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Chapter Text

Zoro never really liked this prince that Perona was saddled with.

When the two of them arrived at the Germa Kingdom to broker peace between their empires through an arranged marriage, the third son of the Vinsmoke legacy met them with a dazzling smile and a kiss to Perona’s hand. To the princess’s bodyguard, it always looked plastic, and he often complained to her that he would never entrust such a man to Perona if he had a say in the affair. She would just twirl her parasol in his face and say it didn’t really matter, it was just a marriage of convenience and Prince Sanji was just being polite. Sanji even went through the effort to make sure Perona and Zoro had luxurious castle lodgings, saying that he wasn’t so forward as to demand they sleep in the same room before the wedding.

Of course, that didn’t alleviate the clear disdain the two men had for one another. Anytime Zoro caught the eye of Sanji, his fakey smile turned into an annoyed sneer, his curly eyebrows scrunching in obvious jealousy over Zoro’s proximity to the princess. Nothing he said seemed to appease him, the prince always having something to criticize about the knight in terms of speech or behavior, often calling him uncouth. And Zoro responded in kind, the two throwing names at each other and Sanji complaining that ‘Prince Curly is a stupid insult when everyone in my family has the same eyebrows.’

The prince even went so far as to pick physical fights, challenging him to a swordfight out in the forest one day under the pretense of a friendly spar. If it was friendly initially, it quickly turned fierce as the two were surprisingly well-matched, the biting sound of metal ringing through the trees. Of course Zoro still emerged victorious, pinning the smug blond royal under his blade with a grin, Sanji’s eyes wide in some unreadable expression. To the knight, it didn’t matter as long as he was able to show this snotty brat (who was his age) that he was outmatched.

However, Zoro was made painfully aware of the situation by a horn in the distance; if a royal guard found him with a sword poised over the prince, he’d surely be executed. And while there was surely a thrill to fighting off dozens of armed guards, he had no intention of dying this way. 

But before he could back off, Sanji scrunched up his face and laughed. Breathless, his laughter rang loud through the canopies of old oak trees, suddenly looking more like a young prince than any other time they met. He smiled and nodded towards the bodyguard, thanking him for the good match, and he grasped Zoro’s hand so they could make their way back to the castle.

From then on, the two were still not on great terms, but it was different. The sneers were less extreme or were followed by a playful snicker, and Sanji actually tried to engage in conversation. It turned out the prince was an expert chef, often asking Zoro for Perona’s preferences and whipping up special meals and treats during the day. Zoro was surprised to be on the receiving end of these meals, only briefly considering whether they were poisoned before devouring them. It seemed odd, considering there were several fully-staffed kitchens in the castle, but Sanji claimed no one else in the castle would eat his cooking so he just wanted to share.

Even just a few days ago, he spotted Sanji and Perona laughing out in the royal garden, Sanji weaving a flower crown from bright golden daffodils. He figured it was for the princess, mentally chastising the prince for still not knowing Perona preferred darker colors. Yet when he approached the two, Sanji’s face lit up and he proudly placed it on the bodyguard’s head, snickering all the while that it suited him. Zoro swore up and down he wasn’t flushed, even as Perona cackled just beside him.

On some level, Zoro might’ve been starting to warm up to the prince.

But now, as he stared down the faded oak door to the prince’s tower, the afternoon sun bearing down on the world outside, he lamented that he LOATHED the prince right now. Zoro harshly pounded on the door before turning the knob and letting himself in.

Sanji calmly sat at his small, antique desk at the far side of the small room, not even startling enough to look up. Per usual, his room was made up of an organized chaos, everything seemingly having its place between clusters of tools and trinkets; clean enough to be presentable, but packed to the brim with anything he might need in a pinch. It was the furthest image of a prince’s quarters, looking even less lavish than the lodgings Zoro had, though the knight already knew Sanji was a weird case. As Zoro stomped over, the prince sighed and deposited his quill into his inkwell, folding his hands underneath his chin to look up at him.

“What the hell is the meaning of this?” Zoro demanded.

The prince sucked his teeth, putting a finger up to his lips. “I’m sure, Sir Roronoa, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

He didn’t even bother to call him Sir Mossy. Shit, this was serious. With a huff, Zoro rummaged through his satchel and pulled out a folded note, presenting it as though the prince wouldn’t recognize it.

In his hand was a delicately crafted poem, the latest in the slew that the prince had written in obnoxious calligraphy for Princess Perona from just this morning. While she bemoaned them as cheesy when they first met, she quickly began to actually look forward to receiving them, much to Zoro’s perplexion. It was only now that he understood why; at the bottom, in her inky handwriting, was a deciphered message.

Tonight at forest edge. North of garden. Pack to escape.

The prince’s expression grew dark and distant, finally standing from his desk chair. 

“It’s a poem, my dear knight,” he teased quietly. “It means what it means.”

Zoro growled as Sanji’s voice dropped to a soft whisper. “The walls have ears and all. Though, since they rarely bother stationing guards up here, it should be fine if we speak quietly and quickly.”

“What’s your angle here?” Zoro asked, just barely lowering his voice.

“Angle?” Sanji repeated, pacing a bit around the knight. “I have no angle except to ensure the safety of your princess.”

“It talks about escaping,” the knight continued, pointing at Perona’s scrawlings for emphasis, “and while Perona might be content with your message, I need to know what you mean by all this!”

The prince sighed, walking back over to his desk to rummage around. From the drawer, he extracted a curved dagger with an intricate hilt.

“My father spoke to me last night,” Sanji whispered, barely making a sound. “He said that on the evening of our honeymoon, I am to kill the princess to ensure the merging of our kingdoms while keeping my side of the family in power.” He throws the dagger onto the desk, the metal harshly clattering against the wood. Zoro could only stand there in shock; had Sanji told him this sort of thing when they first met, he’s sure that the bodyguard would’ve been suspicious of revealing such a plan, ready to call him a liar and manipulator. But what he knew of Sanji now, he was sure it was all the truth. 

