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Chapter Text

A hauntingly beautiful melody played across the lavish island. Its twinkling tune a reflection of the captivating scenery that stretched from the iridescent sea that enclosed it, all the way to heart-shaped mountain peaks that towered above. Pink petals of summer romance fell endlessly amongst the forests. It was a tranquil paradise, disturbed only by the cracking and sudden falling of a tree as Sanji was thrown into it by a particularly nasty kick.

Wood splintering under his back, Sanji tumbled forward onto his hands and knees at the same time the tree toppled to the earth behind him in a swirl of rose petals and honey sweet wind. His body ached from the beating it had already endured, but there was no way in hell he was about to give up. Getting one foot, then another under himself, he looked up at the man currently handing him his ass.

“You sure are a persistent one, Omega-Boy~” Iva sang cheerfully, having hardly broken a sweat since they had started their fight, “I’ll give you that.”

Pushing himself back to his feet, Sanji’s knees buckled several times as he fought to stay upright and he stood bow-legged in front of the Revolutionary captain while desperately trying to catch his breath. Wiping the back of his hand across his mouth, he managed to rub away some of the blood that had begun to run down his lip after a particularly brutal hit from the drag queen.

“I’ve been told that before.” Hacking up a wad of spit and blood that had begun to form in the back of his throat from his bloody nose, Sanji spat it to the side before levelling on Iva once more. Feeling a bit more sure on his feet after the small reprieve and ready to try again. Twisting the ball of his shoe readily into the pink grass before launching at the man, “Now give them back, you fucker!”

“Give vhat back?” Iva placed a hand to his chest in mock indignation. Already prancing backwards to avoid each of Sanji’s attacks meant to kick that stupid crown off his head, “Vhat do you think I took?”

“Don’t play dumb!” Sanji snarled, a kick connecting but blocked by Iva’s arm. Jumping back, he landed several feet away as he pointed an accusatory finger, “Your shitty friends snuck through my stuff and stole my shit!”

“You have no proof!”

Grabbing his hair, Sanji was ready to begin tearing it out as he screamed, “I SAW them!”

“Their vord against yours, Omega-Boy,” Iva crooned, “And they’re much more charming and pleasant~”

There were no words to express Sanji's frustration over dealing with all these drag queens. Day after day of running and getting his butt kicked, day after day without his crew, day after day since he hadn't been able to save--

"Argh!!!"

Launching at Iva, he didn't even get close before that ridiculously powerful wink sent him crashing back into the ground leaving behind an imprint of himself. At the rate his body was being used to destroy this island, there wasn't going to be anything nice left by the time he left in two years.

It took a lot longer to recover from that hit, but Sanji managed to get to his knees and then eventually got a foot under him despite everything feeling like it was on fire. However, all the fire in his soul seemed to have gone out in the same instant, replaced by a cold defeat as he looked at the ground.

“No more fight in you?” Iva stopped in front of Sanji, sounding almost disappointed, “I thought for sure you had more.”

It didn’t fucking matter, did it?

Everyone on this shitty fucking island had already figured out his secret, and it wasn’t like getting his smokes and pills back could reverse time. It was all just a pitiful distraction from what had really been bothering him ever since he had resigned himself to training here for the next two years.

With a hand braced against his knee, Sanji carefully pushed himself to his feet, keeping his forlorn look hidden by his bangs as he muttered, “Whatever.”

Turning his back on the drag queen, Sanji intended to crawl away and lick his wounds. And make a plan for when his suppressants wore off and he'd have to barcade himself in his place for his heat. It had been years since he had one and it was probably going to be insufferable, and the last thing he needed was one of these Candies trying to help him.

A shudder wracked his frame at the thought, pausing in his limped retreat as something landed on the grass behind him. Casting a stiff look over his shoulder, he found his smokes and a pack of pills lying among the pink blades of grass. Having learned his lesson before about the queen's enjoyment of tricks, Sanji eyed them warily.

"Relax, Omega-Boy~" Iva mused, "You may have them back, no tricks."

Still keeping a cautious eye on the man out of his peripheral, Sanii stooped down to pick up his things. Immediately popping a pill and swallowing it dry before digging out a smoke and lighting up. Taking a heady drag and sighing out a cloud of smoke that already was easing some of the tension in his shoulders. Iva watching the whole thing without a word.

After another couple puffs, Sanji returned to clutching his injured arm and cradled it as he kept his cigarette raised. Scowling, Sanji demanded, "What."

"You do not like to embrace your omeganess, do you?"

"I'm indifferent."

"Ah huh." Iva huffed, not sounding the least bit convinced as he looked Sanji up and down. Eventually meeting Sanji's gaze as his hands fell to his hips, "I'd be inclined to keep my Candies from digging through your things if you vere to tell me vhy you vant me to make you an alpha?"

Sanji's hand tightened reflexively on his sleeve, "It's none of your business."

"Of course it's my business!" Iva snapped, "It's my devil fruit, Omega-Boy~ I don't just go around handing out freebies to every cutie!"

"Well, enjoy disappointment then!" Sanji snarled, "If you won't do anything I won't waste your time."

"Okay, vell, riddle me this, Omega-Boy~"

"Stop CALLING me that!"

"If you're mated," Iva pressed, "vhy on earth would you want to severe such a sacred bond?"

A dark look flashed across Sanji's face at the drag queen’s pestering. Refusing to answer as he glared up at the man. He hadn’t expected Iva to be able to smell it on him, but with his own senses dulled due to his suppressants, he honestly had no clue how easy it was to smell when someone was mated or not.

"You don't tell me," Iva wiggled his fingers, "and I promise you vill never get this chance."

Sanji's glare was murderous. If he wasn't holding a cigarette in one hand, and his injured arm in the other he'd have flipped off the queen by now. Iva met his stare unperturbed, before shrugging and beginning to leave. Sanji watched his retreating figure for a long time, before the panic in him got too great and he was lurching into motion.

"Alright, alright, alright!" Sanji stumbled after Iva, halting his steps as the drag queen paused and cast a curious look back at Sanji, "Alright."

Iva looked at him expectantly and Sanji wavered.

This was a conversation he hadn't even had with the alpha he was bonded to, and now he was talking about it with this stranger. It felt wrong. However, the whole reason he had asked Iva in the first place was to perhaps fix this whole issue before he ever had to tell Zoro about it...

“It was a mistake!" Sanji snapped. A fiery rage ignited in him but just as quickly stifled as he released his arm to grip his shirt, right over where that ache had been ever since Thriller Bark, “It wasn’t supposed to happen.”

"Vasn't supposed to happen?!" Iva exclaimed while gifting Sanji with a ridiculous look. He began waving his arms about, "Vell then how did you manage that? Did you fall on his dick?"

"WHAT?!" Nearly tripping over his feet, Sanji stumbled backwards as a blush lit up his face, "No. No, he was dying and there was this whole thing. It just sort of happened."

"Interesting." Iva hummed, "Bonded, but not mated. You must have very strong feelings for each other to manage that."

"Riiight…" The blush had now reached his ears as he looked away shamefully. Still not entirely convinced that Zoro had willingly bonded with him. The whole thing still didn’t quite make sense to him even after all of Chopper’s explanations, “He doesn’t even know about it.”

"Vell,” Iva demanded, smacking Sanji upside the head while yelling, “vhy not?!"

"Because…" Sanji growled low before rounding on the man with murderous intent. Jumping up and aiming for the man’s head with a vicious kick, "I WAS BLASTED TO THIS HELL BEFORE I GOT THE CHANCE."

Easily smacking Sanji aside, Iva watched as Sanji slowly pushed himself to his knees and coughed up a mouthful of blood. Hands fumbling in the grass until he located his badly crushed cigarette and replaced it between his lips. Pushing himself up again, with significantly more difficulty this time as he used a nearby tree to take most of his weight.

"I'm sorry for your misfortune, I truly am." Iva mused, "But vhy do you think that this could possibly make things better?"

“I was a selfish bastard.” Sanji muttered, “Talking about keeping them safe, so they wouldn’t have to worry about what this might do to any of them. And somehow I still managed to mess it up. If I'm not an omega anymore it would fix everything."

Iva watched him for a long time. Long enough that Sanji was certain the man was going to deny him his request, but eventually the drag queen made a thoughtful noise and titled his head. Obnoxious purple wig bobbing.

"Because I like you, Omega-Boy," Iva hummed, "I'll make you another deal."

Chancing a glance up at the man, Sanji waited silently as the Revolutionary captain made his terms. Raising a hand, Sanji watched as the man's fingers transformed into needles and he wiggled them tantalizingly.

"If you win our previous agreement, I'll gladly make you an alpha, however," Iva looked pointedly at Sanji, "you need to really think about if this is vhat you vant, and if you really vant to cut this bond vith your mate."

Sanji hardly heard the words as his gaze remained pinned to the queen's fingers.

"You hear me, Sanji-Boy?"

At his name Sanji's gaze snapped back to Iva.

"Once I do it there'll be no going back." Iva warned, "and your bond vith that boy will be gone for good."

Nodding quietly, Sanji didn't think he could find his voice as Iva's final words hit far deeper than he had been expecting. Watching silently as Iva returned Sanji's nod of agreement and turned to leave. Strutting across the field and back towards his castle, Sanji waited before he was out of sight before letting the offer truly sink in.

Dropping to the ground, Sanji’s back thudded against a nearby tree as he clutched at his chest. His whole body ached from running non-stop the past couple weeks, and defending himself from the Candies that were intent on putting him in a dress, but none of it hurt quite as much as the hole in his chest that had been torn open the moment Zoro had disappeared.

The end of his cigarette dropped to the ground as he bit through the filter.

He’d gotten Luffy’s message, and while he would miss the ladies and the rest of the crew he was intent on staying here and getting every possible recipe before returning to Sabaody to meet them. However, that hadn’t stopped him from realizing that this bond he and Zoro had formed, this mated thing between them, was a hindrance. This constant ache was an ever present distraction, and he could only imagine it was the same for Zoro.

A year ago - before he had joined Luffy’s crew - he would've gladly taken Iva up on his offer in a heartbeat, there wouldn't have been anything to ruminate on, but now… now his heart was torn in two. A war raged between a body and life he'd always felt he deserved, and the person he'd come to care for all these months at sea; sick to his stomach at the thought of having to choose between them.

