notadartboard | Museboxing

Entry tags:

Museboxing

[It didn't matter where the rest of the crew had gotten to, Sanji was sure they were okay. They were with Luffy, right? And Luffy would look after them. He and the stupid marimo had their own problems now.

Stupid marimo indeed, getting lost and necessitating someone to hunt him down. They had been ambushed just as Sanji found him, and while it didn't seem like too tough a fight, the huge friggin' dinosaur-dragon-thing that decided to crash the party only made it worse. Both they and their foes scattered, and after a few too many hits, they realized the only way to get out with their lives was to run and hole up until it got tired of hunting and wandered off.

That's how they came to be in this cave, at least. Behind a waterfall, no less.

Sanji hid his limp as he prowled to the back of the damn space echoing with the roar of the falls. It was drier and quieter further back, though it cut off a significant portion of daylight. He had his lighter, at least, and dug it out to give them a quick burst of light. Hmm, nothing dangerous in here. Good.]

C'mon, let's make ourselves comfortable. We might be here a while.

[ow, his side. He hisses and lets the light flicker out for the moment, hiding his painful wince.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[unfortunately he can't tell what it is Sanji wants or he'd get it for him. Sanji's movement catches his eye and he's caught again by the line of is throat, the edge of his jaw. He swallows and tries not to stare too much but when he speaks his voice is a bit thicker than normal]

So sit.

[he glances away, eye falling on the jacket and he grunts, reaching to grab it and flop it closer to the fire so that it can dry out. Dumbass. Zoro's not the one who is supposed to be thinking of these things]

[he can tell there's something up, he can hear it in Zoro's tone, and casts him a curious sort of glance from under the sheaf of hair hiding his eyes. The movement makes him sit up a little, but it still takes him a long moment to dredge up the courage to politely ask a favor of the swordsman.]

...my tobacco purse is in the front pocket. Can you reach it?

[he grunts again. It's kind of weird rooting through the cook's pocket and discounting the fact that it smells like him in a dizzying way-- Because he really doesn't need to go down that road... He pulls out what Sanji asked for and hands it to him.

He likes-- doesn't mind doing things for him. So long as it's a request and not a command like calling a dog to heel. He's nod dumb enough to say it though, or to ask if there was anything else that needed massaging because touch was damn addicting but--

It was a long way to fall and there was no way he could recover that distance]

[oh yes precious smokes yes...

Sanji pulls one out and his lighter, lights it up, and takes a deep, soothing drag before anything else, making sure to exhale away from Zoro. You know, just because.]

...thanks.

[See, he's not without gratitude. Especially at a time like this. He smokes in silence for a while, his other hand pressed lightly to his ribs. Shit, that's going to be a bother. He's not sure how to ask for help with, though. Is there anything they can even do?]

Mm.

[notes that but yeah, nothing he can do about it. He knows sort of about setting bones but you couldn't really set ribs-- he didn't think]

Will you stop busting the damn things?

[get stronger already, dumbass.]

It's a little late for that, now.

[Better his ribs than his hands. He nudges Zoro, pushing his shoulder.]

I should just take a page out of your book and pretend like it's not there.

As long as you have strength of will it doesn't matter how much blood you lose.

[in other words, it didn't matter. he thought everyone knew that. It was just common sense. In any case, have a (gentler) nudge back]

[snorts, and then laughs weakly]

You are so full of shit, marimo. You can tell yourself that all you want, but that's not how the human body works. [waves the hand with the cigarette between his fingers] That is, if you're even human. Some days I have my doubts.

[he's unsure how to take that laugh. It makes him feel light even though he's pretty sure he should be feeling insulted]

It's how mine works. [he lightly touches the makeshift bandage] The bleeding stopped, didn't it?

[of course it did]

Willpower. [small don]

[pokes him in the bicep this time]

The bleeding stopped because I put my hand and a bandage over it, dumbshit. I'm not knocking your willpower, I'm sure that's what's keeping you upright, but seriously. Do you even hear yourself?

[less lighthearted now]

Yeah it helped but the bleeding wouldn't've stopped unless I told it to. [and just what the hell did he think he was implying] You wanna start something, ero cook?

Psh... [fine, let him believe it if he wants to] You're not worth the energy, moss-brain. Besides, I just got comfortable.

[pokes him again, since he's right there]

Why, you wanna start something back?

