New Life

Title: New Life: Chapter 17
Author: Genuinelie(s)
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Still not mine!

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Chapter Seventeen
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Sanji fled. He didn't stop even when he heard a familiar "Kuso cook!" shouted angrily after him, or at Ana's exclamation of surprise.

He took refuge against the wall of the galley, forcing himself to calm his breathing as he hid beneath the awning. The deep blue waters of the ocean winked white light at him, sparkling sunlight making a night sky filled with stars out of the ocean's depths.

He was awake. Zoro was going to be ok.

Sanji acknowledged he was having a hard time processing it. He had worked hard to come to terms with Zoro's death, and suddenly knowing that he should have looked for him, instead of just assuming...

He had been there for more than a year, while Sanji cooked and tried to forget.

Sanji scrunched his eyes shut, guilt rendering him immobile.

The whole time, and Zoro was alive, being starved and who-knew-what-else in a dirty marine camp. He had seen the angry red marks on his wrists from where he had been restrained. The other marks on his body from where his tattered clothing failed to cover the skin.

It took Sanji a minute to realize he was hyperventilating. Slowly he unclenched his fists and forced himself to push off of the wall.

"Oi, Sanji, whatcha doin' down there?"

Sanji whirled and finally looked up. Toban the navigator, one of Luffy's current crew, was peering over the railing of the top deck.

Toban grinned winningly at him. "Geez, we don't see ya for more 'n a year, and ya don't even wanna hang wit' us. Iffa didn't know better, I'da thought you were hidin'."

Sanji grinned at him. "Toban!" He was truly glad to see the navigator again. "I'll come up," he said.

All of Luffy's crew were on the deck above the galley, drinking and playing cards. They turned shocked faces to him when he finally cleared the ladder, stark, surprised expressions that quickly turned to happy grins.

"Lookit what the sea tossed up," Toban drawled with a wink.

"Sanji!" Guri the shipbuilder shrieked. The boy pushed himself to his feet and grabbed Sanji in a bone-crushing hug.

The movement almost toppled them both back down the ladder. Sanji laughed and tousled his hair, then greeted the rest of his crew.

"How've you been, Sanji?" Risa, Luffy's sharpshooter, finally asked.

"I've had my restaurant," Sanji replied, not really answering the question.

"You see Zoro yet?" Guri asked, eyes mischievous.

"He's awake," Sanji said.

The whole crew opened their mouths at once, and Sanji cringed at their shocked expressions. He quickly waved his hands. "He's too tired to talk to anyone! Ana and Chopper have him."

"But Sanji! He'll want to see you! I mean, you guys were -" Guri was silenced by a sharp jab in the ribs, compliments of Toban.

"No, no. He needs his rest." Sanji mumbled, unable to look at them.

Not a one of them bought it, judging from their faces.

Sanji quickly shifted the topic, angling it back to the crew. Apparently, they had only been sailing a couple months when they got hold of a large treasure map. They'd been busy tracking down that pipe dream right up until Ace showed up with news of Zoro.

"So I guess that's where you're headed after this, huh?" Sanji asked.

Risa smiled. "After we see your restaurant, of course."

Sanji broke out into a large grin.

"You're in for cards, right, Sanji?" Guri asked.

Sanji nodded.

He couldn't explain it, but even though he knew that his former crew, his true nakama, were all down in the galley waiting for him, he almost dreaded returning to them. They had too many questions for him. They didn't know what had happened after each of them had left. They only knew the Sanji who bickered and picked fights with the swordsman, not the Sanji who had wept for his lover's death and hung Wadou above his bed like a shrine.

Up here, laughing like no time at all had passed, Sanji was comforted. These people who had witnessed Zoro's first return, who had seen their relationship evolve and had accepted it, supported it, with the love and warmth of friends.

But he still felt like he didn't belong. Still just looking in, like he always had, even on the Baratie.

After their fourth game, Sanji stood, waving down their laughing protests. "I need to let Luffy know Zoro's awake," he explained. He should have immediately, he supposed, but he honestly couldn't have forced himself to see his old nakama right then.

Risa looked surprised. "You haven't yet? Good gracious, go!"

"All of you should come down for supper. It will be ready in about an hour," Sanji said, descending the ladder.

"We don't wanna intrude -" Toban started.

"You're nakama. We're all eating together." Sanji's tone broke no argument. He hopped to the deck.

Luffy and crew were still seated at the galley table when he pushed open the door. Usopp, from the sound of it, was in the middle of a particularly elaborate tale. He broke off when he saw Sanji.

"How is he, Sanji?" Nami asked.

Sanji smiled at her. "Awake."

"Awake?!" Luffy shrieked, jumping to his feet. "Why aren't you with him, Sanji?"

The others had all leapt up at his news, too, with the exception of Robin. She was still seated calmly, watching Sanji's face with a regard Sanji had come to respect.

"Well, come on!" Luffy cried. "I want to see how he's doing!" Luffy and Usopp both ran towards the door, peeling towards the galley. Nami followed at a more dignified pace, pausing to glance back at Sanji.

