[ when he'd left, he'd already known which of the crew would scramble to try to get him back, conjuring up excuses in his favor. he'd seen it after all, how luffy and nami-san came racing with chopper and brook behind them. zoro hadn't been there to collect him, but it wouldn't have taken much to understand what might have went through the swordsman's mind whenever he'd learn sanji had left them all.
after all, it'd been a long time since they'd secured an understanding of one another. despite the way they push and pull, the way zoro's sharp edges clash against sanji's smoother ones, or their alternate directions of interests (with zoro's directions persistently getting themselves lost), there'd been an unspoken vow they'd eventually found, about their mutual roles in this crew — protectors of the others, loyal confidence that when one isn't there, the other would be there to hold them together.
for all their rivalry, they'd been equals.
so, of course zoro would despise him for betraying that trust, something silently promised between them — and, in truth, sanji could hardly blame him. he's been swearing at himself since the moment he'd left zou, doubt still present in his heated chest.
even as his arms and fists shake now, he's almost glad that zoro can't see the way he becomes unsteady from the obvious accusation. ]
You don't think I know the crew deserves better!? That our captain does!?
[ he finally snaps with clenching teeth, breathing harder as the blood boils within him. it's hard to tell whether his anger is really directed at zoro anymore. possibly, he's needed someone to accuse him, angry at the way luffy had waited for him, starved for him. even the sting of nami's slap hadn't been enough punishment.
this isn't about kissing anymore. that much is clear. ]
Leaving was supposed to keep them safe. It was supposed to— I thought I was—
[ excuses are empty. excuses don't work on zoro. they have too much respect for one another for that, or at least, they used to, before he broke it. no, there's only room for truth. ]
If it's kissing someone, marrying someone, fighting to the brink of my last breath, dying, I'd do it to protect Luffy. To protect all of them.
[ To protect you goes unsaid, but it's just as clear in the tightness of his voice, convicted with each word. ]
no subject
after all, it'd been a long time since they'd secured an understanding of one another. despite the way they push and pull, the way zoro's sharp edges clash against sanji's smoother ones, or their alternate directions of interests (with zoro's directions persistently getting themselves lost), there'd been an unspoken vow they'd eventually found, about their mutual roles in this crew — protectors of the others, loyal confidence that when one isn't there, the other would be there to hold them together.
for all their rivalry, they'd been equals.
so, of course zoro would despise him for betraying that trust, something silently promised between them — and, in truth, sanji could hardly blame him. he's been swearing at himself since the moment he'd left zou, doubt still present in his heated chest.
even as his arms and fists shake now, he's almost glad that zoro can't see the way he becomes unsteady from the obvious accusation. ]
You don't think I know the crew deserves better!? That our captain does!?
[ he finally snaps with clenching teeth, breathing harder as the blood boils within him. it's hard to tell whether his anger is really directed at zoro anymore. possibly, he's needed someone to accuse him, angry at the way luffy had waited for him, starved for him. even the sting of nami's slap hadn't been enough punishment.
this isn't about kissing anymore. that much is clear. ]
Leaving was supposed to keep them safe. It was supposed to— I thought I was—
[ excuses are empty. excuses don't work on zoro. they have too much respect for one another for that, or at least, they used to, before he broke it. no, there's only room for truth. ]
If it's kissing someone, marrying someone, fighting to the brink of my last breath, dying, I'd do it to protect Luffy. To protect all of them.
[ To protect you goes unsaid, but it's just as clear in the tightness of his voice, convicted with each word. ]