The Black Water

Chapter 2: The Beginning

   Sanji had been awake for a while. He felt the cold floor beneath his palms and he shuddered as the piercing wind from an adjacent window hit his barely covered back. His wounds still weren't fully healed, and the frozen concrete stuck to his bloody skin as he scooted across the cell. He huddled himself into a ball in the corner trying to gain warmth. If anything he felt as though he was going to freeze to death before Zoro even woke up. He stared at the bloodied body of his crewmate laying limp on the other side of the small, bare room. The only thing left to console the cook was the slight groan that would occasionally slip the lips of Zoro, assuring Sanji that he was alive. He sat and stared at Zoro for who knows how long, when he started the moonlight was covering Zoro's toes, and it had now fully encapsulated the torso of the broken swordsman. Sanji couldn't remember the last time they had gotten their asses handed to them like this, and he made the silent promise to himself that if they got out of here alive it wouldn't happen again. Sanji hugged his knees close as he heard his stomach grumble. He sighed if he didn't get food soon he was sure that they would die here. He didn't know how long it had been since he'd last eaten. He lost count of time down here, he could have been here for a day, a month, he didn't know.

Something stirred him from his thoughts when Zoro rolled over slightly before stopping and wincing in pain. "Zoro!" Sanji exclaimed. Every few days they would take Zoro out of the cell and be gone for hours, Sanji tried not to think of what they might be doing, as all he knew was every time they took him, Zoro came back in worse and worse condition, and most of the time unconscious. "Are you alright?" Sanji stayed where he was despite wanting to check. He didn't have any extra energy to expel.

Zoro moaned in pain slowly sat himself up. A bad move on his part as a few of his wounds began bleeding again, he looked to the side and spit out some blood before giving a weak smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm just fine. As good as I've ever been."

Sanji just rolled his eyes. "Do you know why we're here or where we are yet?" It was the same question Sanji asked when Zoro wakes up, always to no avail.

Zoro looked up grimly at Sanji, "I finally overheard one of those bastards mention it today, The Black Water." Sanji went still, his face paled as he felt his blood run cold. The Black Water was known as one of the most dangerous places in the grand line. The Emperors never even touched it. It was run rampant with dangerous pirates of all caliber, and that was all that was known. No one actually knew who roamed this sea, everyone just knew to avoid it. It was even rumored to be the origin of the Devil Fruits. Sanji cursed quietly under his breath and looked hopelessly at Zoro. They stared at each other for a second before Zoro coughed up some blood, and Sanji cursed some more, scrambling over to Zoro, despite himself.

"There's probably internal bleeding," Sanji muttered, examining the bruises and cuts covering his friend's body. He's never wished for Chopper's presence more than now. "That's what you get for being a dumb ass." He spat out holding up Zoro's arm as he assessed the damage. Zoro just watched him. Sanji could be gentle when he wanted to, he was gentle most of the time. Zoro had seen it, he knew it was there. Zoro had watched all of the small things he did for the crew. The way he pined for and followed Nami and Robin's every wish. The way he patiently listened to Ussop's stories when Ussop was lonely. The way he made sure Luffy had enough for an extra serving every meal. The way he would never let Brooke sit in the encapsulating silence. He even listened quietly to Franky to explain his tedious inventions. Sanji was indeed gentle, but only to others. Never to Zoro. Thus he sighed, as he felt defeated, he knew there was no point in looking for sympathy. He was shaken from his thoughts as Sanji pushed Zoro's shoulder, Careful to not cause any pain. "Why didn't you fight back, idiot? We wouldn't be here if you did."

There was a long pause. "I... I don't know." Zoro said quietly. Most of the time Sanji's roughness was appreciated, it kept Zoro centered, humble, and it always managed to push him to be better. However, this was not the time. Zoro knew should have known to fight back, or that he should have surveyed the room, but instead he decided to make a slick remark. Sanji was taken aback by the sudden realness of the moment and watched Zoro for a bit. "You always know how to make a bad day worse," Zoro eventually Spit out, slowly laying back down.