Chapter Text
Zoro turns around for a fourth time in the forest clearing he’s found himself in.
He definitely isn’t lost.
The moon is a waning crescent up in the sky, but still shines brightly amongst the trees around him. Stars are speckled in wavering collections of light around it and down over the sapphire dome of the night. At the very least, he was thankful it wasn’t pitch black. He’d had that happen a few times, too.
Worst case scenario, he did have some matches with him this time. Though a measly 1-inch flame wouldn’t do him much good. He supposes he could just tear off a bit of his robe to wrap around a stick- use that as a torch. He tucks the idea away for later.
Instead, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out the wanted poster Nami had given him. It’s rolled up and crinkled, and even when smoothing it out over his knee with a firm hand he can barely make out what’s printed on it in the night’s illumination. He knows what it says, and it’s not like it’ll help him, so he’s not sure why he pulled it out.
Wanted. Vampire Gecko Moria. Dead only. 320,000,000 Berries.
Yep. Pretty self-explanatory. Zoro stuffs it back into his pocket with a growl and faces the clearing with a newly invigorated frown.
He’d come to Blue Town earlier that morning, found an inn, claimed a room, and spent the rest of the day figuring out how to make it to Thriller Bark, the town over, the one where his target was actually supposed to be. Staying in the smaller town nearby made it less likely to raise the suspicions of his target. It also gave him twice as many chances to get turned around.
He reaches up to scratch at his head. He was headed east, right? Thriller Bark was supposed to be east of Blue Town. So to get back, he just needed to head…South.
Easy peasy.
He was about to turn on his heel to do just that when he picked up the sound of a lighter flicking on.
—
Sanji is out in the forest that night looking for something to curb his appetite.
Although he’s craving the blood of a pretty woman, as always- it's something he'll never allow himself to have. Kissing them, of course- making love to them- obviously , but biting them? Gods, no. He’d never ask such a thing of a lady. Much as he wants it, he won't.
The one time he had, back when he was a teenager, still young and impressionable and stupid, Zeff had almost smashed his head in when he found out. Lesson learned. And greatly internalized.
Men? That he’d allow. Begrudgingly, but it wasn't the worst thing on earth. He supposed men weren't too awful in their own right every once in a while. And hell, they probably deserved it.
And typically, that was what he did- find some poor soul, make a quick nip or otherwise seduce them into one, and then slip away after they’d fainted. No harm done, no ladies inconvenienced. However, there'd been an uptick in vampire activity the town over, recently, and Sanji was very good at keeping a low profile. Whatever asshole had moved in next door and taken up residence in his territory? They were not . And Sanji was not about to make Zeff pack them up and move again so soon after last time. It’d be better if he just held himself over with a deer or a rabbit tonight, uncivilized as it made him feel.
He’s not having much luck at the moment, so he forgoes being stealthy to light himself a cigarette. After which, something new wafts in with the scent of the smoke.
Sanji sniffs the air. Oh. Someone was out here. Like, a person.
He follows the scent until he turns around a tree to find a clearing, within which stands a man with a striking silhouette. Dark leather boots and black pants follow up his legs to where three unique swords rest at his side, their saya ranging from white to red to black. He’s wearing a dark green robe that dips far too low into his chest to be modest, though it does show off a cross-body scar that looks particularly nasty. Sanji follows the marred skin up across his broad chest and to his muscled shoulders, where he catches the man’s eyes. Steely grey and unmoving. His face is just as scarred as his body is, with a long indent cutting over his left eye, permanently closed. Three golden earrings hang from his ear beside it.
And his hair…A short, messy patch of green.
Aside from the odd hair color- (or maybe the novelty of it helped?) this guy was quite attractive. He could never quite tell whether this made him want to feed from a man more or less.
He feels his fangs start to drop and wills them to stay put so that he can appear human. For now.
“It’s kinda dangerous to hang out in the forest at night, you know.” He says matter-of-factly. The green-haired man turns to face him and scowls.
“I could say the same to you.” The scowl fades; his voice turns casual. “Hey, you know how to get back to Blue Town from here?”
Sanji quirks a brow. ‘He's asking for directions?’
“Uh, yeah...You just head due west.”
He watches as the stranger raises his brows in understanding, turns 180 degrees, and takes a confident step to the north.
Sanji lets him take two more steps before he calls out again, at this point debating whether he’s stopping him to ensure he can feed from him or if it’s only out of pity.
“That’s north.” He says flatly, holding his cigarette at arms length.
The swordsman stops dead in his tracks. He seems to radiate irritation for the briefest moment before he turns around, resignation on his face.
“Just point me in the right direction, would you?” He grumbles.
Sanji can't help but smirk. This guy would be fun to mess with.
“Yea, yea, just head that way, mosshead.” Sanji says smoothly, pointing out of the clearing. His voice is so that it sounds polite enough not to hold an insult, and Zoro trusts his tone. He doesn't notice the dig at his appearance until he's taken another two steps that way, too.
“Hey, wait a minute, what'd you call me!?”
Zoro's turned back around in an instant, and Sanji’s snickering to himself all the while.
“Cool it, swordsman. I'll show you the way, c'mon.” And he does. He struts past Zoro and lets his hand brush the other's shoulder as he goes, cigarette resting lazily between his lips as he heads back to town. It takes a few moments, and at first he thinks he's lost his chance, but then he hears footsteps begrudgingly follow behind him. He grins.
Once the green-haired stranger has caught up enough- just a few feet behind him, apparently averse to joining him at his side- Sanji asks his name.
The other grunts. “It's Zoro.”
“And what were you doing out here in the middle of the night, Zoro?”