For once, Sanji didn’t know the right thing to do…

~Several Months Earlier...~

This crew was out of their minds.

When Sanji had met them back on the Baratie, within the span of an hour, their captain had bust a hole through the side of the restaurant and landed himself indebted to the owner, their swordsman had gotten cut in half by a Warlord, and their navigator had bludgeoned their chatty friends and absonced with their caraval. Their sharpshooter had been fairly well-behaved, but Sanji could've done without all the panicked screeching while dealing with the pirates that had tried to rob their ship.

And now he had just finished helping them take down an entire crew of fishmen and had learned that those types of antics were completely conventional for this crew. He’d chosen to follow a fool of a captain, and it seemed everyone else knew this fact, but were committed anyway. And somehow - Sanji questioned what powers on earth were at work - he had decided that he was all in for this ragtag group of hooligans.

Rightfully, the town threw a huge party to celebrate finally becoming free from the tyrannical rule of the fishmen, there was drink, food, and great company as they partied well into the night. Luffy and Usopp wasted little time in abusing their hospitality, and Sanji’s heart swelled at the sight of Nami laughing happily with her sister; he knew he had done the right thing following after her with Luffy.

Grabbing some food and booze, Sanji went somewhere to eat and spotted the green-haired alpha lounging off the main street near a small back alley. Sitting down across from him, Sanji took a sip of ale before greeting, "Hey."

Zoro grunted around his drink in greeting.

Sanji refrained from rolling his eyes. All the men on this crew were freaking animals, and if they ate and drank like they were currently doing at this party, then Sanji had his work cut out for him once they set sail. His eyes returned to Zoro at that thought as he knew he'd be getting to know all these crew members intimately soon enough, and he should probably try to make an effort.

After all, they may have gotten off on the wrong foot, but they had fought amazingly together. With Usopp off taking care of one of the fishman, and Luffy stuck under water, the fight had been in their hands for a while, and Sanji had to hand it to the alpha; even cut in half he was a beast.

Waiting until Zoro's gaze turned to Sanji, he drew a line across his own chest before asking sincerely, “How’s the wound?”

“Better.” Zoro acceded after lowering his tankard, jerking his thumb towards the intoxicated doctor a little ways off. “Finally had a real doctor stitch it up so I should be good.”

“I heard.” Sanji drawled, recalling the screams that had reached himself and Usopp as they had waited outside the doctor’s house. Getting cut apart by Mihawk had definitely let Sanji know this alpha was unhinged, but when the swordsman had decided to fight in that condition, that had convinced him that the man was out of his mind. “How’s it look?”

Reaching down, Zoro untucked the shirt from his haramaki and hiked it up to expose the jagged scar that now ran from hip to shoulder. Skin a torn and lumpy mess from the horrible first patch job, and now the real one that pinched all the flesh back together. It looked rough, and Sanji imagined that there were corpses that looked in better condition.

Waving his hand with a grimace, Sanji muttered, “Yeah, alright, there’s people trying to eat. Cover that.”

Zoro rolled his eyes and snorted, but smiled and did as he was told. Tucking his shirt back into his haramaki and taking a sip of his beer. Sanji couldn’t help but notice that the swordsman was much more congenial now that tensions weren’t so high.

“What about you?”

Arching a brow, Sanji hummed, “Hm?”

“You were underwater with that fishman for a while.” He paused for a moment for a large gulp of liquor before resting his tankard on his knee. Smirking as he levelled on Sanji, “Thought for sure the guy was beating the hell out of you.”

“Eh,” Sanji waved him off, deciding the swordsman didn’t need to know the details. Sure the guy had managed to break a few ribs with that nasty diving trick, and he’d used Sanji as a bit of an underwater punching bag, but really it was only a, “Minor inconvenience at best.”

“You’re a good guy to have around in a fight.” Zoro tilted his tankard towards Sanji, “Even if you fucked around a bit.”

“Phft.” An incredulous snort shook Sanji’s body, and he placed a hand to his chest in mock indignation. The gall of this guy to accuse him of something so ridiculous, “I fucked around?! You spent half the fight face down in a pool of your own blood.”

“Yeah,” Zoro smirked, “and the other half slicing up those fishmen.”

“Are you forgetting who saved you from getting your brains knocked into your spine?” Sanji huffed, but was unable to stop himself from smiling. It was fun bantering with swordsman, “Not even a thank you?”

“No, but nice job getting punched through the wall,” Pointing at Sanji as he chortled, “that was priceless.”

“You’re a real piece of work, you know that?”

Raising his tankard, Zoro agreed with a nod and a “Thanks.” before tilting it back and doing his best to down most of the remaining booze. Some of it spilling past the edges and dripping down onto his white shirt as Sanji’s suspicions that this man was a slob were confirmed.

“Oh,” Sanji laughed, “so you do know that word?!”

A noncommittal grunt was his response.

Setting his own drink aside, Sanji took their companionable silence to eat his own share of food and bask in the festivities. Nami had wandered off, leaving Usopp to begin captivating villager’s attention with a ridiculous song, and Luffy to take up residence at a table and start wolfing down anything in sight. A loud bunch of kids to say the least.

Sanji would admit he was still a little wary about joining a crew with so many alphas, but so far it seemed that none of them had any suspicions about him being an omega. Years on board a pirate restaurant had given him more than enough practice at dealing with people, and holding his own; it wasn’t hard to pass for an alpha anymore.

Glancing over at Zoro, the alpha’s casual demeanour only confirmed his suspicions since the man’s attitude towards him was nothing if not adversarial. His stare seemed to catch the swordsman’s attention, and he cocked a brow at Sanji in question.

“So…” Sanji flicked a finger at Zoro while making sure to word his next question carefully, “you guys have a few alphas on your ship, huh?”

“A few.” A crooked smirk lit up Zoro’s face, all sharp teeth and biting angles as he reminded Sanji of a shark. There was definitely something smug to his voice as he intoned, “Threatened?”

“As if.” Sanji rolled his eyes, “You’re all a bunch of punks.”

“You said that before.”

“And I meant it.”

Zoro just shook his head with a laugh and kept drinking.

Watching the alpha through the safety of his bangs, Sanji was critical about every aspect of the man that he'd be sailing with for the foreseeable future. Nami was unquestionably one of the main reasons he was here, and Luffy had sparked a curiosity in him that he now needed to follow to the end of the Grand Line, but this swordsman had piqued something else. There was something about the alpha's stubborn determination that drew Sanji in.

A moment later Luffy was showing up and their conversation was effectively ended.

~X~

Stalking through a jungle in a suit was less than ideal. The sweltering heat was causing him to sweat, and he could already tell it was doing hell to the silk lining of his jacket; the shirt at this point could not be saved. He supposed it was his own fault for not changing before storming off into the jungle to begin this hunting contest with Zoro, but he couldn’t exactly be held accountable for his irrational behaviour where the swordsman was involved.

The alpha made those snide comments and Sanji could feel his blood boil in an instant.

It was like a switch was flicked on inside him whenever the alpha turned his attention to him, and Sanji had no choice but to rise to the bait. He wished he wasn’t so predictable. Zoro had this control over him that he couldn’t explain, but more often than not it ended up with Sanji regretting his behaviour afterwards.

Which was why he was currently trekking through a humid forest in one of his favourite suits and cursing the stupid alpha. He'd need to wash all this stuff the moment they returned to the ship to ensure none of his omega scent had leached into his clothes; the suppressants muted everything, but he didn't like to risk it. He sighed as he realized he'd probably have to burn his shirt.

Sanji was mid-curse when a low rumbling had him coming to a stop and glancing around as a large lizard stalked out of the nearby trees. It was easily twenty feet tall as it trudged forward on its hind legs. Each step shaking the ground beneath it and saliva dripping from its barred teeth as it looked at Sanji with a hungry intent.

This was all Zoro’s fault.

Hands casually in his pockets, Sanji watched the creature weave about the clearing as it sized up Sanji and seemed to be determining whether he was worth eating. A moment later it lunged forward and Sanji launched himself up, jumping just out of the way of its large jaws that snapped down where he had been moments before. Using the beast’s surprise to his advantage, he slammed the heel of his finely polished dress shoe through its head and sent it slamming into the ground with a heavy tremor, “Down you go, you shitty lizard!”

Crumpling to the ground dead, Sanji landed beside it with a bored yawn and stretch of his neck. Removing a hand from his pocket to run it along the back of the large creature, Sanji walked the length of the beast while silently inspecting it. It was much bigger than anything else he had yet to see on this island, it surely was going to be larger than anything that swordsman would be able to round up.

That shitty alpha was so annoying.

At least the man only looked down on Sanji as a man, and not because he was an omega. He couldn’t even imagine how incessant and horrible the swordsman’s teasing would be if he ever found out. Although it might be a nice notch in the dumb alpha’s ego for him to know that all this time an omega had been kicking his ass and not an alpha. Snorting at the notion, Sanji shook off the ridiculous fantasy and grabbed the lizard by the tail to big dragging it back to the ship.

~X~

Snow fell lazily about the ship as they sailed away from Drum Island, the distant sky still tinged a gorgeous pink above the tallest peak of the winter paradise. Merry cut through the ice cold water as they were carried away to their next island, all the crew at the stern watching the receding hometown of the doctor they had recruited.

As he downed the last of his ale, Sanji set his tankard aside and pushed himself to his feet. Despite the festivities over getting a new crew member, he could see that Nami and Vivi were beginning to get a little rosy cheeked, and the others would be soon to follow with complaints. He wandered over to where Chopper was dancing by Usopp.

"Chopper?" Sanji asked while leaning down to get the happy deer's attention. Immediately his smile waned and it was clear from the cautious way he eyed Sanji that he hadn't quite forgotten all of Sanji's jokes about cooking him and eating him. Putting on as congenial smile as he could, Sanji inclined his head towards the galley, "Would you help me bring out some cocoa?"

All wariness gone, Chopper's face lit up, "Sure!"

Leaving the others to their drinking and dancing, Sanji showed their new doctor the galley for the first time. Holding the door open as Chopper trotted inside the warmly lit room and his face lit up as he glanced around the homey area. A small smile crooked the corner of Sanji’s mouth as he began pulling out pots to get everything ready. Grabbing a stool up and placing it next to the counter, Sanji beckoned for the deer to come stand next to him as he began warming some milk on the stove while pulling some chocolate free from the cupboard.