“I, of course, have no intention of harming a lady,” the prince continued, walking around his desk towards Zoro, “much less the lovely Perona after the time we’ve spent together. I’m sure the king knew this and intended this as a test for me while also leveraging control over your kingdom. So tonight, I’m staging a distraction in the castle to keep the guards off you while you two head to the drop site near the forest. I know you can’t navigate for shit so Perona should lead you to where I’ve left provisions and a plan for you two to—”

“Come with us.”

Sanji froze, whipping his head around to stare at the princess’s bodyguard with wide eyes. The words came without him thinking, yet his gaze remained resolute as he grabbed Sanji’s hand. “Come with us. You don’t have to stay here, you’ve taken good care of the princess so I’m sure you’d be welcomed in our home kingdom.”

“I- I just told you that I can’t,” Sanji retorted, a pained smile on his face as he yanked his hand away. Zoro could sense the hesitation, though. “If I’m not there to distract the guard, then your chances of success plummets. Not to mention that if my siblings or, heavens forbid, my father catches wind of your escape, you’re both as good as dead!” Zoro resisted a quip about relishing the challenge of defeating the entire Vinsmoke family line, instead just sighing.

“Besides,” Sanji continued, rubbing his arm in discomfort, “I have everything I need here. I’ve lived here all my life, and I’ll be fine. I’m a prince, after all.”

Zoro clenched his fists, his eye glancing down at the bandages peeking out from beneath Sanji’s billowing dress shirt. He’s seen him in the aftermath of his father’s rage. He’s seen him try to evade the knight in shame, insisting his injuries occurred in an unrelated incident while the knight bandaged him up. He's seen him locked inside his little tower under pretense of illness, the passionate blue fire that burns behind his eyes resolutely doused in the following days.

He knows that, whether their plan works or not, Sanji will be found out and killed. Or, knowing the cruelty of the Vinsmokes, he'd be made to endure something much worse.

But he can’t bring himself to say it.

“But you’re not happy!” Zoro said instead, frustration building in his chest. “You’re a prince and you’re miserable here, you let yourself be miserable by staying here! And for what??”

Sanji clicked his tongue in anger, puffing himself up like he usually did when they had their squabbles. “What do you know?! In case you’ve forgotten yourself, your duty is to your princess and you don’t owe any loyalty to me. And I’m doing what I need to do because I owe my loyalty to the one I love!!”

Sanji’s eyes widened, his hand quickly going up to his mouth like he let something slip. He couldn’t understand what he said wrong, so Zoro pressed on.

“You’re so willing to give up your happiness, your life, for your so-called love?”

“Yes!!” Sanji yelled, readjusting his stance as he stepped right into Zoro’s space. The prince’s face was a ruddy pink, almost cute in the low light that came in through the window. “You're a bodyguard, you should know better than anyone! If I can keep those I love from getting hurt, I’ll do anything it takes. It’s only fair!”

“Fair for who, you dumbass?!” Zoro spat back, pushing down the urge to smack this royal brat upside his head. “You’re just getting yourself hurt!! I know you care about her, but how could this be—”

Zoro’s words die in his throat as the prince’s soft lips roughly pressing against his, delicate hands grasping the sides of the knight’s face.

If he could hear the deafening silence of the room, Zoro was sure he could make out the gentle metallic ring of his earring move against Sanji’s finger. But all he could hear was the rushing of blood to his head and the pounding of a heartbeat. He wasn’t sure whose it was, but he dare not try to confirm. As his body refused to move, the stunned bodyguard thought back to a prince pinned under a blade with an expression he thought was unreadable. In his stupor, his memories came into sudden clarity.

When the prince finally pulled away, Zoro could only stare in shock at Sanji’s face, his blue eyes laced with love and sadness.

“I’ll do whatever it takes,” he repeated breathlessly.

Taking advantage of Zoro’s surprise, Sanji shoved him hard out the door, quickly kicking the door closed and locking it with a few clicks.

“Hey!!” Zoro called, quickly regaining his composure to pound on the door. “Hey!! Prince!!! You bastard, c’mon!!!”

“Make sure you and Perona are ready,” Sanji murmured, his unsteady voice barely heard through the oak. The prince’s back was likely pressed against the door. “Leave quickly, before guards hear the commotion. Goodbye, Roronoa Zoro.”

Zoro gritted his teeth, ready to keep yelling and smashing his hands against the wooden door until it broke, but the prince spoke the truth; in the distance, the bodyguard could hear the bustle of nearby royal guards. He glared at the door.

“This isn’t over, Sanji,” Zoro growled. A threat and a promise. Giving the door one final hit, Zoro made his way back down the stairs, back towards Perona’s quarters with heavy steps.

Zoro knew he could’ve pushed Sanji away. Treason or no, he had wrestled with the prince more than a few times, and he doubted Sanji would’ve fought him over it. But he didn’t. He didn’t want to. He was shocked but, walking alone with his thoughts, he didn’t… hate it. But he didn’t have to mull it over that long to know that the prince already made up his mind about how Zoro felt.

Zoro brushed his calloused fingers against his lips, a gentle flush brushing across his glaring face.

He’s always hated that about this prince.

Chapter Text

Prince Sanji felt at peace, propping an arm up on his balcony railing to rest his head. 

A gentle breeze caressed his face as he looked out across the vibrant castle grounds. White, yellow, and pink flowers endlessly drifted down from the sky like snow, complimenting the lush field that went on for miles. He adjusted his robe, and contemplated leaving his room to peruse the gardens, yet something in his mind told him he couldn’t, he mustn’t, so he didn’t make the effort. He felt content to simply gaze from his tower, head feeling light enough to float away.

Far, far down below, the prince spotted Perona and Zoro on stunning white horses, galloping around the open field with mirth, nearly blending in with the enchanting flora.

What are they doing here , Sanji wondered, leisurely leaning over the railing to get a better look. He was certain they didn’t belong in this picture, but his mind couldn’t be bothered to tell him why. Instead he could only smile down at them, feeling warm from their presence, yet so distant. But the lonely feeling didn’t last as it only took a moment for Zoro to notice Sanji.

