revelations
Chapter Six
Chopper didn’t rush into his one-on-one time. Instead, he took Zoro’s vitals, nodding to himself as he jotted down notes. Once satisfied with that, he left briefly and returned with a tray of food. “Sanji insisted I eat some lunch,” Chopper explained, as he made himself comfortable on that all too familiar wheely chair.
The food looked delicious, as it always did. An omelette stuffed with a colourful selection of vegetables and for after, Chopper’s favourite: cotton candy. It really was impressive Sanji was able to cater to all the crew’s different tastes. Zoro’s favourite had to be the rice balls—yes, he was simple! But the fillings the cook loaded into them were next level in taste, unlike anything Zoro had ever had. Before Sanji, Zoro had never really paid attention to what he ate, just that he needed protein for his muscle gains. The world of food was one Sanji had introduced him to, and no doubt others in the crew too. Zoro never would’ve thought there was this vast ocean of flavours that he himself would actually be interested in trying.
He watched as Chopper finished eating his food, swaying his legs in delight.
“Ah, that was so good, Zoro! You really are missing out,” Chopper said, as he relocated the now empty tray to his desk.
Chopper wheeled the chair close to Zoro’s bedside before jumping back onto it. He leaned over and fluffed Zoro’s pillows. “Gotta keep you comfy,” he said. Zoro smiled. Typical Chopper.
Chopper sat back in the chair and twiddled his hooves together. It was only then that Zoro noticed the red swollenness where Chopper’s thin ankle fur met his hooves. Zoro frowned. It looked sore and irritable. Was this from working too hard? Or could it be a sign of stress? Chopper did such a fantastic job of taking care of everyone else, but really didn’t afford himself the same level of care. It was worrying. Zoro made a mental note to check up on the reindeer’s health once he woke up.
“It’s been really weird on the ship without you, Zoro. Everyone’s trying to hold it together, for the sake of the crew, but we’re all worried. Usopp’s been more jumpy, Brook’s not playing music, money isn’t cheering Nami up, Luffy is eating even more than usual somehow, and don’t even get me started on Sanji. I could go on and on about everyone. We’re all missing you.”
Zoro laid back on the bed, frustrated. It sucked seeing the crew go through all this because of him, but what sucked even more was that he was powerless to change it. He didn’t ask for this! Why was the world punishing him so?
“But I don’t want to dwell on that for our one-on-one time! I was actually thinking of another, actually positive, one-on-one time we had back at Water 7 all those years ago. We went to the cinema! Do you remember?”
Zoro smiled. Of course he remembered. It was their first time seeing a visual den den mushi play a film on such a large scale projector screen. It had been quite an experience. Though he couldn’t quite recall the film…
“We saw Blade of the Ninja. You probably don’t remember since you fell asleep ten minutes into it.” Chopper giggled into his hoof. “It was a pretty bad movie, now that I think about it. And those chairs were pretty comfy. I think Luffy would’ve loved it. He’s always gushing over cool stuff like ninjas.”
That was true. What Chopper failed to mention was that bringing Luffy would be a next level disaster. He would be loud and bouncy, steal other people’s popcorn, and potentially destroy the entire theatre. He was chaos personified. Still, it would’ve made for a fun time.
Chopper continued recounting the adventures they’d shared together and with the crew. Zoro found himself laughing alongside Chopper when he brought up the time Luffy ripped his shorts mid-fight with another customer at a tavern. Luffy had stood, proud and completely unbothered by his butt on display, and declared himself the winner. They were all kicked out by the owner of the tavern, but it was an unforgettable moment.
When the laughter simmered down, Chopper rested his hoof on Zoro’s wrist. “Zoro, you’re what I imagine having a big brother is like.”
Zoro’s eyes widened a fraction before creasing with his smile. “Thanks, Chopper. You’re the little bro I never had,” Zoro said, and leaned forward to noogie Chopper’s head. It didn’t work, but the familiarity of the gesture was comforting to Zoro in a weird way.
“Usopp thinks so too. We all really admire you, you know? Like everything you do is so cool!” Chopper’s eyes lit up. “Especially your fighting! It’s way better than that Blade of the Ninja movie. Wait a second! What if they hired you for those fighting movies! That would be so cool!”
