The Debt (Sanji Fan fiction)

The Price of Courage

The morning light spilled through the window, casting a warm glow on the room that felt far too empty. Eva stirred awake, confusion clouding her mind. The events of the previous night flooded back to her-Sanji standing over her, his cold gaze piercing through her, demanding what was owed to him. A shiver ran down her spine at the memory, and she instinctively reached for the space beside her, only to find it cold and vacant.

He was gone.

Panic set in as she jumped out of bed, her heart racing. Had she imagined it? Did he really leave? The thought twisted her stomach. What would happen now? She had never felt so lost, so vulnerable.

Just as the weight of uncertainty began to settle in, a knock sounded at her door, pulling her from her thoughts. Hesitantly, she approached and opened it, revealing Zoro, his expression a mix of annoyance and concern.

"Hey, where's Sanji?" he asked, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. The room felt even smaller with his imposing presence.

Eva swallowed hard. "He left... after..." she trailed off, unsure of how to explain the dread that had enveloped her. "I don't know where he went."

Zoro's brow furrowed. "He's probably off sulking somewhere. Typical. But we need to talk about this debt." He crossed his arms, his tone shifting to a more serious one. "You know what he's like. He'll come back for it."

"I know," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't have that kind of money. I... I don't even know what to do."

Zoro shifted his weight, frustration flickering in his eyes. "You think I'm here to judge? Look, I'm not. Sanji can be a pain, but he's serious about what he wants. And right now, he wants his money."

She felt a wave of anger rise in her chest. "It's not just about the money! He treats me like I'm nothing. Like I owe him my life."

Zoro studied her for a moment, the tension thick in the air. "Sanji's complicated. He doesn't show it, but he has his reasons. Maybe you should try talking to him instead of running away."

"I can't," she said, frustration bubbling over. "You don't understand what he's like. He's... intimidating."

Zoro sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I get that. But if you want this to end, you'll have to face him. Otherwise, it's just going to drag on."

Eva felt a mix of fear and determination. "I don't want to keep living in fear of him. It's exhausting."

"Then stop being scared," Zoro said bluntly. "You owe him, but that doesn't mean you're powerless. If you stand your ground, maybe he'll respect you more."

The thought echoed in her mind. Perhaps facing Sanji was the only way to take control of her situation. "What if he gets angry?"

Zoro's gaze softened slightly. "Then you deal with it. But at least you'll be doing something. I'll be right here if you need backup."

Taking a deep breath, Eva nodded. "Okay. I'll talk to him. But you have to promise me something."

"What?" Zoro asked, his tone shifting back to his usual gruffness.

"If he gets out of hand, you step in. I can't face him alone if he decides to... to scare me again."

Zoro smirked, crossing his arms. "Deal. But remember, if you're going to do this, do it with conviction. Sanji respects strength."

With that, Eva felt a flicker of hope ignite within her. Maybe she could confront Sanji and change the way things had been. She just had to gather her courage first.