Proffering a spoon, Sanji smiled, “Keep an eye on the milk and stir it for me?”

“Sure!” Chopper once again happily agreed and began peering into the pot as tendrils of steam slowly began to rise from the warming milk. Sticking the spoon in, he gave it a testing stir.

Shucking the chocolate from its wrappers, Sanji worked silently as he knew this conversation was going to have to be delicate, but necessary. When he'd messed up his back he had been half conscious while Chopper and that old woman had worked on him and discovered his secret, and if he wanted it kept then he needed to make sure it was done now.

"You know… right?" Sanji muttered after moment, placing a block of chocolate on the cutting board keeping his gaze pinned on it as he selected a knife and began finely chopping it, "I heard you tell that old woman."

“I…” Chopper paused. A frown creased his brow before he asked, “That you’re an omega?”

Casting a glance to the door, Sanji looked back down and nodded, “Yeah.”

“Those are to mask your scent, right?” Chopper pointed to the unlit cigarette poised readily between Sanji’s teeth. He already had it ready to light the moment they were done making the cocoa. When Sanji nodded in affirmation, Chopper continued with a thoughtful nod, “I thought so; it’s not uncommon for omegas to do stuff like that.”

"You're our ship's doctor now, so it's only right you know; I figured it'd be something I'd have to tell whoever we got in the future." Even if Chopper hadn’t smelled it on him, he would have had to tell him anyway. With injuries and illnesses, there was no way he could hide something like this from the medical professional on the ship. Sanji grabbed the next bar and began chopping it as well, "I can take care of all of it myself, but medically I know you have to know."

Walking around Chopper, Sanji brought the chopping block around to the other pan and with a flourish he flicked all the diced chocolate into the pan along with a splash of cream. Allowing the blocks to begin to melt as he looked back at Chopper and asked seriously, "I assume you're bound by that whole doctor-patient confidentiality?"

“Of course!”

Continuing to stir the chocolate, Sanji bit down on the end of his cigarette as he knew what he was going to say next was going to be hard to explain, especially since Chopper was so new to the crew. He had decided a long time ago never to tell anyone that he was an omega, and since he had come to care so much for this crazy crew, it was more important than ever they never find out.

Picking up the sauce pan, Sanji held it over the element as he began rotating the pan and carefully mixing the chocolate so it would melt evenly and not burn. Unable to look at Chopper as he muttered, “You can’t let the others know.”

"...I don't understand." Chopper’s stirring halted, “Nami said you’re all nakama.”

"It's not that I don't trust them," Sanji shook his head, "It's just that it's easier for everyone this way."

"Not for you."

Sanji bit back a hollow laugh, the kid was far too sweet.

"This isn't just for my safety, it's theirs." Sanji sighed, and added some more cream to the chocolate. Stirring the sauce until it was a little less thick, "Having an omega on the battlefield with a bunch of alphas would just cause a lot of issues."

“They can’t smell that you’re an omega the way I can.” Chopper argued, “You should be fine.”

“Scent won’t be an issue, but there’s nothing I can do to stop them once they know.” Sanji wasn’t certain how much Chopper knew about these kinds of things, but it was something Sanji had had drilled into him ever since he had presented and ultimately disappointed his father. It was basic battle tactics. “On the battlefield they might see me in trouble, and even though I can handle myself their alpha desire to help me won’t be something they can just ignore.”

“You can probably give them more credit than that. They’re your friends.” Chopper sighed, “They’d understand.”

“I have the utmost faith in them” Sanji agreed, muttering a gentle, “Watch yourself.” As he brought the hot pan of chocolate over to the steaming milk. Beginning to slowly drizzle it in as Chopper continued to stir and he continued, “But this isn’t something they need to know.”

Chopper kept his gaze on the chocolate as he kept stirring the milk as it turned to a rich, cream brown, but directed his words to Sanji, “I still think you should let them have the choice.”

“It wouldn’t be a choice.” Setting the pan aside in the sink, Sanji shook his head, “Not to them. They’d react out of instinct and if they ever got hurt because of me I’d never be able to forgive myself. Does that make sense?”

“I suppose.”

Pulling down several cups, Sanji set them out and took the pot from Chopper with a grateful nod and then expertly poured out an even serving of cocoa in each mug. Putting the dirty pot in the sink with the rest of the dishes as he looked at Chopper with a serious, yet earnest expression, “Can I count on you not to tell?”

“I won’t,” Chopper agreed with a small smile, “but I still think you should reconsider.”

“Maybe another time.” Relief flooding his body as Sanji waved off his words, “For now, help me take this cocoa outside and let’s enjoy the snowy weather. You never know when you might see a winter island again.”

“Mhm!” Chopper hummed in happy agreement, hopping down from the stool and holding his hooves up for the tray Sanji handed him. Balancing the cups carefully as Sanji grabbed a tray of his own and led the doctor out of the galley and back to their waiting crew.

~X~

After a day of hiking through the Alabastian desert, Sanji had definitely gotten over his sea legs, but was now suffering from a different sort of sensation as he was beginning to forget what solid ground felt like. The sun had beat down on them like a heavy weight. Pushing them further into the sand with each step as they trudged through the seemingly endless sea of dunes.

Luffy now walked along like the rest of them through the steadily darkening desert. His hallucinations had finally worn off after waking up from the third time of being knocked out; Zoro had pinned him down and Sanji had prepared to kick their idiot captain in the head while Chopper checked his condition. After nearly a day of dragging him through the desert it seemed like the cactus juice had finally worn off.

With the desert cooling, Chopper was able to walk on his own now, but he had been replaced by Usopp as the sharpshooter had passed out from dehydration. Without a word Zoro had grabbed the fainted man and tossed him over his shoulder as they continued to trek after the camel that was well ahead of them with Nami and Vivi on its back.

Falling into step beside Zoro, the cook pulled out a fresh cigarette and fiddled with lighting it. Darkness had properly fallen on the desert and the moon hung high in the sky, the glow of Sanji's match momentarily illuminating the sand beneath their feet before it all fell back into shadow. Flicking the used match, Sanji puffed on his smoke before casting a glance Zoro's way, “First Chopper, then Luffy, now Usopp?”

“Chopper’s weak to the heat.” Zoro shrugged, hiking the sharpshooter up to rest better over his shoulder, “And Luffy was drugged.”

A knowing smirk danced on Sanji’s lips. The swordsman liked to act all tough and stoic, but they had been sailing together long enough now that Sanji had begun to see through that facade. He leaned in while pointing to Zoro with a conspiratorial whisper, “I’m on to you.”

“Phft. Oh yeah, cook?” Zoro snorted, and Sanji revelled in the smallest hint of confusion that flickered in the alpha’s eyes. “Do tell.”

With a cocky smirk, Sanji teased, “You’re actually a big softie.”

Even under the abysmal light of the moon Sanji was able to make out the faintest hint of a blush on the swordsman’s cheeks, and grinned as the alpha made disgruntled noise and denied it, “Am not.”

“He is!”

Both men were jostled as Luffy excitedly shoved his way between them; Zoro stumbling to the side and taking a few unsteady steps in the sand as Sanji fumbled his cigarette. Sanji raised a curious brow at the rubber man, but Zoro simply looked wary as he muttered, “Hey, Luffy.”

“Yo, Luffy.” Sanji smirked, and Zoro was immediately on edge with the sharp look he sent Zoro's way before looking back at Luffy, “What was that you were saying?”

“When we first met he ate a rice-ball a girl had made for him that some marine had stomped into the dirt.”

“Luffy!” Zoro’s embarrassed yell went completely ignored. “Shut up!”

Imperceptibly, Sanji’s steps faltered for a moment but it was easily written off as a misplaced step in the sand. Zoro was too busy telling off Luffy to notice as Sanji looked the man up and down while seeing him in a whole new light. He’d know the guy was sweet, but that...

A soft look took over Sanji’s face and he grabbed his cigarette so he could mutter into his hand to hide the fond smile threatening to show, “Is that so?”

“Yup!”

“I was hungry!” Zoro defended hotly, still holding Usopp, so he only had one free hand to shove Luffy in the face in annoyance. Turning a glare onto Sanji as he explained, “I hadn’t eaten in weeks.”

“But you told me to tell the girl it was delicious.” Luffy laughed, batting Zoro’s hand away, “There’s no way that dirt tasted good.”

“Shut up,” Zoro snarled, turning to chase off their captain and throwing a kick at the laughing boy, “I told you it was delicious. Leave me alone!”

Luffy ran away cackling from Zoro’s attempts to hit him, and once he seemed certain their captain would leave him alone, Zoro settled back to his old pace beside Sanji. Turning to glare at Sanji, only to find the cook watching him with a thoughtful look, so he snapped, “What?”

“Nothing…” Sanji mused, taking a soft drag on his cigarette and politely blowing the smoke away, “Just think I misjudged you.”

Hand tangling in the front of Sanji’s robes, Zoro hauled him forward with a snarl, but all his aggression was lost with the accompanied blush from Luffy’s comments. It was rare to see the alpha so flustered; Sanji liked it. Allowing the swordsman to drag him close until he was practically growling in Sanji’s face, “Misjudged what, shitcook?”

“Oh, you know,” Sanji mused, blowing a stream of smoke directly into the alpha’s face to get him to cough. Not needing the swordsman to catch on to the fact he was actually kinda touched by the idiot’s sentimentality. “How you’re totally a big pushover~”

“I’ll push you over, eyebrow!”

“I’d like to see you try, you bast--”

“Guys!”

They both froze and turned their sights ahead where Vivi was currently clamouring off of the camel and was pointing to a distant point on the horizon. Buildings and a light only faintly visible in the darkness. Everyone lit up at the notion that they had finally reached Yuba.

~X~

"C'mon, you wandering swordsman." Sanji cajoled as he hopped up onto a nearby tree root. Tilting his head towards the towering forest. It was their first proper night on Sky Island and it was only right that they celebrated it properly. "We need wood for the bonfire. Let's actually put those swords to work doing something useful."

"Excuse you?!"