"Aren't you coming? I mean, I know you two weren't the best of friends, but -"

Her words fell heavily on Sanji's shoulders. He swallowed thickly. "You go ahead," he said. "I'll go to see him later. It's almost time for supper, and I need to get started."

"Luffy has a cook, you know," Nami said, frowning.

"Ah, Nami-san, I think he wouldn't mind if I cooked tonight, do you?"

She frowned at him for a second more, obviously unused to a Sanji that didn't do everything she suggested. Sanji himself wasn't quite used to it. Finally, Nami shrugged. "Whatever." She left.

"Zoro wants to see you," Robin said softly, still seated.

Sanji started. He'd forgotten she was there. "You, too." He said.

She shook her head and smiled. "I'll go when there aren't so many people. I'm sure it's overwhelming for him, having all of us back." She widened her smile marginally. "As I'm sure it is for you."

Sanji froze midstep, on his way to the stove, then gave a low laugh. "I'm glad you came back, Robin." He said, pulling out his pans. "Would you like me to make you some coffee?"

"Thank you, Sanji," Robin said.

The galley was bathed in a comfortable silence as Sanji cooked and served Robin her coffee. Finally, when everything was set to simmer and all the dishes needed was watching and a final garnish, Robin said softly, "You shouldn't be afraid of him."

Sanji almost dropped the pan he was holding. He set it down gently on the burner and pulled a cigarette from his pocket. Slowly he lit it. Outside, the deck was still empty.

"I had as much chance to look for him as you. So did Luffy. You can't take the blame on yourself for not rescuing Zoro."

"I should have looked." Sanji said, hunched over the counter.

"He doesn't blame you." Robin responded.

Sanji slammed a hand down on the counter and spun. "It was my duty, Robin! I owed him that much! It doesn't matter that I thought he was dead. It doesn't matter that Luffy and his crew could have looked as well. They didn't lo-" Abruptly Sanji broke off, mortified at what he had almost said. He had suspected Robin knew, but he had never told her.

For once, Robin's usually passive expression broke, looking sad and surprised at his outburst.

"Does he know?" She asked quietly, finally, as Sanji leaned back, shaking. "Did you ever-"

Sanji just shook his head mutely.

"But Robin," he said softly, "after Zoro came back, we -"

Suddenly, the door to the galley burst open. Luffy and the others came pouring in, laughing.

"He looks great, Sanji! Your soup really did the trick! Ana and Chopper have him all bandaged up - turns out he looked a lot worse than he is! Said he was only out there for a week!" Luffy laughed loudly at this. "When I found him, he had been chained up for three! This was nothing!"

"But he was so thin," Robin said.

"Yeah, he needs food," Luffy agreed. "But that's it! He looked like he was dying!"

Sanji realized he was gripping a metal spoon hard enough to draw blood. Slowly he loosened his fist and stirred his rice.

"Sanji, you need to go see him. He kept asking about you." Luffy said.

"Yeah, it was weird," Usopp agreed. "Guess he really misses kicking your ass. You were just in there to see him with the soup, after all!"

"Oh!" Luffy exclaimed, his eyes going wide. "They still don't know! Sanji, when're you gonna -"

Sanji took a spoonful of meat and shoved it in his captain's mouth. Luffy chewed and swallowed.

"Wow, Sanji!" His voice was awed. "You got better."

Sanji grinned at him, unable to stop the swell of pride.

All those awards, and this was the praise that mattered.

Luffy reached toward the stove, his earlier train of thought completely abandoned. Sanji smacked his hands.

Nami, unfortunately, wasn't so easily distracted. "Told us what? Sanji, why do I get the feeling something -"

Sanji gritted his teeth. He couldn't bring himself to tell them. Not when Zoro most likely wanted nothing to do with him, not when he had almost died, again, and it was Sanji's fault. Not when he knew he would be met with ridicule, Nami's disbelief and Usopp's laughter.

Sanji lowered the heat on the stoves. "I'm going to tell the others dinner is almost ready. Usopp, Robin, make sure Luffy lets the food stay put."

Without waiting for a response, Sanji escaped to the warm air of the deck, the late afternoon sun casting tall shadows across the boards. He walked to the railing, taking a deep breath of clean air followed by a deep pull on his cigarette.

"Sanji."

Sanji whipped around, nearly falling overboard in his haste, hands gripping the railing hard as he leaned backwards, trying futilely to escape.

"I was wondering where you went to. Baka." Zoro was standing in front of him, looking, just as Luffy had said, better. Still gaunt as hell though. Sanji automatically went through several hundred recipes in his mind that he could cook, all designed to promote fast -

Zoro.

The man looked steady on his feet, despite his thinness and the sorry condition of his clothes. He wasn't wearing his haramaki, and Sanji had the fleeting thought that he would need to buy him a new one, once they got home. The black bandana was tied securely around his arm.