He watched as the knight rode right up to the tower base, polished black armor reflecting the dazzling sunlight. Sanji distantly thought it was strange how shiny it looked since the mossy-haired man prioritized practicality over presentation, but his concerns didn’t linger. Zoro’s arms were outstretched towards the sky, towards Sanji, beckoning. If he had a smile on his face, the prince couldn’t quite see it. But the intent was clear.

Ah , Sanji thought, something akin to clarity washing over him as his smile widened. That’s right, they came back for me.

With only a hint of hesitation, Sanji climbed the balcony ledge, his limbs languidly moving but not struggling in the slightest. The structure felt endlessly tall from this angle, yet the prince didn’t feel any fear. His body was weightless. Using all the strength in his legs, he leaped, his formal-wear fluttering with the dancing, windswept petals. Down, down, down he floated to Zoro, an intense feeling rising in his chest. 

Before he could make contact with the bodyguard’s strong arms, his eyes shot open, jolting awake in a cold sweat.

The prince gasped for air as his heart tried to escape his chest, the dream clinging onto his mind.

He was back in his room, in his bed. The sun hadn’t yet risen, leaving everything in darkness.

Right. Yes, he remembered. 

Last night they escaped.

His distraction worked, and he went to bed after.

They were able to get out.

Fuck.

Sanji rubbed the heels of his palms hard against his eyes to make the dream disappear faster, tears burning behind them. He should be elated. The entire time, he was terrified at the possibility that his luring of the knights guarding their wing would catch on to his plan, or another set would find them, or even his family… 

But when he went to check their room, all he found was a circle of wilted daffodils on Zoro’s bed. The same crown he weaved for Zoro in the garden. The same one that now shuddered on his desk as he slammed his fist against the surface.

Fuck!

Despite his breath regaining its tempo, his mind was a different matter. It was exhausted, verging on delirious, yet wired; it clawed at him from the inside, wanting to scream and cry, to sit in agonizing grief and sift through every possibility of his fate. He wanted to sneak some booze from the kitchens to numb the pain, but even that reminded him of—

Fuck!! Stop!!!

His fingers tugged hard at his shoulder-length hair, the sting snapping him out of his spiral. Taking a deep, shaky breath, Sanji’s heart started to calm. The last thing he wanted to do now was draw attention to his quarters. Come morning proper, the castle will be ablaze with panic over the sudden disappearance of the princess and her bodyguard, and once the King puts it all together…

He glanced out his window; the heavy blanket of night laid thick over the castle grounds, the edges of the boundaries marked with pitch black. Sanji wasn’t sure what he wanted to find, watching the corners where the void met the forest.

No, that was a lie. He knew what he had hoped for. There were probably a million more noble things he could be doing with his time but, with his heart so heavy, the prince elected to slowly crawl back into bed. 

He’s already had the time to mourn and panic and hope; if nothing else, he should be well-rested for the inevitable.

“Why do you look so guilty, Sir Zoro~?”

The knight let out a quiet sigh as he tightened the knot tethering the horses to a nearby tree.

“I am not sure what you mean, princess.”

Perona clicked her tongue, lightly kicking the loose leaves underfoot. “Don’t play dumb with me. You’ve been so weird since last night, right before we left. What did the prince say to you? Did he say something mean?!” She faked a dramatic gasp to Zoro’s typical annoyance. Though he recognized she was trying, their usual banter didn’t quite quell his heart.

The two had just set up a temporary camp deep in the woods, far down the path that the prince had given to Perona beforehand. They had luckily crossed the kingdom border just a few hours ago, so while they weren’t completely safe, their potential pursuers would have a more difficult time finding them, especially since dawn hasn’t even broken yet. The princess herself was clad in a simple wine-red dress and a long, black hooded cloak; clean and bold as her usual aesthetics dictated, but not so fine and decorated as to stand out. Zoro only slung a simple brown cape around his armor, left by the prince.

His thoughts struggled not to linger on him.

“We should focus on the objective, Your Highness,” Zoro stated, still not looking her in the eye as he sat down by the campfire. “We still need to make it to the southern docks by tomorrow night, and secure transportation back home without arousing suspicion. I can’t rest until you’re home safely.”

He thought back to them running through the garden under the cover of night, the golden glow of the castle the only source of light. 

He could not look back.

He knew he wouldn’t see anything if he did, yet it took everything not to even steal a glance.

“...I hate when you’re like this,” Perona sulked.

“What, when I’m doing my job?”

“When you use your job as an excuse not to talk to me.”

Zoro flinched. She really cut to the quick. But, well, what did he expect from someone he knew since he was small?

“...He confessed something to me,” he admitted, looking down at his lap. “I was thinking about it, that’s all.”

“It’s been weighing on your mind,” she said. It wasn’t a question. When Zoro refused to say anything further, Perona joined him in front of their small fire. Even with his limited peripheral vision, he could sense the princess inspecting him. She was incredibly observant, able to see straight through someone’s heart with just a few seconds. It always unnerved Zoro how good she was at it, even taking into account their history, but he knew it was necessary for a princess to know her allies and enemies.

“Y’know, you’ve always been a brat,” Perona sighed, paying no mind to Zoro grunting in indignation, “but you’ve always been pretty honest and straightforward. I’ve always liked that about you! Seeing you like this… depresses me.”

He didn’t enjoy being like this either.

“It’s a shame we had to leave,” she continued, content to carry the conversation. “Despite that place having none of my preferred styling, nor the royalty being that kind, I was really warming up to Prince Sanji! He made the best meals and was surprisingly gentle-hearted… I was even starting to think I really liked him.” Her beloved bodyguard coughed and sputtered around his mouthful of canteen water.

“You were actually falling for that pervy prince?!” Zoro shouted, whipping his head towards her in shock. “I know he just saved your life, but—”

“No, idiot,” Perona snickered, amused by her bodyguard’s wild eyes, “I said I liked him, not loved. Between his obnoxious swooning and cheesy poetry, he had plenty of good qualities for a husband, but I doubt it would’ve gone that far. When you talked to him, you could see him giving everything he had to you. Even if he wasn’t in love with you.”