"You heard me." Sanji sneered. Unpleasant expression falling away into a cheery grin, "Now c'mon. If I'm lucky you'll get lost and we can leave you here."

"Fuck you, cook." Zoro snapped, but he followed regardless. Leaving the crew to continue discussing their plans for tomorrow.

They wandered through the jungle silently for a bit until they came to a glade housing marginally smaller trees than the behemoths towering around them. Despite their proclivity to argue, it was always surprisingly easy to hang in each other's company, at least when they weren't talking. It seemed that neither could open their mouths without jabbing at the other.

Not that Sanji minded, it was this sort of unspoken friendship that he liked most about the swordsman. And even though Zoro didn't know it, Sanji appreciated having an alpha that he could regularly argue and fight with; it reminded him that his worth didn't necessarily hinge on who he was born as.

Of course, he'd never tell the alpha that… Even under the threat of death.

Stopping at a decent sized tree that appeared drier than the others, Sanji walked the base while inspecting it. Turning to Zoro he patted the trunk, "This one's pretty dry. Cut it down."

"First the cooking, now chopping wood." Zoro grumbled, "My swords aren't at your disposal like this."

"Apparently they are." At Zoro's unpleasant look, Sanji rolled his eyes and huffed, "Oh, c'mon, I've seen you use them for far worse."

Zoro grumbled, but didn't deny it.

Moving out of the way, Sanji pulled out a fresh cigarette and lit it up as he watched the swordsman do his thing. It was a rare opportunity for him to actually see the swordsman properly use his swords. Normally they were in the middle of a battle, or he'd be using them on Sanji, so it was interesting to be able to see the alpha use his blade while Sanji could watch.

Sanji made fun of the swordsman constantly, however he couldn't deny that when the man was focused there was a level of impressiveness to his movements. Despite Sanji considering the swordsman mainly a brute in battle, there was definitely a finesse to his abilities that he couldn't discredit.

A serious moue dropped over Zoro's face and he took a slow step back to properly plant himself, each foot twisting in the dirt for minor adjustment. Hands falling to his hip, one grabbed the scabbard of his white katana as the other wrapped around the hilt with a tactful grip. Sanji's gaze tracking the motion silently as he noted the alpha actually had fairly dexterous hands for how brutish they looked.

Sanji watched as the swordsman's eyes fell shut and a moment of tranquil concentration graced the man's face, and Sanji couldn't help but notice that when the alpha wasn't snoring, or scowling, or generally making any unpleasant expression, he was fairly attractive. Lips thinning at the thought, Sanji was just glad that ninety nine percent of the time, the man looked like an angry gorilla; he didn't need the ladies falling for him.

A second later Zoro's eyes flashed open and he was unsheathing the blade with lightning quickness and then resheathing it just as quickly. If Sanji wasn't as attuned as he was, he would probably have missed the moment entirely. After several quiet moments, the tree began to groan and a line at it's base began to appear, growing bigger and bigger as it toppled over. Eventually falling to the ground with a loud crash and the breaking of branches.

Walking along the length of the tree, Sanji began kicking spare branches from the trunk and just generally clearing the area to make it easier to deal with. Happy with the clearing, he glanced to Zoro again who was just standing their uselessly watching Sanji and barked, "Okay, now cut it into logs."

Coming to stand next to Sanji, he withdrew his black sword next and glanced at the cook, "Quit ordering me around."

"And yet you keep listening."

This time Zoro didn't bother to harden his stance or even put any thought into it. Just extended his arm and swiped the sword in a few exact moments until the tree split evenly into several long, perfectly sliced pieces of lumber. They all toppled to the ground in a messy heap as the alpha turned a flat look on the cook.

"Thanks, mosshead." Sanji grinned cheekily, and stalked past the swordsman. Making sure to flick the alpha in the earrings as he teased, "See, that's what people call manners. You should try it sometime."

Clamping a hand over his ear, Zoro snarled after the cook as he sheathed his sword, "Shut up, cook. I'll kick your ass."

"Hm…" Sanji hummed thoughtfully, not entirely convinced. Gaze flickering over the swordsman's face as he noticed that while the man's unattractive scowl was back, he could still see why women tended to find the alpha attractive. Rolling his eyes, Sanji turned back to the pile of logs, "Whatever helps you sleep at night."

Tossing Zoro a coil of rope, Sanji began sorting half the logs into a neat pile and then tied down his own bundle. Zoro did the same, despite the continuing growl of annoyance from the alpha. It wasn't long before they were making their way back to camp with two large bundles of lumber in tow, more than enough for a large fire to last the night.

Adjusting the rope he had hooked over his shoulder to assist in pulling the lumber, Sanji paused as a scuffling behind him caught his attention. Sanji turned, expecting to see a South Bird, or some other wild animal, but when his gaze landed on multiple beady black eyes, he felt the air escape out of his lungs in a pitiful wheeze. His arms fell to his sides, and the rope slipped from between slack hands as he stared up at the massive spider currently poised atop his own pile of wood.

Blood running cold, Sanji stumbled backwards until he ran bodily into the swordsman. Absently trying to tangle a hand in Zoro’s shirt as he tried to get the swordsman’s attention, but only managing to trip, fall on his rear, and grab the alpha’s leg instead. He couldn’t even find it in himself to be embarrassed by his actions. Far too distracted by the creature above, with its multiple long hairy legs creeping forwards, its pincers snapping readily, and those hollow black eyes staring right into his soul. 

"What the fuck's wrong with you cook?" First looking down at the cook with a scowl, and then glancing up when all Sanji gave in response was a terrified babble of incoherency, "Hm?"

Flat expression landing on the massive spider currently poised in front of them. Like everything else on this piece of old Jaya, it seemed that the bugs had also grown to impressive size so the tarantula creeping towards them was easily the size of a bear.

Tilting his head in mild confusion, Zoro drew his sword and a moment later the arachnid was split in two. Zoro idly tapped the back of his blade on his shoulder as he inspected the creature. Sanji was still a shivering mess as he managed to get back onto wobbly legs and started up a fresh cigarette. Fighting with his trembling hands to get it lit.

Flicking his sword to the side to whip the excess bug guts off of it, Zoro returned it to its sheath with a fancy flourish and then turned to look back at Sanji. Waiting for the cook to finish getting his smoke lit before gifting the omega with a smug look, "Wow, cook."

A dark look flashed across Sanji's face, "Not. A. Word."

"I didn't realize you were such a little girl.”

“Shut up!”

“Make me.”

Biting down on his cigarette, Sanji didn’t even need to respond to let the swordsman know that his challenge was accepted and was already launching himself at the alpha. They scrapped for a bit, knocked over a few trees, and even got a few decent hits on each other. Getting all their aggression out before finally heading back, but when they returned to camp with all the wood for the bonfire, Zoro didn't say a word.

~X~

Evening fell around Long Ring Long Land and the crew huddled inside the galley where both Luffy and Robin rested after being thawed from Aokiji's ice. Most of the crew had passed out there since sleeping below deck and away from their injured comrades never seemed right. Sanji had just finished cleaning up the kitchen after their dinner and made Nami some tea.

After a final check in on Robin who still hadn't awoken, Sanji grabbed a spare blanket and tossed it over Usopp's back before deciding to check on the last member of the crew. Grabbing a bottle of some of his better liquor, he puffed on his cigarette as he made his way out of the galley and out to the back of the ship where he knew the swordsman would be lounging.

Just as expected the swordsman was at the stern, but instead of training or meditating the alpha just sat and watched the sky. Keeping the bottle partially hidden as he approached, Sanji huffed out a stream of smoke and flicked his finished smoke over the edge of the ship before asking, “How’s your arm?”

“Better than your leg.”

“Hm.” Sanji made a thoughtful noise and raised the large bottle of liquor he had brought with him. Pretending to examine it as he muttered, “Guess I’ll just be putting this back then.”

"Hey!"

“Uh unh.” Waving a finger at the swordsman while holding the bottle out of reach, Sanji admonished, “You can ask nicely now.”

“Give me the bottle before I shove your face in,” At Sanji’s expectant look, Zoro added with a growl, “...please.”

"Good try, mosshead." Sanji smirked, handing off the bottle and pulling a fresh cigarette free from his breast pocket. Deciding not to comment on the rude way the swordsman had snatched it from his hand before immediately gnawing the cork loose with his teeth like a damned animal. "Next time we'll work on 'thank you' and 'you're welcome'."

"Bite me." Zoro snapped before immediately stiffening afterwards as he realized all the implications of what he had just said. Staying stock still for a moment before turning to the bottle in his hands and tilting it back, seemingly intent on drowning himself in liquor after the dumb slip up.

"I mean…" Sanji arched a brow as it was an intriguing notion - biting an alpha - and a hilarious slip of the tongue. Raising a hand with a modest shrug, "I never took you for the type, mosshead, but I can always be persuaded."

"Shut up!" Lowering the bottle, Sanji wondered if the red in the alpha’s cheeks was from the alcohol or his embarrassment. He’d bet on the latter as Zoro growled, "Or I'll actually give you a reason to complain about your leg!"

"Forget it, mosshead." Sanji snorted as he dropped down to sit beside the alpha. Plucking the cigarette from his lips and propping his hand on his knee as he blew a stream of smoke in Zoro's face, "I'll never let you live this down."

A displeased grumble was all Sanji got in response, but it seemed the liquor had pacified the swordsman like a child given a piece of candy. Rolling his eyes at how simple the alpha was, Sanji held his tongue and instead quietly enjoyed his smoke as Zoro made a concerted effort to finish off half the bottle as quickly as possible. Moon beginning to rise and Sanji’s cigarette slowly burning down to the filter.

They sat in a long and comfortable silence, until Sanji’s gaze wandered to the bandages on Zoro’s upper arm and he chuckled, "What kinda dumbass puts himself between an Admiral and his target?" 

A few glugs broke the silence as Zoro downed a decent portion of the bottle, pulling it away with a pop as he cast a sly side glance Sanji's way as he smirked, "Probably the same kind of dumbass that tries to kick an Admiral in the face."

Fighting back a smile, Sanji could feel himself failing and he leaned forward to stub out his cigarette. Flicking the crushed filter over the railing as he muttered, "Or the kind that tries to fight an Admiral one on one?"

"Yeah," Zoro’s body jerked with a silent laugh, following the motion by running a hand through his hair, "yeah, someone like that."

Turning to Zoro, Sanji made a beckoning motion and he could see from the way Zoro’s had reflexively tightened on the bottle that he didn’t want to hand it over. A second wave and a clearing of his throat had Zoro grumbling, but handing it over. Sanji took a hearty swig, before commenting, "Crazy captain we've decided to follow."

Leaning back against the galley wall, Zoro visibly relaxed as he chuckled, "Would you rather someone else?"

"No." Sanji shook his head with a smile, "No, no one's like Luffy."

They passed the bottle back and forth for a long time until the crescent moon had risen high into the night sky and a spattering of stars accompanied it. Drinking in silence as Sanji enjoyed these rare moments with the swordsman. Normally they drank in the galley after the crew had fallen asleep, making light conversation and usually picking on one another, but every once in a while they enjoyed the silence.

Sanji couldn't decide which he liked more.

As the bottle slowly emptied, Sanji tilted it back to take a large swallow, when Zoro decided to speak up. It was soft, barely discernible, but clear enough on the silent night for Sanji to hear every word and spit out his drink in surprise, "Thanks for always having my back."

Placing the bottle aside on the deck, Sanji dropped his head between his knees to help cough up the excess liquor that had gone up his nose and into his lungs. A hand fell to his back to assist with his coughing, and he could vaguely hear the alpha grunting through a laugh.

"Nice job wasting the booze, curly."

Raising his head, eyes red and watery from all his coughing, Sanji looked at the swordsman in disbelief as he managed through another coughing fit, "W-what was that, shit swordsman?"

"You heard me," Zoro grumbled, removing his hand and snatching up the bottle Sanji had abandoned, "I'm never repeating it."

Sanji sat for a few moments braced against his knees. His coughing had stopped, and while there was still a painful burning in his chest and nose, he was able to calmly watch as the swordsman took a casual sip and continued to stare at the sky. With a narrowed glance, Sanji asked, "How hard did you get hit in the Davy Back Fight?"

Rolling his eyes, Zoro grunted, "Shove off, cook."

It was true though.

Whenever the swordsman decided to run headlong into a dangerous situation, Sanji didn't even think twice before following; it was just instinct. Most of the time he didn't realize he was doing it, but it seemed Zoro had and that had a swell of happiness rising in his chest. Watching the swordsman fondly as that feeling continued to grow until he felt a flutter in his stomach.

No. No. Nononononono.

There was no way he was attracted to the stupid alpha. He had promised himself very early on that he wasn't going to let travelling on a ship full of alphas get in his way, and his suppressants helped with most of that, but it wasn't like they made him immune to getting feelings. And he wasn't stupid, he knew what the flutter of a beginning crush felt like.

Fuck!

"Well." Practically throwing himself to his feet, Sanji gave a deceptive grin to hide his panic. With a jaunty wave and smirk, Sanji said as he left, "Enjoy your booze, I'm going to check on Robin again. She'll probably want to see my face the moment she wakes up."

Zoro scoffed, "Yeah, if she wants to hurl."

Flipping the swordsman off over his shoulder, Sanji kept the hand raised perhaps a little longer than necessary as a blush crept up his cheeks. Other hand coming up to pluck a cigarette from his pocket and place it between his lips, searching through his pockets for his matches as he blew out an agitated breath.

This was so not good.

~X~

A jilted silence hung over the crew as they gathered all their possessions and brought them to a back street inn in Water 7. Sanji had insisted Nami go ahead and take a break after all she went through that day, and he and Zoro were now on pack mule duty to get the last of their things moved. They had gotten most of the important things in one trip, but they had both returned to do a final sweep.

Glancing around the galley morosely, Sanji knew that just like the rest of the crew that walking away from the memories they shared in this place was hard. Dragging his hand along the countertop that he had made countless meals for the crew, silently thanking Merry for all he had given them.

There were repairs all over the place. Plating on the helm where Chopper had snapped it, Usopp's haphazard repairs covered the walls in a messy patchwork, and bloodstained the floorboards from multiple fights and scuffles with other pirates. They had lived their lives here for months now and it was time to leave.

A particularly large stain near the galley table reminded Sanji of when the idiot swordsman had nearly cut his legs off and Sanji had patched him up. Sanji had tried his best, but no amount of scrubbing had managed to get the dark stain from the wood. Instead, it had become a distant reminder of when Zoro and Sanji had first really become friends. They still fought and bickered like enemies, but that had been a moment where they had begun to really trust each other.

Now, all that was left was the remnants of a broken table and the memory of a fracturing crew under evening sunlight.

Going through the cupboards, Sanji checked he had gotten everything of his before stooping down to grab the bag that held the last of his cookware. Hefting it over his shoulder, he gave the galley one final sweep before he turned his back on the place and left.

Zoro stood out on the deck with a large bag of his own thrown over his shoulder, likely filled with things Chopper had forgotten in his tearful packing. Sanji watched silently as the alpha placed a hand to the mast - that he had accidentally broken earlier that day - and seemed to be silently saying his own goodbyes. Not wanting to interrupt, Sanji made his way to the gangplank and decided to wait ashore.

It wasn't long before Zoro joined him and they walked in silence, which was odd because usually they always filled the silence with teasing bickering and exhausted jabs, but it seemed not even their long withstanding rivalry could break the morose tension. Not to mention, Nami had already chewed them out for arguing once before, so Sanji kept his mouth shut to keep either of them getting riled up. Things were tenuous and stress was high after what had just happened between Luffy and Usopp.

And Robin was still missing.

On top of everything horrible that was going on she had disappeared with alarming suddenness right after their brush with that Admiral and it didn’t sit well with Sanji. Something more was going on in this city, he could feel it in his gut, and chalking up Robin’s absence as coincidence just didn’t seem right.

"You're concerned about what Aiokiji said, right?"

Sanji’s footsteps faltered for a moment in surprise before he recovered. Casting a glance at the alpha that walked beside him with his gaze turned forward as they continued up the large staircase that led back into the city of water. Sanji was taken aback as the swordsman never failed to surprise Sanji with his insight and keen observation skills, perhaps since the general lack of cleanliness, etiquette, and social skills were so distracting.

After a long moment, Sanji turned his own gaze ahead of himself again and muttered, "Yeah. First Merry, and then Usopp. Robin missing just doesn't sit well with me."

"She likes to wander." Zoro grunted, "On Sky Island she went missing for a while, but we all met up again. We just have to trust she'll come back."

"You know," Sanji mused, side eyeing the swordsman, "you've been a remarkably competent first mate these past few days."

First with Chopper at the Davy Back Fight, then him and Usopp after the whole ordeal with Aokiji, and now with Luffy and Usopp; there was a level-headedness that the swordsman was able to keep that Sanji just couldn't fault him for. He'd always been so focused on competing with the man he never bothered to notice just how reliable an alpha he could actually be.

It almost pissed him off to see just how well the man fit the role.

"Don't hurt yourself." Zoro snorted, "That was almost a compliment."

"You're right." Sanji smirked, "I must be getting sick or something."

With mutual chortles at their facetious comments, they fell into a more comfortable silence as they continued up the massive staircase and back into Water 7. Keeping a hand gripping the strap looped over his shoulder, Sanji wrestled a fresh cigarette free and carefully lit it while making sure to not drop any of their things. A small smile touched his lips at the comforting thought that at least Zoro would always be a constant. Always there to pester him, keep him in line, and be the incredible first mate that he was.

~X~

When Sanji found Zoro, Usopp, and Nami, he stood frozen in the entryway to the demolished garden at the sight before him. There was a square giraffe and a wolf, currently fighting a masked vigilante and a piece of fungus wielding three swords. And before Sanji made his presence known he was tempted to just walk out of the weird joke before he became a part of it. But Usopp was clearly in danger, and after a panicked scream from Nami, Sanji finally snapped to his senses and decided to put a stop to all of this.

Launching himself into the room, he made quick work of the wolf. And as Zoro and Sanji dealt with the escaped zoo animals, Usopp and Nami ran off to take the keys they currently had to Robin. It wasn’t long until Sanji was making his way back to the garden to find Zoro who had just finished taking down the weird giraffe man. Skidding across the grass as he barked, “Hey, mosshead! What happened to the key?!”

“Ah,” Casting a glance over his shoulder, Zoro grunted, “I just got it.”

Slowing his steps, Sanji came to stop beside Zoro as he noted the man from the Galley-La company with the long nose was currently passed out on the ground. So that was who the giraffe was. Shoving his hands into his pockets, Sanji glanced up at the tower that had now slid again, and the exposed sky above, “But this tower slid down again. I wonder if it’ll be okay…?”

“Who cares?” Zoro grunted, holding up his key, “Anyway, with this key, we’ve got all of them. Let’s hurry to where Robin is.”

Sanji grinned, “No need. I got a man already on it.”

Zoro arched a brow.

Pointing up, Sanji watched Zoro’s gaze shift and then looked up himself to find Usopp exactly where he had been expecting him; poised atop the building and already firing on the men surrounding Robin on the bridge. Zoro made a small, impressed noise and looked back down as Sanji pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and placed his key in it before extending his hand to Zoro to do the same. With a questioning look, Zoro dropped his key with a clink to fall atop Sanji’s and then he quickly wrapped them up and knotted the fabric.  

“USOPP!” Bellowing their sharpshooters name, Sanji tossed the keys a few times to get a feel for the weight. When he saw the man’s mask glance down, Sanji tossed the ball of clothe a final time and then kicked it straight up, “CATCH!”

A look of understanding washed over Zoro, and then both men were turning towards the Gates of Justice and watching with bated breath as the next few minutes would play out. Sanji pulled out a telescope to watch the whole thing through the massive hole in the wall Zoro had no doubt put there during his fight. A grin breaking out across his face as Usopp fired another shot directly into the CP-9 director’s face and sent him sprawling on his ass.

“Look at that,” Sanji looked away long enough to grin at Zoro before glancing down the telescope again, “our sharpshooter rules.”

“Does he really need to sing?” Zoro mumbled to himself as he glanced up at Usopp.

“Take that shit you, bastards! Robin, run!!!”