Laughter bubbled from Zoro’s lips and something warm fizzled inside his chest. It felt good.
Chopper frowned. “Oh, but then we would be separated. Huh. Maybe that’s not such a good idea after all.”
Never change, Chopper, Zoro thought.
Chopper’s attention shifted to the clock on his desk. It was shaped like a cloud and Zoro knew it to be one of Chopper’s favourite possessions. Zoro had once been told it reminded their doctor of their adventures in Skypiea.
“Wow! Have I really been in here for that long?” Chopper said as he stood up from the chair and stretched. He looked back at Zoro and nodded, satisfied. “I’ll be back later to do your vitals.” As Chopper exited the infirmary, Zoro followed behind feeling even lighter but somehow whole too.
It was late afternoon out on deck, if the emerging orange hues contrasting against the blue of the sky were anything to go by.
Chopper spotted Nami watering her mikan trees on deck and ran over to her. “I’m finished with my turn!” he said.
“Okay thanks, Chopper,” Nami said, smiling at the little reindeer. “I’ll finish up here and head in.”
While Nami was finishing that, Zoro floated around the deck. It was absent of music and noise, which was always a worrying sign when onboard the Sunny. Silence just didn’t exist. Other than Nami, Zoro only spotted Luffy sitting on the Sunny figurehead, Robin reading a book on the staircase, and Jinbei standing by the rail watching the water. Zoro had rarely seen things this subdued. Was crew morale really at an all time low?
There wasn’t time to dwell on it, though, as Nami was heading right to the infirmary. Zoro followed her in.
Nami sat on the chair while Zoro floated over to sit next to his own unconscious body.
“You know, I should be charging you increased interest for all these days you’ve missed paying me back,” Nami said, examining her nails. “But I won’t, because despite what you think, I am not a heartless witch.”
Zoro scoffed. “Bullshit.”
“Anyway. I know in the past we haven’t really had many mutual talking points but I think you’d be surprised to know we’re more alike than you think,” Nami said.
Zoro quirked an eyebrow. “Ha?”
“Well, a difference first. I know that, unlike me, you can’t be tempted by the allure of a woman.”
“Yeah. So?” Everybody knew Nami was a sucker for a pretty lady and Zoro was not. This wasn’t news.
“But you can be tempted by a man.”
“What,” Zoro deadpanned.
“Specifically, one man,” Nami said, holding up a single finger. “And you know who that is, right?” She wore a smug expression—she was enjoying this. “No? No response? Well, I’m not going to tell you. But I will tell you that it’s how we’re similar. Not only are we both gay but we’re both oblivious to our own feelings.”
Zoro frowned, feeling equally lost and irritated. Nami knew nothing. Zoro was very in touch with his own feelings—he meditated after all! He would know if he was attracted to someone. Still, morbid curiosity won out. He listened to what she had to say.
Nami leaned on her hand. “It was actually because of you and him that I discovered my feelings for Vivi. I realised the sparks flying between you two were just like the ones between me and Vivi. Vivi realised it too and, unlike you idiots, we actually did something about it.”
Sparks flying? What the hell was she going on about?
Wait. He had heard that term before and it had been just as baffling then. A memory from when Vivi sailed with them popped into his head.
—
Zoro had just woken up from a nap on the deck and immediately felt a familiar deathly aura coming at him. His hands went straight for his swords as Sanji launched an attack on him. Zoro unsheathed one sword, raising it quickly to block Sanji’s foot.
“You asshole! You drank all the liquor,” Sanji said as the two of them collided.
“Bullshit. I haven’t touched your liquor,” Zoro all but growled as they separated. A grin broke out on his face as the familiar feel of intensity and adrenaline kicked in. “But if you want a fight, then just say so!” he said before launching an attack at Sanji.
“Don’t bullshit me, Marimo,” Sanji said, as he deflected Zoro’s attacks and started to return a few of his own. A matching grin broke out on his face. “If you wanted a beating, you should’ve just said.”
“Heh! Bring it on, cook!”
The two of them lunged, dodged, and parried about, neither one easing up. On the contrary, Zoro was getting more and more fired up as they went.
