Future

Chapter 6: Zoro - Island Number 3

Zoro forced himself calm for probably the thousandth time, trying not to knock out his weaker crewmates as they hunted for both cook and captain. The first and second islands in the chain had yielded nothing, not even the slightest clue of the whereabouts of the assholes who had taken his husband. This one seemed no better.

Luffy had finally remembered that he had Law's damn Vivre card, and they'd tried it, but it hadn't moved. Just vibrated in place on Luffy's outstretched hand, unafflicted by anything that would mean damage. Like it was confused and couldn't locate its owner. Franky theorized that he might be in sea prism, which could weaken his presence significantly and might affect the paper. Luffy had cried at the suggestion.

So, Zoro found himself traipsing around this mountainous island, swearing to get Sanji a Vivre card and hoping his husband wasn't kept here. It was cold, a winter island that had even Zoro bundled up thoroughly, and Sanji never did like the cold. Probably because he was so damn slender. The chill must cut right through his skinny frame.

Whenever they were remotely close to a winter island like this one, Sanji would curl up close to him, desperately trying to 'steal' his warmth, and would get irritable when circumstances or 'propriety' or Nami dictated space between Zoro and his husband.

And he would give anything to have his Sanji trying to also fit inside the coat he wore now or griping beside him when he couldn't.

As Zoro trudged up the third snowy mountain, he found himself wondering if Sanji was cold now. Was he hurt, suffering, and in pain? It'd been five days. Who knew what Sanji and Law were going through. Was Sanji holding on to hope? He must be, right?

He had to know that Zoro was coming for him. But if he was locked up, he might be more inclined to panic. To forget that people loved him and would come for him, whatever it took.

But until they found them, all Zoro could do was hope that they kept Sanji and Law together. Hope that Law could keep his husband calm and hopeful.

"Zoro?" Nami's voice came from beside him, barely loud enough to be heard over the wind that was picking up.

"What?!" He found himself snapping.

He instantly regretted it. She'd trudged along beside him in a thick coat, heavy boots, and a fairly companionable silence this whole way, not judging or consoling. Just there, steady when he wasn't, despite her own worry for their missing crewmates. Now she flinched back, as if intimidated by him.

She'd never been intimidated by him even once, at least not that she'd ever shown.

The moment, the slip of her mask, was brief, and she regained her composure. "We've covered this side pretty well. We need to go to the next side, but a blizzard is coming. A big one. It might be good to find shelter for a few hours."

Shelter. A delay. A few more hours that Sanji would be waiting.

That delay warred against his innate desire, his sworn duty to protect the crew. And he couldn't get to Sanji if he got stuck under snow and died. Not to mention Sanji would probably kill him if Nami got hurt or frost-bitten.

He would have to make Sanji wait, so that he did not make Sanji lonely or angry. He could do that, he convinced himself. For Sanji and for the crew.

"Fine," he growled, unable to keep the anger from his voice. "Let's find a damn cave then."

"Don't take this out on me, Zoro!" Nami said, thumping his head, albeit more gently than what he usually got when she was angry with him.

Calm. He needed to be calm. "... sorry."