Lowering the telescope, Sanji glanced over to find Zoro watching him intently. All battered and bruised, there was still a bit of blood leaking down his forehead, but otherwise completely fine as he stared at Sanji. There was something intense in that look and the way he stood that had Sanji’s knees going weak. It was always the worst after a fight.

“What, dumbass?”

It came out a bit harsher than intended, but it was all he could think to do in response to the way that stare was affecting him. Better to go on high alert than let his guard down and have the swordsman catch on to more than he wanted him to.

Zoro stood uncomfortably quiet for a few moments, that look wavering before he coughed and jerked his head in dismissal, “You’re hopeless, cook.”

Mouth falling open, Sanji instinctively wanted to respond to the jab with something smarmy of his own, but there was a fondness to the swordsman’s tone that derailed his thoughts. Slack jawed and telescope hanging from hands as he looked at the alpha in surprise. An alpha that didn’t seem at all aware with what he had said and was still gazing out across Enies Lobby to the Gate beyond.

Jaw snapping shut, Sanji brought the telescope back up and had to force himself to pay attention to what was going on. Not sure why Zoro’s words were getting to him so badly, and pretty sure that the swordsman didn’t even realize exactly what he had done.

Tonguing his cigarette in agitation, Sanji cast a quick side glance the alpha’s way before focusing back on Robin. Watching as Franky undid her cuffs with the delivered keys. Choking out a response he hoped didn’t sound too forced, “Shut up, mosshead.”

~X~

When Sanji first opened his eyes he wasn’t entirely certain where he was, the sight of sunlight and stone causing him to frown. Everything was a heavy miasma of confusion, pain, and nausea. His whole body felt like it had been crushed by a falling building, and a particularly nasty pain was flaring up his side from when--

Zoro!

Eyes flying open this time, Sanji bit back the dizzying pain tempting him to hurl and instead pushed himself to his feet. It took a bit more effort than he had expected, a hand falling to his tender side where Zoro had slammed his sword into and had definitely busted something. He made a note to pay the stubborn guy back for that at some point.

As he took a step, he nearly crumpled back to the ground as an unbelievable pain flared up his right leg and he had to brace himself on a large piece of concrete to stabilize himself. Glancing down at his exposed shin, he couldn’t see any bone sticking through the skin, but there was enough of a splintering sensation that he knew something had to be broken.

Sanji growled to himself, he didn’t have time for this.

Casting a look over his shoulder, he noticed more people getting back to their feet and Luffy was jumping up and down happily and clapping his hands together. The rest of the crew marvelling at how energetic Luffy was, and the bad feeling in Sanji’s gut getting worse.

How can he be alright?

Looking back out to the battlefield where he’s last seen Zoro and Kuma facing off, he mumbled to himself, “Where did that guy go?”

Could it be…?!

As everyone was slowly coming to and checking on each other, Sanji took off running through the wasteland that was left after Kuma’s bomb had gone off. Ignoring the pain of his leg as he searched for what felt like hours as the pounding in his chest kept getting louder and louder in his ears. He couldn’t believe that Kuma had actually taken Zoro away. Wouldn’t.

That idiot!

Stumbling to a halt atop a large piece of rubble, Sanji looked down on the clearing where a familiar man stood, arms crossed and a stoic look darkening his face. Relief flooded Sanji’s body at the sight and the knowledge that Kuma hadn’t taken Zoro’s head like the man had so foolishly offered up for their captain. He nearly tripped over his own feet as he forced himself forward to carefully skid down the smooth part of the concrete and land on the ground. His busted leg twinging, but easy to ignore as he hurried forward.

“You scared the shit out of me!” Sanji admitted around a rough laugh, still unable to believe that he was looking at the other man right now. Even though he hadn’t let himself imagine the worst, he couldn’t stop himself from trembling now in relief that Zoro was still alive. Fighting to keep that tremor from reaching his voice as he glanced around, “Oi! Where did that Warlord go?”

Zoro didn’t respond.

As he got closer he began to realize something was very wrong, and each step closer had him noticing that the dirt around them was an unhealthy shade of black. It wasn’t until he was a few feet away that he could see that the swordsman was covered in blood. Blood stained every part of the swordsman and rivulets still continued to stream down his face, winding a disturbing path through the cracks of old, dried blood.

Sanji’s panic returned tenfold as he stepped forward and barked, “Why the hell is there so much blood? Oi… are you still alive? Where’d that guy go? What on earth happened here?”

“Nothing…” Zoro’s voice was a bloody gurgle, “nothing at all.”

Rushing forward, Sanji settled next to the man and propped him up to make sure that he wouldn’t fall over. Immediately, he felt blood soaking into his clothes. A sticky sensation of tepid liquid that immediately had chill running up Sanji’s spine as he was used to the swordsman being covered in blood, but not when it was just his own. Hand falling to the alpha’s hip, he gripped tight as he reached up to grab the swordsman by the wrist to pull the man’s arm around Sanji’s shoulders.

It was hard to get a grip and his hand slipped from all the blond, but eventually he managed to haul Zoro better into his hold. They took a step and it seemed that all of Zoro’s remaining will power had been locked into keeping him upright and the second he moved gravity became too much. All his weight slumping forward as his bloody wrist slipped from Sanji’s hand.

They tumbled to the ground in a heap as Sanji’s injured leg took the brunt of the fall as he tried his best to keep himself between Zoro and the ground. Laying still for a moment and holding onto the swordsman as he grit his teeth and hissed through the pain.

Gently rolling Zoro onto his back, the swordsman still remained sprawled on Sanji’s good leg as he pushed himself up to look down at the swordsman. His eyes were closed and his breathing was almost non-existent. It was nearly impossible to tell through all the blood and dirt, but the alpha’s skin had taken on a sickly pallor.

Panic had Sanji’s body jumping into overdrive and adrenaline pumped through his veins with an icy chill that steadied his hands, but caused the rest of his body to tremble. Each exhale a rattle of emotions as he never thought he’d see the other this helpless, that he would also be forced to watch while unable to do anything.

“Cho--” Sanji’s throat seized and his skin felt on fire. His next word a hoarse whisper, instead of a commanding scream, “Chopper.”

Eyes sliding shut, Sanji tried to focus beyond the panic gripping him like a vice. He’d never really let himself admit it before now, but there was something so much beyond their bond as crewmembers that Sanji felt for the stupid swordsman. And if he lost him now...

Again he tried to call for their doctor, but a choked word was all he got out, “Chop--”

“...kh.”

Sanji’s head snapped up at the sound, eyes flying open as he looked down at Zoro. His eyes were open again but there was a haziness to them that let Sanji know there was barely anything keeping Zoro here right now. Sanji’s throat still locked as all he could do was look down at the other.

Bloodshot eyes flickered down before coming back up. Zoro watching Sanji expectantly as the blond turned to look at the hand Zoro had rested on his own stomach and the index finger currently trembling as he raised it. Other fingers following the motion until his whole hand was raised off himself and trembling like a leaf in the wind.

Without another word, Sanji slipped his hand around Zoro’s and held on tight. His hand was shaking just as bad as Zoro’s, but there was a steadiness in Zoro’s eyes that he seemed to be glaring into Sanji.

“...cook…”

Wind swept up around them, and for a haunting moment Sanji felt everything around them moving in a slow daze; leaves rustling in the trees, birds distantly taking flight, dust motes in the early morning light drifting around them. Sanji’s breath caught in his throat. Sunlight bathed both of them, and suddenly everything felt too bright as the breeze around them swirled to a crescendo.

Whipping Sanji’s hair about his face as it twisted around him and rose, with it a breathlessness that he wasn’t even certain he could control. Each winding torrent around them felt like it was swirling just as tightly in his chest. Rising and rising until it snapped and everything fell still once more. An extreme calm took over Sanji and suddenly his earlier clouded vision was cleared, he felt exhausted but his fear was gone.

A sigh of relief slipped past Zoro’s lips and the tension on his face waned. He forced a small smile before his eyes fell shut, but he kept that reassuring hold on Sanji’s hand. For a moment Sanji feared the worst but he could see a bit of colour returning to the swordsman’s cheeks, and though his breathing had steadied, it was more calm than weak.

Dragging his free hand over his face, Sanji huffed softly to himself as he still wasn’t certain what that was all about, and how he’d managed to calm down so quickly. He shook off those thoughts for now and pushed himself up. Being very careful with his own leg as he pulled Zoro up by their clasped hands that he now refused to let go. Getting Zoro up and propped against himself as he began limping the both of them towards the castle.

“C’mon, you crazy bastard.”

It was slow, but they moved purposefully, and when the castle and crew came into sight Sanji almost buckled in relief. Hand tangling in the damp, bloody fabric of Zoro’s haramaki, Sanji found his voice and bellowed until a flock of birds took flight, “CHOPPER!”

~X~

With Zoro patched up and resting, Sanji was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief and waited quietly as Chopper finished patching up some of the more urgent injuries among the present crews. Thankfully most the pain from earlier had faded after finding Zoro, so he did nothing more than sit and watched Zoro’s sleeping form. Mind still racing with the knowledge that the swordsman wasn’t going to die.

He hadn’t expected to react so strongly to the notion, and even before when Zoro had initially offered his head to Kuma, Sanji had acted without thinking and put himself between the Warlord and the alpha. Stupid crush or not, the swordsman had become important to him along this voyage. It wasn’t something he could just cast aside without fighting for, even if Zoro knocked him out for his efforts….

A pair of hooves appeared at his feet, and Sanji glanced up to see the small doctor looking at him expectantly, “How about you Sanji? What happened to you?”

“Uh,” Sanji glanced down at his exposed leg that he was still gripping, “My leg.”

“Alright.” Chopper nodded, “Let’s get you to the medical room we set up inside; it’s more stocked than out here. Can you walk?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine.” Waving off the doctor, Sanji nodded in Zoro’s direction, “I hauled his heavy ass back on it, I can handle a short walk.”

Chopper nodded happily and then prompted Sanji to follow after him as he began making for a room just beyond the makeshift gathering area that had been set up. They got to the small doctors office Chopper had set up, and it seemed that thanks to Hogback it was very well stocked.

Sprawled out on the cot Chopper had set up, Sanji rolled up the pant on the right leg and set it down for the doctor to take a look at. Hopping up on the bed, Chopper gently began inspecting the limb with his little hooves. Pressing here, prodding there, making little hums and noises before he finally glanced up at Sanji. 