But then Zoro slipped on something and crashed into Sanji, sending them to the floor of the deck. Zoro had Sanji pinned underneath him. Up this close he could see the faint red flushing across Sanji’s cheeks. It was strangely captivating.
“Wow! Not only do sparks fly metaphorically between you two, but they do literally when you fight too!” Vivi said, punching her fist into her other hand.
Sanji quickly pushed Zoro off of him and brushed himself down. “Ah, Vivi-chan, can I get you something?”
Nami joined Vivi. “Oh, no we’re okay. Nami just wanted something to drink,” Vivi said, holding up a bottle of liquor. Presumably the same bottle Sanji assumed Zoro took.
Zoro and Sanji both spluttered but Sanji was faster to collect himself. “Of course, please do enjoy!” The girls left and Zoro knew he wasn’t imagining the smirk on Nami’s face.
Zoro’s eye twitched. “You idiot.”
“Eh? You wanna go for round two already?” Sanji said, putting a smoke between his lips.
“Always,” Zoro said, collecting his swords from the ground.
Sanji took a drag from his cigarette. “Well, tough luck. Unlike some mosses, I have dinner to prepare,” he said before leaving the deck for the galley.
Zoro sighed. What did Vivi mean by ‘sparks fly’ anyway?
—
If Zoro had understood the term sparks flying back then, he would’ve definitely voiced his disapproval. But now that Nami had provided some context of it using her relationship with Vivi, Zoro finally understood.
What he couldn’t understand was why Nami was referring to Sanji as a man of interest to Zoro.
Zoro sat and let his thoughts roam. There was no way he was attracted to Sanji. The man was irritating, truly, except… except maybe for when they were fighting. Fighting was always fun and thrilling with him. The fire in Sanji’s eyes had always matched Zoro’s own and something about that always sent a thrill through Zoro’s body. Sanji was always as committed to the spar as Zoro was.
And well, losing to Sanji wasn’t all that bad either. The slight rise of the cook’s eyebrows, for some reason surprised he actually beat Zoro, and the small almost secret smile of accomplishment, were one of Zoro’s favourite sights—because of how open and unguarded they were. And if the sight of a slightly red-faced happy and accomplished Sanji did certain things for Zoro, no one else had to know. It was perfectly normal. Like Zoro knew Sanji was attractive, but it was objectively, of course, and in comparison to the rest of the crew, who Zoro did not find attractive.
Zoro paused that thought and looked over at Nami who was studying something on Chopper’s desk.
And that was when he realised he’d fucked up.
Because the thing was, yeah, Zoro wasn’t attracted to Nami, but objectively speaking she was attractive. She got enough attention from people everywhere for that to be an established fact.
Zoro frowned. So what the fuck did his mind and body’s responses to Sanji mean?
“At least your vitals seem to be consistent,” Nami said, kicking him out of his thoughts. “Or at least I think they are. This is Chopper’s field, not mine.” She shrugged.
Zoro shook his head. No, this was just Nami messing with his head. She liked to do that, and was very good at it.
But what if she wasn’t messing with his head? He couldn’t stop the traitorous thought from running rampant in his mind. And he kind of didn’t want to stop it. But nevertheless, he turned his attention back to Nami, realising he had missed her last sentence.
Nami stood. “Okay, I’m going for now. Wake up soon, Zoro! If you don’t, I’ll raise the interest on your debt another percent!”
Zoro cursed at her. That was just like her. But even when she left, despite the mess she’d started in his head, he still felt lighter. And it had felt nice discovering that he was partly—weirdly—the catalyst for her and Vivi getting together. They were a good match for one another.
He tried to envision himself and Sanji as a couple. It felt… odd. He’d never been one for romance and it kind of made him uncomfortable, but there was a defiant little voice in his head encouraging the line of thinking. Zoro wanted to mute it.
There was no way he and Sanji could ever be like that. Surely. Right? Yeah, he was being an idiot even entertaining the idea. He and Sanji would never be together. After all, while Zoro might reluctantly admit being attracted to the cook, he was certain the feeling was not mutual. Sanji was a ladies man, through and through.
Zoro shook his head and left the infirmary for some fresh air.
↑ Top