'm going to find it eventually, I know I will. And then we'll see who's right!!"
"Alright, fine," Zoro relented, chuckling a little. "Here, I'll make you a deal." The cook looked up at him, a sparkle in his eyes, yet attention completely pivoted to the swordsman. "If we make it through this journey alive, when Luffy becomes king of the pirates, and I'm the greatest swordsman…. And everyone else has already accomplished their dreams… I'll go with you and help you find the All Blue. Sounds like a plan?"
"Deal." Sanji grinned, hugging Zoro and kissing him on the lips.
"…Sanji."
"Sanji's gone."
Zoro's grieving took a turn for the worst as memories crashed onto him like a waterfall. Beginning to shake uncontrollably, the tears began to fall at last. Zoro's hands were bloodied, his eyes salty, and his heart heavy, mind mush, depressed, melancholy, why.
He didn't see the captain approach.
"Zoro," Luffy's gruff voice sounded. "He left you a letter."
Not looking up, Zoro snatched the letter from Luffy and curled up into a ball, opening it.
He began to read.
My love Zoro,
I'm sorry. Really and truly. I didn't mean for this to happen. But Chopper said this was the only way to save you. I couldn't go on living without you, the pain would be unbearable. In fact I couldn't go on living at all because I caught the plague, too. I would've died the night after you if I hadn't sacrificed myself when I did.
You told me "I did the two things I most wanted to do. I think I feel pretty accomplished right now. Becoming the world's greatest swordsman was one of them. As for the other one? I'll let you figure that one out, lovecook". Well, I figured it out. It was me, wasn't it? I mean, you did confess first. You said you loved me.
I love you.
I love you, mosshead.
And that's why you need to keep pushing on. You said we could go find the All Blue together. Well, I'm still here! I'm in your mind, your soul, your heart. And you're in mine. You always will be. Hell, take Luffy with you, what do I care. But I know the All Blue is out there, somewhere. Don't grieve, marimo. Please don't dwell on the past. I learned that the hard way…
What you need to do is look for the future. Keep living in the present. Find the All Blue, and after you do, tell me about it, okay? What fish are there? How do you think they would taste better, with salt or pepper?
I know you can do this, Zoro. I believe in you.
I love you.
– Roranoa Sanji <3
Zoro would've started crying all over again, if it weren't for the warmth of Luffy's body pressed up against his. It was comforting, consoling.
There was fog, sure, but a light within.
And the rain was heavy, yes, but a small beam of snow peaked through the clouds.
And though the snow was thick, there was a small fire to keep him warm.
"Sanji," Zoro whispered. "Thank you. I love you, too." And Zoro leaned his head on Luffy's shoulder, the same shoulder Sanji had cried on no more than 48 hours prior. The two sat there, on the forest floor, with only a tree branch for cover, as the day turned into dusk and further from dusk into night.
Goodbye, my love… It was almost as if Zoro could hear Sanji, huddled up next to him…