Zoro bristled. “Did he say that he didn’t love you? You should have told me, I would have hacked the guy—”

Perona laughed again, pushing Zoro’s shoulder playfully. “No, no, stop jumping to conclusions, you’re not great at reaching destinations!! I’m certain he loved me and cared about me, but it was clear he wasn’t in love with me either. He didn’t say such a thing out loud, but his eyes are really honest; I could tell that if the wedding went through, he’d treat me like he adored me and give me everything I asked for, but his heart wouldn’t be mine alone.”

She turned to give the knight an insufferably knowing look. He turned away.

“It seems he needs to be more choosy with who he gives his heart to,” Zoro said.

“Ohh, I don’t think you give Sanji enough credit, Sir Roronoa,” Perona replied, a teasing lilt to it. She tilted her head, her big eyes gazing straight through him again. “Sanji might seem flighty and foolish, but he has his moments. Can you honestly say you weren’t at all charmed by our dear traitorous prince?”

Zoro sighed, turning his gaze to the fire, briefly watching the flames dance against the stone.

In those gentle licks of flames, he saw a dancing prince.

In the campfire, he saw towering windows lit up from the dazzling ball inside, celebrating a betrothal. Inside those walls, the prince was as elegant and personable as ever, spouting out sonnets to every woman who entered his radius, even as his siblings jeered and disparaged him to the other nobles. Inside those walls, Zoro remained at his princess’s side for most of the night, glaring away unwanted guests and watching the newly engaged couple gracefully waltz across the overly ornate hall.

But outside those walls, lost in the gentle night lights of the garden, a knight found a golden prince who was laying across a bed of daffodils, laughing with his whole chest and absolutely smashed on champagne. He grabbed Zoro’s hand to hoist himself up, even though the bodyguard didn’t offer it, and begged for a dance. His body moved like water to a jaunty tune muffled by ancient stone, practically possessed. It wasn’t at all elegant or calculated like his ballroom dancing, but Zoro would be remiss to say it wasn’t far more enchanting. The goofy grin never left his flushed face, even as he failed to adjust his crooked circlet.

The Zoro in the fire was laughing, intoxicated by the energy as he moved his feet with Sanji’s.

Zoro closed his eyes, afterimages burned in the back of his eyelids.

Shit.

“Zoro, I think you’ve made a mistake.”

He opened his eyes again, just barely moving his head towards his princess. He didn’t need to turn further to see the gentle smile on her face.

“It seems you’ve carelessly left something back at that damned castle!” She said, her laugh suddenly quieter. “Are you going to go back and retrieve it?”

Zoro couldn’t help it as a rueful smile tugged his lips. “I can’t just leave you alone, princess.”

“Oh, I’ll be just fine without you,” Perona scoffed, waving her hand between them. “Unlike you, I recognize the terrain well enough to navigate, and I’m not adorned in my royal garb so I’m unlikely to be caught. I’m not a fish out of water when dealing with locals.”

“You’ll still be in trouble when you get to the docks,” Zoro sighed, his resolve crumbling. “Some unsavory types are bound to be there. And I hate to make you wait by yourself.”

“Oh, well, then you’ll just have to make sure you don’t make me wait that long! And you should know better than anyone that I’m not too shabby in a fight, Zoro.” She punctuated her sentence with a wink, patting her lace parasol that hid a blade within its handle. “I’d be a powerful asset to your mission, but it’d make a certain prince upset if we both dove back into danger, huh?”

Despite his attempts to resist, the knight laughed. With a small heave, Zoro stood back up. “Alright, Your Highness, I get it, I surrender. I’ll make haste.”

“The horse you rode here was Sanji’s personal steed,” the princess pointed out, swaying back and forth with impatience. “So I’m sure he’ll bring you back to him safely.”

He grumbled something about not needing help as snatched his blades from their resting place against a tree. As he started to untie his horse, he could see the misty hues of dawn break over through the thicket.

That damned prince better wait for him, just a little longer.

Chapter Text

Sanji hesitated for only a moment when the guards arrived.

When he had reawakened that morning, the royal chef Zeff was about to break his damn door down, grumbling that he missed breakfast. Ignoring the ache in his heart that recognized the familiar mannerisms, the prince couldn’t remember the last time the old man went through the effort to bring him his meal. Even when he slept in, there’d be a reserved plate with a cloche just outside his door, but it was never brought so directly. However, as he grabbed his tray of food with earnest thanks, Zeff averted his gaze in discomfort. 

In a low boom, he admitted that the King requested Sanji’s audience when he finished eating. 

The prince stared down at the decadent plate of eggs, fruits, pan-seared meats, and bread. Not a bad potential last meal. 

He tried his best to convey just how grateful he was without showing his apprehension; in the years before the engagement, he’d wake up at sunrise just to work with the head chef in secret, and he didn’t regret it even when his father caught him. He wanted to give him a proper goodbye, but it was caught in his throat. Zeff was never one for big shows of affection, so when he placed his hand on the prince’s head before departing, Sanji nearly broke down on the spot.

He thought that he’d feel nauseous as he made his way to the throne room, or at least some sort of existential pressure for what awaits him, but the prince felt strangely stable. Maybe he already went through the stages of grief. Or perhaps he was so deep in denial that he couldn’t see the light anymore. Either way, he was content to feel any sense of calm; with each step, Sanji pieced together the passive mask he always adorned in his father’s presence.

The afternoon sun cast down on him through the tall stained glass windows, painting the hall in brilliant watercolor light. A dazzling sight for a man walking to the gallows. 

Sanji closed his eyes.

He’d be lying if he said the knight didn’t immediately draw his eye when they arrived a few months ago. After all, he had a bold look to him, his dark armor and black eyepatch contrasting his plant-colored hair. While he was certainly intimidating, he was also easy on the eyes, oozing confidence. Of course, Sanji pushed those observations down the minute they surfaced; if he was to make this political marriage work, he needed to put everything into loving Princess Perona. He tried to focus on that instead.