“What was wrong with your leg?”

"Uh…” Arching a brow, Sanji hummed for a moment, “It was broken?"

Lips pressing together, Chopper made a noise of understanding and glanced back down at Sanji’s leg. A thoughtful look on his face as he was silent for several moments. He then looked back up at Sanji and shrugged, "Well, it's not."

A laugh bubbled out of Sanji.

"I don't think you understand Chopper,” Sanji chuckled, sitting a bit more upright as he pointed to the large bruise on his shin, “I know when I've broken something. And I can say, with certainty, that I shattered my shin on Kuma's face."

It was Chopper’s turn to sound a little exasperated as he ran a hoof over the bruise and explained, "The bone is completely intact. It's tender, but healed. I could do some more testing, but from what I can tell it feels like it’s nearly three weeks into remodeling.”

“How’s that possible?” Sanji balked, watching as Chopper hopped down off the bed and turned to look up at Sanji, “I broke it a couple hours ago!”

“Without a devil fruit,” Chopper had the grace to look a little uncomfortable before muttering, “the only other explanation I could have is a healing bond."

Body going stock still, Sanji remained frozen on the bed for a few moments as he looked down at the doctor as he tried to convince himself he had misheard. Slowly pushing himself up, he slid his legs from the bed, and let his pant leg fall back to cover his bruised shin. Still gripping the edges of the bed in a deathgrip as he cast a hurried glance at the door ensure they were alone.

Turning back to Chopper, he leaned in and whispered in a fast tone, "What are you talking about?"

"Bonded mates." Chopper explained, "I've done endless research on humans and their hierarchical genetics; it's really quite fascinating actually. I mean primary genders, and secondary genders, and how interchangeable they all are, not to mention the physiological differences! Did you know that male alphas have a kn--”

Reaching out to grab the excitable deer by the shoulders, Sanji turned Chopper to face him while trying to keep the panic from his tone. He shook the little deer as gently as he could while still enough to get the doctor to turn his attention back to him, "Chopper, focus!"

"Oh, uh, yeah." Chopper shook himself, waiting until Sanji let go and set him back on the ground before regaining his train of thought. Waving a hoof about as he explained, "Once mates are bonded they share a link of sorts."

“What?”

The question was more rhetorical than anything else as Sanji knew better than anyone else the precarious position his genetics put him in terms of importance. But this was all still news to him, especially that he might be bonded to someone.

When had it happened?

“It can manifest as shared emotions, or even thoughts, but that's much more rare.” Chopper was in full doctor mode now as he rambled, “There's also been cases where they are able to heal each other, or at least accelerate the healing process when joined together, but that is a much less explored area of research.”

"I…" Sanji trailed off in horror before nearly yelling, "But I'm not mated!"

"No, but you smell bonded." Chopper insisted, with an added sniff to be sure, "I actually meant to ask when Zoro found out."

The blood drained from Sanji’s face and he felt something cold drop through him like a stone, "WHAT?!"

“You and Zoro.” Chopper clarified, “I noticed that Zoro smelled a lot more like you while I was treating him, but I assumed it was because you had just carried him. Now that I can smell it on you though, it makes a lot more sense.”

"I'm not bonded to Zoro!" Sanji hissed, eyes darting around fervently. Coming back to level on Chopper as he brandished a finger, "And the dumb swordsman, definitely, doesn't know!"

"You haven't told--?"

"No!"

"Well tell me what happened then because otherwise I'm out of ideas."

"I already explained everything. I found the swordsman covered in blood and I tried to carry him back but my leg was too messed up." Running a hand through his hair, Sanji was becoming anxious just remembering the scenario, "It looked like he was going to die right there and I panicked. We--"

"'You'?"

Puffing on his cigarette, Sanji glared down at it as though it was his fault he was in this mess, "We held hands and it… calmed me - us - both down. And then I carried him back until we found you."

"Near death. Panicking.” Choppered mused, “You were both in very fragile states, both mentally and physically. It more than explains what could have happened.”

“You’ve lost me.”

“Intercourse isn't the only way to form a bond between mates.”

"Don't say that word."

"What?” Chopper tilted his head innocently, “Mates?"

"No. The othe-- You know what? Nevermind. That's not the point." Sanji waved his hands dismissively, "What were you saying about mating?"

"People often assume that sex needs to occur to form a bond with your mate, but really all that's required is a strong emotional experience. Typically intercourse provides that, so people often conflate the two; most people believe bonding can only happen with intercourse."

"Wai--" Sanji choked out hoarsely, "W-what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that a near death experience can activate that kind bond just as easily." Chopper explained, "And from what you're describing that sounds like what happened."

No. No. Nonono.

This wasn't happening.

"Zoro was bleeding out, you were panicking.” Chopper raised one hoof and then the other as he listed off both himself and Zoro. Finally bringing both hooves together with a soft pap as he exclaimed, “You calmed and healed each other once a mutual bond was formed between you."

Mated-- No. Bonded to Zoro.

How could this have happened?

Obviously Chopper had explained the how, but that still didn’t explain how either of them had been compatible in any way to let this happen. Sure they were nakama, and sure they had each others backs, but it wasn’t like they had felt anything else beyond that. Or at least he was certain Zoro hadn’t. Avoiding the cigarette still clasped between his lips, Sanji rubbed his hands against his face in agitation as he lamented, “What am I gonna do?”

“Isn’t this a good thing?”

“No!” Sanji’s hands fell away and he looked up at Chopper, “This is a very, very bad thing; not only do I not want to be mated, the guy I’m mated to is going to try to kill me when he finds out.”

“Well, bonded…” Chopper corrected, “Mating is only once the mates have consummated their relationship.”

Another embarrassed groaned slipped out of Sanji, still far too freaked out about this to be imagining him and Zoro consummating anything. Not that he hadn’t thought about it on occasion, but now definitely wasn’t the time to be thinking about that; he had a much bigger issue to deal with!

“Will it just… go away on it’s own?” Sanji mumbled hopelessly into his hands, “Is that a thing?”

“Almost every text I’ve ever read on the matter is about how wonderful and sacred a bonding is.” Chopper frowned, “I can’t think of many cases where people have wanted to break it."

"Sacred." Pushing himself to his feet, Sanji practically spat the word as he rolled his eyes. As he took another trembling inhale on his smoke he realized it had burned down to the filter and he tossed it aside in frustration as he began patting himself down in search of another, “It’s because they’re brainwashed.”

“I don’t think you’re giving your own people enough credit.”

“Oh, my people?” Pausing in his search to glance at Chopper, Sanji’s voice was scathing, “Do tell.”

“It’s a mutual bond.” Chopper stressed, “Even if an alpha were to force himself on someone; they wouldn’t be bonded. It’s why the myth that intercorse is the only way to mate is so toxic. I imagine it leads to a lot of omegas in relationships that they think they can’t leave. But if you’re really bonded, it’s because both of you were joined by similar feelings.”

“You’re saying that…” Sanji remained very still as what Chopper was saying was starting to add up, but he didn’t want to get his hopes up stupidly. Watching Chopper carefully as he asked skeptically, “Zoro felt the same as I did?”

“Yes!” Chopper sounded almost too relieved, a smile on his face. “It couldn’t have happened if he didn’t.”

“Well…" Hands falling to his sides, Sanji gave up on his search once he realized he'd left his pack of smokes back at the main hall. Still not willing to even open himself up to the idea that Zoro could possibly like him the way he had started to fall for the alpha these past few months. He rounded on Chopper and waved his arms hysterically, "I just didn’t want him to die…”

Chopper didn't look convinced.

“L-look, this doesn’t make sense.” Sanji frowned while pinching the bridge of his nose, “If this is the case, then how are people not getting bonded constantly; to their friends and stuff.”

A look of confusion twisted Chopper’s face and when he spoke he sounded just as thrown, “I mean… they do. We go through life constantly forming smaller bonds with everyone around us. They’re just sometimes less noticeable.”

“Then how come I can’t heal Nami?” Sanji balked, "O-o-or Robin?!"

“I said before this is a bond between mates. I can’t speak for you," Chopper paused and looked away guiltily, "or for Zoro, but I think both of you feel something for the other that you might not want to admit.”

It took everything in Sanji not to grimace in distaste at the doctor's words.

This was the worst.

Never in a million years would he think these feelings for Zoro would come back to bite him in the ass like this. All he had hoped for was to keep sharing their small quarrels and late night drinking sessions without anything getting between that. If he had to pine forever, so be it.

Not to mention, part of him had always just suspected that he hadn’t actually liked the guy and had blamed his stupid omega senses and Zoro’s stupid alpha pheromones. But Zoro wasn’t able to smell that he was an omega, so if he liked Sanji then that meant that he…

Groaning into his hands, Sanji wasn’t certain whether this crushing sensation in his chest was from horror or excitement. It also didn’t help that ever since him and Zoro had ‘bonded’ that his craving in the pit of his stomach refused to go away, but that was something he would definitely not be telling the good doctor.

“Sanji?”

Glancing up, he found Chopper watching him with a look of concern now, and he let out a long breath to calm himself. He didn’t want to upset Chopper. Forcing out a smile and pushing himself to his feet he reassured, “I’m okay, Chopper. This is all just a lot to take in.”

“What are you gonna go?”

The apprehension in Chopper’s voice sounded like he was worried Sanji was about to go do something crazy, like go dump Zoro in the ocean, or himself. Which was a little tempting now that he had thought of it, it would at least postpone the awful conversation with the swordsman.

Was death an option?

What he said was, “I’m not sure.”

“I know you don’t want the crew to know, but this isn’t something we can keep quiet about,” Chopper mumbled, “Zoro needs to know. As his doctor I need to let him know.

“Okay! Okay…” Sanji heaved a sigh, “Just let me figure out things first, please?”

“You have to tell him.”

“I will!” Sanji huffed, “but not while he’s still like this. And not while I...”

It felt like his world was coming apart. In another universe he would've been relieved to find out that the stupid swordsman felt how he did, but not this one. Not where he had spent so long hiding and concealing what he was; being something that he had been reminded repeatedly ever since he had presented was weak and inferior.

