( back when usopp left the crew all those years ago, zoro was the last one to allow him to return. it wasn't anything personal—zoro likes usopp as much as he likes any other member of their crew—but there's something about this life of pirating that zoro isn't willing to let slide, something that conflates his sense of what it means to be a man with what it means to make a promise to someone. you don't get to come and go as you please. when you make an oath to join a crew, you have to stick to it. even if luffy leads his crew in a laidback way any other time, he has to understand that.
eventually, usopp came around and apologized, which made things all right in zoro's book, but he couldn't settle for anything less. had usopp come along with nothing to say for himself, casually, like nothing ever happened, zoro wouldn't have been able to accept it.
and usopp isn't half as close to him as sanji is.
granted, zoro isn't placing all of his crewmates on a scale of importance to him. if asked, he'd likely say that everyone is equal in his eyes, even if that isn't entirely true. everyone is important to him and entitled to his protection, but he has attachments and feelings like anyone else. he'd be hard-pressed to admit a thing like that, though, and what he's doing now doesn't count. admitting the way he needs sanji, making it clear that his world doesn't work unless sanji is in it, that's something separate from the rest of their crew. what he and sanji have is different. anyone can see that.
zoro's hands abandon sanji's shirt and hold onto his face instead, the grip being too gentle to be a grab, but too firm to be considered caressing. it's something in the middle, harsh but mindful. his dumb, shitty facial hair prickles beneath zoro's fingers. )
Why do you feel as if you have to deal with any of that alone? ( more importantly, how could zoro be blind to sanji's insecurities? they all have things they need to improve on, but what kind of doubt is this? how hollow is sanji feeling inside? ) When you're feeling unworthy, look at yourself the way I see you! Tell me when you're feeling bad so I can tell you all the ways you're stupid, and horny, and perverted, and strong, and that I need you!
( it's not impossible to do it alone, but how could zoro ever be happy knowing that his crewmate gave up his dream for his sake? if sanji wants to talk about knowing people, he should know that would never work. he should know that his crew loves him so much that they'd never be okay with a sacrifice like that, because they care about his dreams and his happiness as much as he cares about theirs.
since when did sanji value his own life so lowly? )
...If you do that, if you tell me when you're feeling that way, then I'll forgive you.
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eventually, usopp came around and apologized, which made things all right in zoro's book, but he couldn't settle for anything less. had usopp come along with nothing to say for himself, casually, like nothing ever happened, zoro wouldn't have been able to accept it.
and usopp isn't half as close to him as sanji is.
granted, zoro isn't placing all of his crewmates on a scale of importance to him. if asked, he'd likely say that everyone is equal in his eyes, even if that isn't entirely true. everyone is important to him and entitled to his protection, but he has attachments and feelings like anyone else. he'd be hard-pressed to admit a thing like that, though, and what he's doing now doesn't count. admitting the way he needs sanji, making it clear that his world doesn't work unless sanji is in it, that's something separate from the rest of their crew. what he and sanji have is different. anyone can see that.
zoro's hands abandon sanji's shirt and hold onto his face instead, the grip being too gentle to be a grab, but too firm to be considered caressing. it's something in the middle, harsh but mindful. his dumb, shitty facial hair prickles beneath zoro's fingers. )
Why do you feel as if you have to deal with any of that alone? ( more importantly, how could zoro be blind to sanji's insecurities? they all have things they need to improve on, but what kind of doubt is this? how hollow is sanji feeling inside? ) When you're feeling unworthy, look at yourself the way I see you! Tell me when you're feeling bad so I can tell you all the ways you're stupid, and horny, and perverted, and strong, and that I need you!
( it's not impossible to do it alone, but how could zoro ever be happy knowing that his crewmate gave up his dream for his sake? if sanji wants to talk about knowing people, he should know that would never work. he should know that his crew loves him so much that they'd never be okay with a sacrifice like that, because they care about his dreams and his happiness as much as he cares about theirs.
since when did sanji value his own life so lowly? )
...If you do that, if you tell me when you're feeling that way, then I'll forgive you.