And try he did! It wasn’t difficult; while she had her quirks and wasn’t necessarily head-over-heels for the prince (he wasn’t so dense that he couldn’t tell), she was infinitely curious and intelligent, always providing something to the conversation. She liked things her way and had no trouble asserting herself, but was still caring enough to not be harsh or rude. He could see a nice life with her, as he could with most women he met. But constantly, that knight was THERE at her side making some snide comment, acting without thinking, or generally being a thorn in his side, in his peripheral, a constant reminder. 

He was strong, stubborn, and possibly the most annoying man alive. 

It drove Sanji to the brink of insanity seeing him everywhere, to the point where the prince started seeing the brute even when he was nowhere in the vicinity. He would drift into the limbo between sleep and wakefulness, only to jolt upright realizing he was thinking of him. He wanted to fight this, to battle, because that’s how he was raised, because a Vinsmoke fought to establish control and distance, because if he finally had a blade to his neck he could finally get through his own head.

Yet, even as he tried to catch his breath underneath the knight’s blade, Sanji felt weirdly… safe? He struggled to find the right word, even now. Here, in the privacy of the woods, he looked up at the smug bastard’s face and felt so different, so invigorated, despite the loss; had it been his family, he would be beaten and shamed for daring to fail. There was never love in a fight, only hurt, and even having his back hit the ground sent a spike of anxiety through his body. But this wasn’t some lesson or some form of punishment by way of his ruthless siblings.

Just honest competition.

And it made his pulse fucking race.

He wished he could say he didn’t fall hard, but he always did. He tried to separate the feelings and tell himself it was doomed—doomed because he was to be wed to another, because love for him was always doomed from the start, love would never find him that easily—but his heart wouldn’t listen. He’d constantly search for that patch of green in the golden sun, concocting some excuse to bother the knight. He’d dream of calloused fingers entwined with his, cradling his chin, twisting around a strand of his hair. And he’d pick daffodils and weave them together in some futile attempt to quell his thoughts, watching Zoro happily chat with the princess from afar.

Did he really start to fall for a man over something as simple as the absence of cruelty?

The concept felt so novel that Sanji couldn’t help but laugh under his breath, rounding the corner towards the throne room. Well, putting it like that was really simplifying it, but it didn’t matter. He knew his heart, the traitorous thing. Even as he caught the sight of King Judge, the crowned tower of cruelty, Sanji knew he’d do it all again in a heartbeat. 

He would readily bleed for Zoro.

The air in the throne room was oppressive, as always. Bright whites, reds, and golds assaulted the senses, the marble shining from the constant polish of overworked staff. Usually the hall was empty save for the daily guard, even when an audience was called by the king, yet today the floors were practically flooded with soldiers. He felt their stares follow him as he walked along the velvet carpet.

As he politely bowed, Sanji’s gaze couldn’t help but wander to the second, unoccupied throne. When he was young, bright bouquets of flowers and offerings from citizens sat there, protecting her place. Now, it merely collected dust. From his peripheral, he could spot his siblings, all dutifully lined up for the show. He knew he shouldn’t, but he risked tilting his head slightly to take one last look at their cruel expressions.

Sanji was more than used to his family’s sadistic tendencies, even his more charitable sister indulging in her place of power occasionally. It was plain on their faces whenever they caught his eye, always in the middle of snickering or gossiping or outright shouting taunts and insults at him. Yet Reiju’s face reflected something different.

She looked… pensive. Pitying, in a way he hadn’t seen before.

He took a deep breath, steeling himself further before the sharp tap of a spear against marble brought his attention back to the king at his throne.

“King Judge,” Sanji greeted, “to what do I owe these summons?”

“I suppose you think yourself clever, son?” Judge smirked, though there was no mirth behind it. There rarely was. Sanji could feel his face threaten to twitch, but he kept himself collected.

“I'm not sure what you are referring to, Your Majesty,” Sanji said, voice even and light despite the circumstances. He could see Judge’s fingers curl around the throne arm.

“The guard reported that you requested assistance to deal with a possible intruder,” Judge remarked, voice deceivingly level as he gestured with his spear. “You were in the wing by the castle garden, and led them to the opposite wing. Strangely, the intruder was never found, if my information is correct. Yet, imagine my shock when this morning, the princess and her escort were missing from their designated suite— a large, heavily monitored room that possessed a lovely view of the gardens.”

Like the man could feel shock in his coal heart. The failing prince kept his smile up.

“I did request assistance, though I am not sure what exactly—”

“Enough!!!” The king’s voice boomed, making Sanji finally flinch, along with everyone else in the hall. Judge suddenly stood, the guards immediately parting for him like tall grass against a mighty wind. He marched towards his third son, the sound of his boots echoing through the throne room. Sanji couldn’t help but gulp, trying his best to keep the mask on, even as he knew what was approaching.

“Do not play me for a fool, boy,” Judge growled, bending over just slightly to glower over Sanji. “You are the only one in this castle that’s brainless enough to defy me and let another princess escape.”

Sanji tried not to remember a girl with caramel brown hair.

He tried not to remember the chill of the dungeon for those months thereafter.

He tried not to remember his regrets.

Come with us.

He tried not to exhale too harshly, biting his tongue.

“Your foolish bleeding heart,” Judge snarled, “has put your country in jeopardy. Perhaps, if I make an example of you personally, I can finally make you understand what doing things for others is worth. You will understand what your useless infatuation leaves you with.”

You let yourself be miserable by staying here!

Something burned within him.

A righteous fury boiled deep in his gut, smoldering as it filled his lungs with smoke. He clenched his fists as his heart threatened to burst forth, holding back the fire he feared he’d breathe. Even as he gazed directly into his father’s cold eyes, Sanji saw something else. His mind traced the image of a face he’d never see again, looking back at him with his teeth bared.

You’re so willing to give up your happiness, your life, for your so-called love?

He felt his nails dig into his palm, trying desperately to keep him grounded. Keep the mask up, be calm, be still, you’ve already accepted everything, just take it with whatever grace and dignity you still possess. But before his rational mind could tamp down the flame and stop his body from moving of its own accord—

The prince spat.

Right onto his father’s polished boot.

Distantly, through the roaring of blood in his ears, he heard gasps from the guard and attendants. If his siblings made a sound, he couldn’t hear it. Which was just as well, as his gaze hardened and focused solely on his ‘father.’

“What do you know of love?” His voice was loud enough to echo throughout the entire hall. “What do you know of worth? Of loyalty? You don’t see anyone as anything other than another tool. And I refuse to be the same!”

From his cape, he procured a dagger—the same accursed dagger that his father tasked him with using—and threw it at his feet with a deafening clang as it hit stone. 

“Even if you break my body, I will refuse.”

He could see in his peripheral the guards all take a defensive stance.

Good. Whether by the brutality of soldiers or that of his father, he was going to go out his way.

The king let the fury behind his eyes flare, his true colors finally leaking through his kingly aura as he scowled. It was clear that the time for words had passed, Judge wordlessly raising his hand to signal the guards. Beside him, he could see a foot soldier—a younger recruit, full of vigor—move first to stab Sanji’s side. In one swift motion, Sanji unclasped the chain holding his robe and flung it into the face of the knight, whipping his leg in the next motion in a sweeping kick that sent him careening into the crowd.

From there, the entire hall erupted into chaos.

Soldier after soldier rushed towards him, flinging weapons and chains at the prince, while Sanji threw kicks and dodges in retaliation. Judge made no move himself to fight, of course, only letting his guards push Sanji further away with their scuffle as he spectated. Shockingly, none of his siblings cared to join, not even to just get some cheap shots in. But the fighting prince didn’t have time to dwell on that as he instinctively raised his arm to block something aiming for his head.

An iron shackle, rough and rusted from age, had shot out from the crowd of guards to clamp around Sanji’s left wrist, yanking hard enough to nearly sprain it. Growling, the prince pulled enough to leverage his leg between his hand and the chain, swinging it down to break it. As he dodged swords, halberds, maces, and chains, Sanji knew on some level his fate was sealed. But hell if he wasn’t going to break as much shit as he could, swinging and weaving through everything that sought to take him down.

He could hear a distant uproar, the mark of some disturbance, but he had no time to regard it between his footwork. He knocked through several guards at once, their strength only in numbers as he practically punted through them. He felt his breathing falter, but his body felt alive, the desperation that marked every round of training kicking back into overdrive. 

But of course, when it came down to it, he never won a single training session.

Metal bit into both of his wrists, shackles chafing against them as he pulled. Shit, he wasn’t attentive enough, they managed to get his blind spot. He didn’t want to pull so hard as to break his hands, but they were trying to drag him, and he yelled out in anger, because he still had some fight in him. Because he still remembered what he did all this for, and how it was worth it, and because even if it was unrequited, it was love—

His attention was pulled back to that uproar he heard earlier, suddenly resounding closer.

Underneath the fringe of his bangs, he spotted the glint of a sword that didn’t belong amongst the slew of uniform guard blades.

No, not a sword. He spotted three .

Sanji could barely breathe as a familiar patch of green hair arose from the crowd, effortlessly cutting through the metal links that shackled Sanji, moving to parry several soldiers in one fell swoop. A blade in each hand, with one still in its sheath, the knight in a brown cape and black armor stood with his back between the prince and the guard. With all his usual cockiness, Zoro looked over his shoulder with his one good eye and flashed his canines with a grin.

Sanji’s eyes welled up, though nothing fell. Ohhh, if they managed to survive, he was going to kill that swordsman.

“Prince!” The one-eyed knight called breathlessly, not waiting for a response before chucking one of his swords to Sanji. Keeping the momentum, Sanji caught the katana and slashed behind him, disarmed a few more royal guards. All the sword lessons that King Judge drilled into the family’s heads frantically flipped behind his eyes, trying to remind him of proper stances and shit, but he couldn’t focus on that. He just went on pure instinct, even if wielding one of Zoro’s precious blades felt heavy in his hand.

“Bastard,” he wheezed, the two pressed back-to-back. “That could’ve sliced my chest, or worse, my hands!”

Zoro smiled wickedly. “Well, luckily it didn’t! What’s the plan?”

“The plan? ” Sanji yelled incredulously, turning his head to stare wide-eyed at the knight. “Are you actually telling me you—” Another shackle shot out from the crowd to clasp Sanji’s right leg, interrupting his anger as he deftly sliced the chain links off. Shit, he had no time to dawdle with their usual banter. He had intended just to fight as best he could, but if Zoro was here— and gods above he’s here , right in front of him— he needed to get him out. But even as they were making short work of guards in their immediate vicinity, there were so many, and now Sanji could hear his brothers struggling against Reiju in some attempt to join the fray.

“The plan is not to die, you sot!” Sanji shouted, the harsh ring of steel against steel reverberating so loudly in his ears that he almost didn't hear Zoro’s grunt in affirmative. The knight was already carving a path back towards the throne room’s entrance, their closest and only viable exit short of breaking some windows.

The echo of boots stomping heavily cut through the chaos.

Dread chilled him down to his bones, halting his fight. Sanji felt the king’s presence advancing fast, just behind him, and only had a breath’s time to spin backwards to meet the attack of his father. 

He only barely managed to parry the spear before taking a harsh blow to his side as the king quickly twisted the weapon back around. He groaned, stumbling as he heard the swordsman call after him, but he waved a hand behind him, urging Zoro to stay back and keep paving the way.

Judge’s face was aflame in anger, his grip on his spear strong enough to crack skulls. He wasn’t sure if this particular fury was a result of Zoro’s appearance, or of Sanji's refusal to go down easily, but it was clear the king wasn’t satisfied letting the cavalry handle this. He pointed the spearhead at his third son and thrusted, Sanji managing to dodge as the weapon hit a nearby guard’s armor. He managed to parry the next attack, but again the king moved to hit Sanji with the blunt side, this time hitting the side of his head with a hiss.

This was it.

Sanji felt his own nerves flare into action, a well-placed roundhouse hitting Judge’s spear hard enough to nearly disarm him. The prince took the opening to quickly place his hands on the floor, springing himself upward to pierce a kick underneath Judge’s jaw, with a sickening crack. He could hear his father roar in pain, gripping his jaw as he readjusted his grip around his spear. Even though he was quick to recover, Sanji flinched as he felt a pain in his side while landing. Judge seized the opportunity and pointed the spearhead towards Sanji’s chest.

Again, a familiar glint of steel came into vision, parrying the spear away just moments before it could skewer Sanji. Despite all his power and bravado, Judge’s fatigue was finally catching up, causing him to stumble away. That was all the opening the two needed for Zoro to sheath his blades and clasp Sanji’s wrist.

“Let’s go!” Zoro called, tugging him towards the doors over a carpet of bodies.

In the distance, he heard his family yell after him.

Despite the temptation, Sanji didn’t look back.

Even though Zoro was the one tightly grabbing Sanji’s hand, it’s clear the prince was pulling them in the correct pathways with a long, powerful sprint. His brain was running too fast to even consider some quip about the green knight’s sense of direction, weaving through the confused and panicked castle staff. He thought about which of the many castle exits they could utilize, but he doubted they would be unguarded. As servants and maids ran screaming down the halls, Sanji rationalized the chefs would have similarly cleared out from the cacophony of the grand hall. Sure enough, his feet led the way that he had walked countless times before, the kitchen practically deserted when they rounded the corner.

All except for one man.

Zeff.

Seeing the old chef standing with his arms crossed in the empty royal kitchen brought Sanji back to when he snuck in to practice at night as a child. The one place he felt safe, besides his lonely tower. He tries not to dwell on the memories, though his expression must be severe because Zeff looked tense. Even Zoro tried to keep his panting quiet behind him, a heavy silence permeating the room. Down the long hall, the clamor of guards drew closer.

Zeff turned his back to them, and for a moment Sanji’s heart dropped.

“Here, under the fish barrels,” Zeff whispered urgently, pointing to the back corner of the room. “Push them aside.”

Sanji was frozen in place, still processing the words as Zoro sprung to action, the knight shoving the barrels away with ease. Underneath was an old, rusted manhole.

“Shortcut to the waterways,” Zeff supplied curtly, still looking away from the two. “Not used anymore. Quickly, now.”

Sanji finally snapped out of his stupor enough to nod at Zoro, letting him descend first. As he crouched down, the prince dared one last look back at the chef, his eyes wide and misty.

“Zeff—”

The roar of a furious king echoed through the castle, the shouts starting to close in.

“Go, little eggplant,” Zeff commanded, not turning back towards Sanji. Yet despite the bravado, he could hear the slightest crack in his booming voice. A sniffle escaped before he could lower the iron cover behind him.

They’ve made it.

Zoro gulped down a deep, long breath, feeling his pulse race as he steadied himself against the mossy stone wall. Shit, they weren’t out of the woods yet, but they were out of that hideous place. The sounds of the Vinsmokes—of the damned king—trying to tear apart the castle were so distant, it could barely be heard against the dripping of water. He had to spare a glance back at the runaway prince stepping off the ladder to confirm this was real.

He clutched his heart in place of grabbing Sanji’s hand. Here, in the calm of their escape route, a knight like Zoro might expect to hear words of praise or gratitude from their royal companion.

“You imbecilic moss-for-brains bastard…”

Yeah, well, that’s what Zoro really expected.

Even in the low light of the underground canal, the prince’s rage was clear, face reddened beyond his typical, playful fury. His venom was only slightly marred by his injuries that kept him from standing at full height. 

“How dare you barge in like that?!” He yelled, aggressively tossing the knight’s borrowed sword back to him.

Zoro scoffed, easily catching the blade and bending down to wipe the blood off before he sheathed it. “Only you could frame a rescue mission like that, Prince Curls.”

“I didn’t ask to be rescued,” Sanji growled.

Now it was Zoro’s turn to glare daggers. “I apologize, Your Highness, for my limited eyesight does have its drawbacks. Perhaps, was the scene I encountered NOT you fending off the brutality of your father and the entirety of the royal guard? Did I NOT have to slice through fucking handcuffs slapped on your precious wrists?? Did the king NOT try to stab you???”

Sanji bristled, his gaze averting to the ground. “That’s not—! What was even the point of all that if you just fucking came back?! I’ll remind you, since your brain must have leaked out your head and gotten lost: the point of it was to make sure you and the princess got away safely!!”

“Perona’s fine,” Zoro supplied casually, looking down the corridor. “She’s waiting for us, so hurry up.”

“You were included in that sentence, dumbass!!” Sanji snarled, shooting a hand out to catch the knight’s shoulder from turning away. His voice was rough and his breathing was getting ragged, clearly still running on leftover adrenaline. “I had resigned myself to my fate, but I was going to go out on my terms!! You could’ve gotten yourself killed out there!!!”

“You’re the dumbass!!” Zoro roared back, pulling the ex-prince up by his ripped collar so their noses were practically touching. “I don’t remember giving a damn about your stupid terms!! After all, you said it yourself: I owe no loyalty to you!!"

Sanji opened his mouth to shout something back but Zoro couldn't take it anymore; with a swift tug, he smashed their lips together. God he was annoying but his heart still hammered in his chest because fuck he made it in time, Sanji was still alive and here and warm like the sunlight. He’s sure their lips were bruised and bleeding as he could faintly taste copper, but Zoro couldn’t care less. He carded his hand through Sanji’s fair, mussed locks as the prince reciprocated, the two melted together in a painful, beautiful collision.

When he pulled away, the prince’s dazed, love-stricken face was the loveliest sight; even if he was born a poet instead of a knight, Zoro doubted he could ever properly convey it. The blush adorning the disgraced prince’s face was soft but so alluring, his long blond bangs pushed back to display his full face, even if it revealed some new bruises. His blue eyes shimmered against the reflections in the water, even in the darkness of the waterway, and his curly brows still had a slight scrunch in lingering anger. Though it was an adorable sight, Zoro could also sense all the other feelings underneath, like his apprehension and doubt. He wanted nothing else than to wash them away.

“Why’d you come back..?” Sanji murmured, his voice barely enough to carry an echo. 

“I said it wasn’t over,” Zoro stated, taking Sanji’s hand. “And I keep my oaths.”

He brought the hand up to his lips, planting a gentle kiss against the prince’s knuckles.

There was a long silence before a sound rang out through the corridor.

A laugh, an infectious laugh, fell from the prince’s lips and skipped across the waterworn stone. His face scrunched up as he nearly hunched over with tears in his eyes. Even with the exhaustion and the blood, he looked so young. Zoro couldn’t help but laugh too. Here they were, two battered idiots that thought themselves running on opposite frequencies, when truly they had been only a beat apart. Finally, they fell into a strange synchronicity.

Their sweet moment was short-lived, however; Sanji coughed harshly, the unpleasant sound interrupting his joy. The blush quickly turned pale, the prince stumbling with a pained groan as an arm shot to his side. A less lovely red bloomed through his white shirt, right against his hip; a cracked rib, most likely.

“Shit,” Zoro hissed, rushing over to gingerly hold Sanji’s waist. He squirmed against the contact with an indignant ‘I’m fine’ on his lips before Zoro interrupted. “For the love of all things good, I don’t want to hear protests. Hold on tight and let’s go.”

His glare left no room for the prince’s usual arguments as he swiftly unclasped his own cape and swung it around Sanji’s shoulders, turning to offer his back and shoulder to support him. The fight had clearly drained out of him, the blond runaway tightly gripping onto the knight’s far shoulder. With a grunt, Zoro started to steadily walk the two towards the end of the tunnel, keeping an ear out for any signs of pursuit. The runaway prince snickered as best he could through the apparent pain. 

“You’re so noble, Sir Roronoa,” he cooed, “You make me swoon.” 

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s the blood loss.” Zoro grinned. “They really got you.”

Sanji let out another weak laugh, cut off with a grunt as his body staggered. Zoro looked down to Sanji’s leg, finding a shackle still attached. 

“It’s nothing, really. I think we made it out pretty well-off for two fools without a plan. How are we even getting back to the princess?”

“Well, I actually did plan some things,” Zoro grunted. “I thought about riding your horse right through the castle, but decided against it. She’s waiting at the forest edge, tied up out of sight.”

“I hate that I can easily imagine you driving that poor girl through a crowd of armed guards,” Sanji sighed. “Good to know you had the sense not to abandon Meringue for some insane plan.”

“I’m sorry you had to leave everything else behind,” Zoro uttered, tone suddenly more serious. Sanji didn’t say anything, letting the silence stretch between them.

Zoro thought back to the prince’s tower, with all his recipe books, tools, and trinkets strewn around, made golden by the sunset. He knew Sanji was never the materialistic type, but he was certainly sentimental. Everything and everyone he ever kept close to his heart was handled with such love and care, it even made Zoro a bit sad on his behalf. 

“It’s okay,” Sanji finally murmured, a shrug implied in his tone. “I was abandoning them one way or another.”

“Still, I know some stuff was really precious to you.”

Sanji was silent again for a minute. “One precious thing survived… That’s enough.”

A flush rose onto the knight’s cheeks, feeling lucky that Sanji probably couldn’t spot his stupid grin. 

“Zoro,” Sanji whispered, so softly that goosebumps ran up Zoro’s neck. “I’ve always dreamed of seeing the ocean.”

Zoro tilted his head back towards him. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.” Sanji’s head slumped. “It always looked so lovely, like it was calling to me.”

“Well, you’re in luck. You'll have your chance. C’mon, light’s getting closer,” Zoro ushered. Sanji shifted as another cough wracked his body, his weight pressing just a little harder on the soldier’s back.

“Can I c… confess something, Zoro?” Sanji rasped. “Before I bleed out and all.”

Zoro gritted his teeth. “Stop talking, you’re not gonna bleed out.”

“I was betrothed before Perona.”

Zoro tried not to let his pace stutter too much while he kept leading them down the stony corridor. Sanji still laughed, sensing his hesitation.

“It was a few years ago. This young princess arrived to unite our kingdoms. I was excited because I…” He paused to clear his throat. “Well, you know. The king was always itching to put my silly heart to his advantage. I never got out of the castle enough to find love so I hoped this… this would be love finding me.”

“You talk a lot for a guy bleeding out, Sanji—”

“She tried to kill me in my sleep,” the prince continued. Again, he laughed, like it was all some grand joke, even if Zoro wouldn’t laugh with him. “I forget the reason. Maybe she was commanded to do it by her mother. I think on some level she must have just hated me, but she was just scared and wanted out. I didn’t say anything about it when I caught her, just told her I was sorry and went back to sleep. She escaped that night.”

The first thing Zoro thought of was the brutalization Sanji must have received. “I’m sorry.”

Sanji chuckled, his weak laughs getting rougher. “It’s alright. It was easier to play dumb then. That’s probably why… why he asked me to do it. To kill Perona. To prove I was not a completely worthless son that couldn’t get killed right. But I couldn’t, I can’t, I’m j… just a coward.”

“You know you’re not a coward.”

“Yeah, well. I only got the courage to sh-show you how I felt when we were… never going to meet again. And even then, it was an accident.”

Zoro sighed through his nose. “I think it’s far more cowardly for a king—a father, no less—to act like tough shit when he mostly just sics other people to do his dirty work. The way I see it, he’s a bad metric. I’d have killed the bastard if it wouldn’t have caused a national incident.”

“I wouldn’t want his blood on your hands,” Sanji sighed. “It’s foul blood, you shouldn’t touch the stuff.”

“See? At least you have principles, even if they’re stupidly sacrificial at times.”

He could feel Sanji’s smile, humming against his back. “Said the kettle to the pot.”

They both fell quiet as the exit came into sight, Zoro squinting against the sunlight. There, as the waterway met the river and the stone made way for grass and weeds, a familiar forest came into view just a small distance ahead.

“Sanji,” Zoro called.

“...Hm?”

“You were right, in the end.”

“Of course I was,” he chuckled, without missing a beat. “You need to be more specific, Sir Mossy.”

Zoro had to take a deep inhale before he uttered what he needed to. “Love did manage to find you.”

He felt the freed prince’s breath hitch as the golden warmth of the evening sun washed over them.