Sanji's thoughts finally caught up to him, and he snorted derisively at himself. Once they got home.

Baka. Zoro wouldn't be going anywhere with him.

Zoro's eyebrows were drawn together, his lips pressed in a thin line. His hands were flexing by his side.

He looked ready to kill Sanji, and honestly, he couldn't blame him.

Sanji waved a cigarette at the swordsman, knowing he looked every bit as terrified as he felt. "You shouldn't be up. You need to rest."

Suddenly, the expression fell away, leaving his features blank. Zoro took a step forward. Sanji had no where to go.

The door to the galley swung open. "Ho, Sanji!" Usopp's voice rang out. "A swarm of flying rat-fish came and -"

"Oh, for goodness sake," Nami's voice rang out. "Luffy's eating your -"

"Mmf, am noft -"

Zoro took a quick step forward and swiftly grabbed the cook bodily, crushing him to his chest. Taken by surprise, Sanji gasped as he was swung back from the railing, flailing his arms before gripping the swordsman desperately, fingers clutching at the loose fabric of his shirt. Zoro held him until he stopped struggling, whispering words into his ear that he couldn't quite make out.

Sanji went limp, clutching at the other man. Zoro, hands everywhere, kissed him soundly on the mouth.

Automatically, Sanji's lips parted as he gasped. Zoro ran his tongue frantically over them before pushing deeper. Running their tongues together, Zoro was mouthing something to him, but his words were swallowed in Sanji's mouth.

Zoro was shaking, and after a moment Sanji realized they were both sobbing uncontrollably into each other.

"I thought you were dead, I would have come, but I thought -" Sanji muttered, unable to stop himself. Panicked, he cried, "I'm sorry if -" He broke off, tried again. "I'll understand if -" He took a deep breath, the words he was never able to say before falling off his tongue in a rush, "I love you. Zoro, I -"

"Shitty love-cook." Zoro's voice was low. "It took you long enough."

Sanji gripped his head and pressed their mouths together, lips wet with salty moisture.

Finally, Zoro tilted his head back, just a little bit. He was smiling at Sanji, eyes alive with something Sanji had thought he'd lost. Zoro ran his hands through Sanji's blond hair, brushing it back from his left eye. Sanji leaned into his palm, watching as Zoro ran his eyes critically over Sanji's face, looking for changes or maybe just taking him in.

Sanji unclenched his hands shakily, finally getting a hold on himself. "Baka marimo. You shouldn't even be up. I don't know what they did to your brain in there, but-"

"WHAT THE -" Usopp shrieked. Sanji nearly fell over with surprise. Zoro jumped, but kept his hand in the small of Sanji's back, steadying him.

"Oh. My. God." Nami's hushed voice cut through the air.

"Oi, finally!" Toban called from the top of the deck.

Sanji and Zoro looked up. The whole crew was there, old and new.

Staring at them.

Only half were grinning.

Robin finally appeared in the doorway. "Ah," she said. "So you did tell him, Sanji-kun."

Nami's face had relaxed, although Usopp was still looking slightly apoplectic.

"Sanji, Zoro," Nami's voice was sugary-sweet. "Well. I guess that explains why you two couldn't keep your hands off of one another."

Zoro had begun to splutter beside him. Sanji glanced over. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the swordsman turning several vivid shades of red.

Not that he should talk. He felt like he had sunburn.

"Well!" Nami said. "I guess I should feel better about you not fawning over me anymore, eh, Sanji? I thought I was just getting old."

Sanji opened and closed his mouth, fighting for words, when Nami suddenly grinned at him and winked, letting him know she was kidding.

Usopp, in the meantime, had calmed down enough to talk. "Well!" He said. He drew himself up. "When will we start seeing little cooks with green hair, huh?"

"It doesn't work like that, liar!" Zoro growled, a vein in his head throbbing.

But Usopp laughed at him.

It was contagious. After a moment, even Sanji was smiling. Zoro, for his part, at least looked less likely to murder the sharpshooter.

“Ah!” Sanji exclaimed, smacking his head. “Dinner. Everything should be ready right about now. Give me a moment to prepare, and we can all eat.” He felt everyone staring at him, and he shifted uncomfortably before deciding they didn’t matter. He turned to Zoro. “You need to get back to bed,” he said. His shoulder was under Zoro’s arm, and he could feel himself increasingly holding up the swordsman’s weight.

Zoro nodded at him.

“Zoro!” Ana came running, Chopper at her heels. They had missed all of the excitement, apparently. “I leave you for a second, and you get out of bed! You’re an idiot! Both of you!”

“Oi!” Sanji protested. “What did -”

“You let him!” Ana snapped, easily transferring Zoro to herself. Zoro, for his part, let her.

Sanji sighed, then shrugged. “Oi,” he called softly. “I’ll bring you dinner, ok, marimo?”

He was rewarded with a tired smile.

But it was genuine.

Zoro was alive, and still wanted him.

Sanji grinned back and ducked into the galley.

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