You couldn't keep up even if I did. [with his busted ribs and everything. He leans his head back against the wall] Don't you have a nap to take?

[or whatever he was doing to recover]

Oi, I can so! [he starts up, but yes, there's a twinge in his side that forces him to back down.] Or I would if I really wanted to, which I don't.

I said I was sitting, not napping. Clean the moss out of your ears.

[damnit he likes Sanji with fight in him, but now is not the time so he doesn't pursue it. Though oddly he feels unsatisfied, like he finished before he'd even begun. It just makes him more annoyed]

So sit quieter, dumbass. [nudge]

Stop that. [waves a hand like he's going to slap Zoro's wrist, though he doesn't.] You're not helping.

[He finishes his cigarette, grinds it out on the rocky floor and stows the butt in the little pouch that holds his pack and lighter.]

I hope we don't get stuck in here all night. We're going to need food sooner or later.

[Fuck you. He wants to nudge. To touch. To bite. No. Stop. Damnit. He remembers the feel of Sanji's legs under his hands and somehow that's worse. Well it's his own damn fault. He should have never have made the move if he wasn't prepared to deal with the consequences]

I'll go find something.

[he stands, feeling his wound prick a bit but stay mostly closed, and grabs his swords. There's gotta be something edible out there. Maybe he can find one of those rhino things and take it on face to face]

...what, wait, I didn't say...

[He's too slow to get up, though, and just reaches fruitlessly out toward Zoro.]

You're never going to find your way back if you just wander off! Give me a second, here, I'll go have a look.

[the thought of Zoro getting lost - as usual - fills him with more dread than annoyance this time. He doesn't want to be alone, and doesn't want either of them left without the other to lend a hand if necessary. Seaweed-brain in particular, he may think he's so tough but Sanji worries about those wounds.]

I'll be fine. It's not like I'm going to forget where a big damn waterfall is. I don't need to hold your hand.

[he'd like to. No he wouldn't. Not in that way. Maybe as an aftermath of-- No. Freaking mind, all this was bad enough]

[this time, the blush across Sanji's cheeks is pronounced. He tries to shake it off, or at least look away so Zoro can't see.]

I don't need you to, I just need you to actually get back here.

[he flops back down and curls one leg underneath him. The only way he knows to cover his desperation is to close himself off defensively.]

Fine, go then. Better bring me something good, all I've got is this fire.

[he was blushing. Why was he blushing? What was that supposed to mean? Zoro didn't get it. Urgh. Whatever. Forget it. He scoffs trying to cover up the sudden flustered feeling]

What, you need me cook?

[it had been meant as a joke but it falls flat and he realizes the moment it's out of his mouth how it sounds. Shit. How to recover from it? Shit shit shit. He can't just back out or it'd look like he said it seriously]

[Of course he does, but he's not going to say so. Sanji bites back a startled reaction, his eyes going to Zoro and then quickly away with a whip of his head around. He'll stare at the fire instead, to keep his reaction from being too obvious.]

More like you need me.

[It's grumbled under his breath. Still defensive. He's trying to ignore the truth, that they need each other right now, probably in more ways than one.]

[For some reason it's a little hard to breathe. The reaction isn't the easiest to read but... something dances on the edge of his senses. An opportunity. A moment. It could be great-- or it could go to shit but...

He'll take the consequences either way. He swallows hard and looks away himself, absently palming Wado's hilt, rubbing his thumb restlessly against the pommel.

Quietly, his own face heating he says:]

Yeah.

[the only time he was going to admit it. Take it and be satisfied. Then... since he was already started in that direction]

I want to touch you.

[it was almost exhilarating to say it out loud, but the kind where you weren't sure if you'd meet the blade or it would cut you. Either way was fine. He'd dealt with wounds before]

[Sanji's head whips back toward him, his visible eye wide. Did he seriously...?

His heart is hammering in his chest, he's aware of it rather suddenly, and has to take a deep breath before it thumps right up into his throat. He stares at Zoro for a long time, puzzling out that declaration, and then eases himself back down to his seat, resting his back against the wall. His gaze falls to his hands in his lap.]

What. What do you mean?

[Yes, more information, before he can really respond. Give himself time to think...]

What do you think I mean, dartboard?!

[what kind of question was that?! Instead of being hit or cut his opponents sword had turned into a quivering noodle and what the hell was he supposed to do with it?!]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject