Prove It Means Something

[mettathron.livejournal.com]

Another story in the Angst Challenge continuity. Should likely be read after "Delirium". This really wasn't supposed to be a series, I swear. I just keep missing the ending I wanted.

Title: Worth Fighting For
Word Count: 293
Topic: Off (Angst Challenge)
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Characters belong to Eiichiro Oda



If something were important to you, you’d remember it.

Something was missing. There was something Zoro was forgetting, and whatever it was, it had to do with Sanji. Of that much, he was certain, though he couldn’t tell what specifically was wrong. It had been wrong ever since the quiet, calm conversation they had in the kitchen.


If it held meaning for you, you’d keep it close.

He kept expecting Sanji to shatter. The pencil-thin lines of grief etched on his pale face remained burned into the swordsman’s memory, so faint and brief he thought he imagined them. After all, the cook still fought with him the same as always. Verbal spats, physical spars, as readily available as the air they breathed.

If it were worthwhile, you’d cherish it.

There was something off about Sanji, though, something cold and distant in his eyes. Hidden deep behind the fiery temper and sharp words was a piece of his soul that Zoro couldn’t touch anymore. Once, he could have claimed it all; Sanji never did anything truly by halves, and giving up even a little of his heart meant he gave it all. The amicable arrangement between them had developed into something more than Zoro wanted to handle, so he ended it. It was a panicked reaction to the overwhelming flood of Sanji’s passion, but the cook didn’t put up any kind of fight.

If I meant anything to you…

Sanji flinched at the word “always”, and the realization hit him like a dull knife through the stomach. It meant something to them both, unspoken and unwilling though it was. Zoro wouldn’t have felt the aftermath so keenly if it had not.

He broke his promise… and Sanji let him.

You would have fought for me.

Comments

[ptps.livejournal.com]

Stop breaking my heart so many times in less than a month, damn it! *shatters*

He broke his promise… and Sanji let him.

This line hurt so physically much. I felt that damn knife. Argh. You write such awesome, heart-rending angst.

I'm not gonna read anything of yours for a while until I've finished stitching my heart back together T___T;;;

[mettathron.livejournal.com]

O,o! ::liberal application of glue and tape:: I'm sorry! I was trying to get a happy ending...

What if I write you something happy? Would that help? T-T

[ptps.livejournal.com]

You? Write something happy? XD;;

...isn't glue acidic, by the way? *watches heart sizzle into smoke* O.o;;;

[mettathron.livejournal.com]

Not all glue... Depends on what kind you get. The world of adhesives is a fascinating place. -,-;; Don't worry, I use the non-toxic, non-acidic, archival type on people's hearts.

Anything specific you'd like, or just general fluff? I'll do my best to fill it with light and joy! ... however that goes...

[ptps.livejournal.com]

Eeeee, you serious?? :D *bounces* I'll do a doodle/drabble for you in return too, then; I'd feel bad taking something without giving anything back. ^^u

And I shall be mean: I request Luffy/Usopp fluff. >D

Whatcha want back? :D And thank youuu ;__;

[mettathron.livejournal.com]

Posted. (http://community.livejournal.com/onepieceyaoi100/460418.html)

Squee! Priscilla Art! If you could do a picture for one of the angst challenge fics (either Promises, Delirium, or Worth Fighting For), I'd be blissing.

[ptps.livejournal.com]

*hyperventilates* O-o-oh gods. I'm done. (http://community.livejournal.com/onepieceyaoi/477525.html) I really hope you like it. ;__;

[lacquerdragon.livejournal.com]

I totally, totally concur with ptps. Broken heart at the last line. I'm kind of tearing up and I never cry at fics, not even that one when Sanji's legs get smashed by the mast. ;_;

See Hatori? He's amazed and bewildered at the sadness.

[mettathron.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much. ::offers tissues:: You're not going to stop reading too, are you? ^^;

[lacquerdragon.livejournal.com]

No, no, I'm an emotional masochist. -takes and cries all over tissues-

[mettathron.livejournal.com]

I actually wrote this fic just for those last two lines. They're the only ones I was sure were really strong and water-tight in the whole drabble. I'm glad you enjoyed it, though.

[vampire-otaku.livejournal.com]

Your angst just kills me every time. And somehow I come back to life so you can kill me all over again...

The pencil-thin lines of grief etched on his pale face remained burned into the swordsman’s memory, so faint and brief he thought he imagined them. So utterly heartrending, this mental picture is.

He broke his promise… and Sanji let him. Wow. Just... wow. My heart has broken into a thousand tiny pieces.

[mettathron.livejournal.com]

^^; Well, I'm glad you keep coming back. Thanks for reading, despite the pain.

[fieryredqueen.livejournal.com]

how thoroughly, encompassingly sad. good thing the boys suck so much at communicating, otherwise we wouldn't have this angst to marvel over.

[mettathron.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It's a sorry thing that we get so much enjoyment from their pain, but they just make it so easy. ^^;

[yuki-kokoro.livejournal.com]

*sniffles... and whimpers*

If I meant anything to you...
You would have fought for me.

NO NO NO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! STUPID STUPID ZORO!!! HE DID IT BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU AND DIDN'T WANT YOU TO STAY WITH HIM JUST BECAUSE OF A STUPID PROMISE AND HE WANTED YOU TO BE HAPPY AND SET YOU FREE LIKE EVERY SAPPY LOVE THING EVER!!!! AND NOW YOU KNOW!!!!

HE LOVES YOU YOU BASTARD AND YOU LOVE HIM AND YOU'D BETTER GO FIND HIM AND TELL HIM HE WAS A WHINEY LITTLE BITCH TO LET YOU GO AND THEN HE'LL SCREAM THAT HE DIDN'T WANT YOU TO STAY WITH HIM OUT OF OBLIGATION AND BE UNHAPPY AND YOU'LL BOTH YELL AND SCREAM THEN POSSIBLY CRY AND I-PRAY-TO-GOD KISS AND MAKE-UP!!!!

*breathes*

Please tell me there's more... *whimpers again* please?

[mettathron.livejournal.com]

Heh. When Sanji and Zoro manage to see eye-to-eye on something, it usually means something is going to get beaten, and badly.

I'd love to tell you there's more, but at the moment, it's not taking shape in my head. I think I've super-saturated the list with angst lately, and unless I can get some fluff or something otherwise pleasant out to the list, I fear I'll dull the audience. ^^; So, we'll see how things work out.

[paxnirvana.livejournal.com]

Zoro NO BAKA!!!! AARRGHH! This does NOT GET you out of SAYING IT in the FIRST PLACE!! You made him CRY, kuso marimo!!! He's giving you what you said you wanted... because you matter to him. Coward. IDIOT.

[Hee. And here I am totally involved in teh stupid stubborn proud boi angst... And loving it! *basks in it*]

[mango-32.livejournal.com]

I can't believe I only catched this drabble now...(how could I have missed it?*slaps self*);_; omg...*is in tears* In my mind I'm hoping Zoro would take him back...poor Sanji.