He fought his whole life to prove he was much more than what these stupid genetics told society he was, that he was worth just as much as any alpha. And now in a single moment all that had been undone. His own emotions betraying him. It wasn't Zoro's fault, but somehow it felt like it was and Sanji wanted to scream. He wanted to kick something. He wanted…

Before he could let himself finish the thought which he already knew the answer to, Sanji growled in frustration and stormed out of the room. And before Chopper could say another word to stop him, he screamed out into the deserted hallway, “Ugh! I need time to think…”

~X~

This was the best day of Sanji’s life.

Kidnapping, gang fights, and awkward reunion with fishmen aside, Sanji had gotten to meet a real life mermaid, and a cutie at that. Everything about her was perfect and adorable from the top for her lovely green hair, all the way down to the tip of her pretty pink tail. He’d dreamed of this day, and Keimi did not disappoint in the slightest.

It was such a phenomenal day that nothing could dampen his spirits, not even the whole Duval confrontation, which is why he hummed happily while preparing tea. Hearts in his eyes and a dopey smile on his face. Keimi and Hachi had treated them to a wonderful meal, the least he could do was prepare her, and Hachi, some of his finest tea. 

Twirling across the kitchen to begin grabbing mugs and trays, his motion was halted as he noticed someone standing at the entrance to the galley. Chopper stood in front of the door, his arms were crossed and there was a stern expression on his face. Sanji would have found it much more threatening if the deer wasn’t so adorable, but nonetheless the look stopped him in his tracks as he knew that whatever he had to say wasn’t going to be good.

“You still haven’t told him.”

"Uh, no. No, not yet." Sanji tried to wave it off casually, but Chopper's disapproving look had him wavering. Casting a quick glance to the door to ensure they were alone before going about grabbing all the kitchenware he needed for the steeping tea, "I didn't get the chance."

Chopper uncrossed his arms and took a step forward with disapproval, "Sanji!"

"I know. I know!" Sanji lamented, turning back to the tea resting on the counter and beginning to transfer all the pots onto a tray along with the mugs. Digging through the cupboards for milk, and sugar, "I promise I'll do it when we get to Sabaody."

When he closed the cupboard, Chopper was now in the kitchen glaring up at him. He hadn’t said a word but the disappointed look on his face was enough to make Sanji feel a little guilty. Chopper was always surprisingly good at the guilt trips; it was probably from all the practice he got as this crew’s doctor.

"We can sit down and talk about it there." Stopping in his preparations, Sanji waved a hand about the ship as he reasoned, “If we do it on the ship, we’re gonna destroy half of it in a fight and I don’t want to upset Franky.”

“Uh huh.” Chopper cleared his throat, but didn’t sound convinced.

"Look Chopper," Rolling his eyes at Chopper’s insistant behaviour, he stepped around the deer and threw the last of the necessary items on the tray. Not about to let Chopper ruin his afternoon as he snatched it up, and turned back to face him as Sanji sighed, "there's a beautiful mermaid waiting out in deck for me to shower with affection, and we have an entire half the world to sail where Zoro and I can hate each other plenty once I tell him. Let me have this."

Stepping in front of Sanji’s path, Chopper argued, "You said that at Thriller Bark."

"I said I needed time to think." Sanji snorted and stepped over the small deer, making his way across the galley as Chopper began trotting after him. Babbling his name until Sanji reached the door and he turned back to find the flustered deer and attempted to pacify him, "Alright. Just an hour more, please."

"If you don't tell him at Sabaody,” It was hard to take Chopper’s threats seriously, but the small doctor managed to put some weight in this one, “then I will."

"Fine." Sanji huffed, already pushing his way out of the galley with tea in hand. Winking at the deer, "but that won't be necessary."

~X~

Everything had gone so horribly wrong.

Lulled into a false sense of security after rescuing Keimi, they hadn’t been prepared for everything that was waiting for them at Sabaody. From Keimi getting taken to the Auction House, Hachi getting shot, Luffy punching a Celestial Dragon, and an Admiral showing up on the island; they had definitely gotten in over their heads. However, it wasn’t until they had taken down one of the Pacifistas and were now forced to split up that Sanji realized just how screwed they were.

None of them stood a chance, and even Luffy had met his match as the large man with the battle axe was blocking his every move. Rayliegh had come to their rescue to stop the Admiral, but even as they ran the Pacifistas were chasing them down one by one. Sanji ran next to Nami and without even looking he knew something was wrong. A combination of an intuitive sense, and something else deep in his soul had him turning to look at the distant hillside as his fear was confirmed. The cyborg had its sights on the other group and it was clearly zeroing in on their weakest member.

“Damn it!’ Sanji cussed, skidding to a halt, “He’s going after Usopp’s group!”

After Zoro...

And then he did the unthinkable.

“Franky, you bastard, watch over Nami with your life!”

“Sanji?!”

Sanji didn’t even pause to look back - not even for the sweet call of his name on Nami’s lips - as he sprinted as fast as his legs could carry him to the source of the explosions. To where the rest of their crew were being attacked. To where Zoro was.

“Be careful!” He called over his shoulder, “I’ll be fine!”

It was impossible to ignore now. That loud ringing in his head as his body screamed for his mate. Part of him had hoped that Chopper’s diagnosis was wrong, but there was no mistaking it now. He could feel his link to Zoro pounding in his chest, and each passing second had him growing only more and more panicked.

A bright light flashed as Brook darted in between the Pacifista and Usopp who was currently hauling Zoro’s limp body, an explosion following a moment later as Brook fell to the ground. Sanji’s rage peaking further as he saw the cyborg step over his fallen comrade and reach out for Zoro and Usopp next.

“Stop right there, you shitty bastard!” Sanji roared as he launched himself at the Pacifista.

Leg ablaze as he connected a brutal kick to the back of the robot and sent him crashing to the ground. Tumbling into his landing, Sanji came to stop sprawled on the ground between the Pacifista, and Zoro and Usopp. His leg flaring up as the injury he had gotten back on Thriller Bark still wasn’t completely healed and after all the punishment he had put it through to defeat the other Pacifista, it was about at its limit. Any more and he was going to rebreak it.

But that didn’t matter.

His friends. His mate. They were all in danger.

Weakly pushing himself up, he looked up as Usopp had paused to look back and yell, “Run, Sanji! He’s aiming for you!”

“You idiot!” Sanji bellowed, “GET GOING ALREADY!”

Get away… Get Zoro somewhere safe...

The beam passed narrowly by Sanji’s head and hit the ground near Usopp. Dirt and rocks sent up in a spray as both crewmates were sent flying, but neither of them had a chance to recover as several more shots lit up the area. Through the blinding pain, Sanji was barely able to crack an eye open to see all three of his crewmates sprawled across the ground, devastated by the explosions.

Another blast started to charge up from the Pacifistas hand and Sanji tilted his head back to grit out, “Look out!”

Usopp pushed himself and coughed through the haze of dirt still falling around them, “I’m sorry I dropped you, Zoro! Are you okay?”

Pushing himself to his feet, Sanji put himself between the Pacifista and Zoro once more, waiting for Usopp to grab him but the same fate as before followed. Explosions lit up the area, and soon Sanji was back on the ground, more bloody than before, with Brook, and Zoro following shortly after.

Face down in the rubble, Sanji could feel Usopp tugging at his sleeve, encouraging him and Brook to get up and run away. Everything in his body burned, and despite his struggles to push himself back up, it felt like he was finally at his limit.

A terrified scream from Usopp had Sanji turning his head, and his blood running cold as the sight of another Pacifista had him losing all hope. But there was something different about this one. And when Zoro pushed himself to his knees and looked up, he realized that the man must’ve been the real deal; the Warlord.

It took everything in him to raise his head and watch as Zoro slowly pushed himself to his feet and faced off against the Warlord. They were talking, but Sanji couldn’t hear a word past the screaming, explosions, and rushing panic in his ears. All he could do was stand and watch as Kuma’s hand lowered to touch Zoro and the next moment the alpha was gone.

The loud pop that echoed across the plain at Zoro disappearing was the last thing Sanji heard before collapsing back to the ground while staring at the place the alpha had stood only moments before. Now an empty space as a hole had been torn open inside Sanji just as quickly as the swordsman had vanished.

Usopp was at his side, but he couldn’t hear any of his words. The sniper grabbed his arm and began pulling Sanji up to take his weight on his shoulder and it was only then that he realized that the guy was trying to get him up and help him escape. As he stumbled away with Usopp, he glanced back in time to see Brook throw himself between Kuma and them, only for that same hand to fall to him as well.

Another loud pop broke through the ringing in Sanji’s ears, but that was all he could hear before the pounding of blood in his ears returned and Usopp was releasing him as he fell back to the ground. Braced weakly on the grass as Usopp’s mouth opened and he desperately screamed a word the cook couldn’t hear.

First Zoro… now Brook…

Zoro…

Hands sliding up into his hair, Sanji gripped the hair and pulled. The man would sneer if he could see how helpless and frozen Sanji currently was, he'd never let him live it down, and yet here he was kneeling on the ground uselessly.

“Shit!” Sanji screamed, his own voice finally breaking through the din as the ringing was now being replaced with screams and explosions. His shell shock breaking as he growled to himself, “What the hell am I doing?!”

Staring into space?!

Losing two nakama right before his eyes?!

Launching himself to his feet, he landed right in front of Usopp with a hand still braced on the ground to keep himself steady as the other went behind him and shoved Usopp back. Glaring down the real Warlord as he snarled, “Get your ass out of here, Usopp!”

He could feel Usopp tugging desperately at the back of his jacket, and Luffy was shouting something at him, but it was all white noise as his rage had not only cancelled out his pain, but his other senses as well. All he had left was that gaping hole in his chest and a desperation to save his friends.

Knocking Usopp off him, Sanji jumped up with the intention of putting his foot through the Warlord’s face, but it connected with a padded palm and he was sent flying into some nearby rocks. Barely pushing himself up and out of the rubble in time to see Kuma’s hand connect with the Usopp and that loud pop rung out once more before he disappeared as well.

“Damn it!” Sanji screamed as he sprinted directly at Kuma. Launching himself at the Warlord with his leg raised once more, and before Sanji could say anything else, that palm connected with him and he fell unconscious as well.

TBC...