Take My Air

Sanji awoke from a dreamless sleep gasping for air. His lungs and throat burned like someone had poured acid in his mouth while he had been unconscious, and his entire body ached something fierce. He was lying on his back on what felt like grass, and his clothes were damp and clinging uncomfortably to his body. He blinked a few times to clear the bright spots from his vision before trying to sit up, but his shoulders were immediately pinned down with a gentle pressure.

"Don't try and move yet, Cook."

The words filtered slowly into Sanji's brain, and he barely registered who the speaker was since he was more focused on the terrible, throbbing pain at the back of his skull. He groaned at the feeling and moved to place a hand on his forehead to steady himself, but his response time was so slow that it was intercepted before he had barely lifted it and returned to his side.

"I told you not to move, idiot! You're in really bad shape."

This time, Sanji recognized the voice of the green-haired swordsman, and he frowned at the realization that Zoro was the one preventing him from getting up. It took more effort than expected for him to make his eyes focus on the other man, and when he did, Sanji was surprised to see that Zoro appeared no better than he felt.

"What the hell happened?" he mumbled, shoving weakly at the hands holding his shoulders down. "Lemme go, bastard. I'm fucking cold," he complained.

"Yeah, I know. You—" Zoro paused, choosing his words carefully. "Do you remember your fight with that woman?"

"Huh? I would never stoop so low as to—"

"Yeah, yeah. What I should've asked is if you remembered getting your ass handed to you."

"Oh. Then yes. She was quite the little spitfire for a marine—beautiful red hair, too."

"That little spitfire kicked you over a cliff into a ravine in the middle of battle!"

"It was an impressive kick," Sanji complimented, fondly remembering the lovely young lady.

Zoro snorted in annoyance and sat back on his knees, releasing his grip on the cook. "So you remember that, but you don't remember getting knocked unconscious underwater?"

"That would explain why my clothes are damp."

"It won't explain why you're an idiot, but it might've given you even more brain damage," the swordsman said blankly.

Even though his tone wasn't particularly antagonistic, Sanji still took offense and sat up quickly to yell an angry retort in the swordsman's face. Before he could decide on a comeback, his body screamed at the sudden movement, and his breath caught in his throat. If he had thought his injuries were bad a moment ago, it was nothing compared to how the cook was nearly doubled over in pain as his rib-cage protested and wet coughs wracked his slim frame. Zoro placed his hand back on Sanji's shoulder in an attempt to keep him upright until the coughing fit passed, murmuring the mantra, "Easy, Cook...take it easy."

"F-fuck...you...!" Sanji managed to squeeze out.

"Is that really how you want to talk to the person who dived in and dragged your ass out?" Zoro snapped irritably.

"Whatever. Could've happened to anyone," Sanji muttered unappreciatively.

The swordsman looked away and avoided his crewmate's glare. When the cook made a move to stand up, he instantly knocked him back onto his ass with a light shove. "Can't you sit still for one freaking minute?! At least until Chopper can get here and look at you."

"Why? I'm fine! Get out of my way, Shitty-swordsman."

"You're not fine! You have no idea what condition you're in, so just—"