“None of your business, swirly brow.”
Sanji frowns. “It’s Sanji.”
“Sure.” Zoro’s voice is blasé.
Sanji’s frown deepens. Yea, he's definitely going to drain this guy later. Not completely- he doesn't do that.
But enough.
They reach the inn soon after, and despite himself, Sanji offers to buy him a drink. Might make this all a bit easier.
Zoro, surprisingly, seems receptive to that. A devilish grin spreads on his face.
“Well, can't say no to that.” He remarks. He takes a seat at the bar and Sanji joins him, taking in the change in the swordsman’s demeanor. He waves down the barkeep- Zoro orders sake, Sanji asks for gin. Sanji makes goo-goo eyes at the girl the whole time, and tips her far too generously. Zoro rolls his eyes.
Sanji misses that last part. He turns after the woman serving them has left, taking in the other man’s appearance in the warm light of the inn. He can see plenty well in the dark- and the moon had lit much of the forest clearing where they met regardless. But seeing someone in the real, honest, warm abundance of light provided by the lanterns indoors always gave away more than what Sanji’s eyes eked out in the darkness.
Zoro was handsome. In a rugged, interesting sort of way. But the eager grin on his face definitely changed things. He feels himself start to feel that ebb of attraction that only blooms once someone makes a certain expression, is seen a certain way- seen in a new light, that is. Literally and figuratively, this time.
Well, shit. Maybe he’d go after more than just a bite. He makes a conscious attempt to be less of an asshole from now on.
Their drinks arrive and Zoro’s mood lifts just as quickly. He takes an eager drink and sighs.
“Damn, this is some good liquor.” He comments.
Sanji smiles. “Damn straight it is. The inn shares inventory with the restaurant I work at down the road. We only order the best.”
“Restaurant?” Zoro didn't remember seeing a restaurant on this road.
Sanji nods. “The Baratie. My old man's the owner. Though I guess ‘down the road’ is a little misleading…You'll find us at the docks. It's a floating restaurant.”
Zoro raises an eyebrow. “That's a new one. Why not just set it up in town?”
“We move around a lot. Go from town to town every few months or so.”
Zoro makes a noise of recognition. He takes another swig of his drink, finishes it. “So how long have you been here?”
“About two months. It's a nice place. Friendly people. Beautiful women.” He finishes off his own drink and eyes Zoro again, pointedly. “Interesting strangers.”
Zoro doesn't seem to care.
Sanji continues. “What brings you to town, anyway? We don't get many visitors in this area.”
“On a job.” He says simply.
“How’d you end up in the woods, then?”
“I got a little turned around.”
Obviously.
Zoro says something else before Sanji can edge in another nosy question. “You ever been to Thriller Bark?”
Sanji’s a bit taken back by the question. “Mm, can't say I have. I've heard of it, though.” The cigarette he lit on the way here is on its way out. He smashes it in the nearby ashtray.
“Heard anything strange about it?” Zoro queries.
Sanji slides his empty glass away from him, leaning on the bar in front of him. If he was being a bit too nosy to Zoro, the sentiment is now reciprocated. His line of questioning is hitting too close to home.
“I heard they've been having some vampire issues.” He replies, smooth as butter.
Zoro grunts. “That’s what I heard, too.” He flags down the bartender again, raises his glass for a refill. Sanji cuts in and insists it's added to his tab. Zoro seems surprised, but allows it.
Sanii wants to ask more about the other’s interest in Thriller Bark, but he doesn’t want to get himself too deep into a dangerous conversation, either. For better or for worse, Zoro changes the subject.
“That restaurant you work at, ‘sit cheap?”
Sanji laughs. “No. It's fine dining. Why, you strapped for cash or something?”
Unfortunately, he was. Not just for this trip- but in general. The only reason he'd taken this job was for the immense bounty it promised- 320 million berries, cash. He needed the money. He was damn near flat broke- and if he had to pay for another night at the inn, he would be- let alone the immense amount he had borrowed from the witch and now owed back tenfold. He had meant to scope out Thriller Bark today, but that had been a dud thanks to his foul luck getting there.
The bartender sets down another round of drinks for the two of them.
“Well I'm not rolling in the big bucks, if that's what you're asking.” Zoro murmurs, new drink already at his lips.
“They have food here at the inn, too, y’know.” Sanji internally remembers just how hungry he is. His eyes rest pathetically on Zoro’s throat as he speaks.
“They ain’t cheap either.” Murmurs Zoro.
Well, that was a lie. The inn was actually quite fairly priced- food and boarding. Was the guy really that poor?
As he says this, Zoro’s stomach growls. Quiet enough that Zoro doesn’t assume anyone would hear- but Sanji can.
Sanji takes pity on him. Yet again. He sighs. His own hunger will have to wait.
“Well, lucky for you, I won't let anyone go hungry. Why don't you stop in to the restaurant tomorrow and I'll make you something on the house?”
Zoro seems surprised. The blank look on his face is almost cute. It breaks into a grin again when he realizes Sanji is serious.
“I'd be an idiot to turn down free food. Sure, cook, show me what you got.”
Zeff probably won’t be pleased, but he would do the same thing if it came down to it. The old man will get over it.
“Chef, thank you.” He furrows his eyebrows at the other, though he does so with a grin. “But of course. Come before we close tomorrow, say, eight o’clock? We’ve usually slowed down by then.”
“Oh, so you really aren’t just one of the waiters?”
That one does make him frown. Mainly because Zeff put him on waiter-duty just the other night after he exploded as a guest. He couldn’t help it if some people thought it was cute to waste food. Then again, he understood Zeff’s anxieties about him- him in particular- making a scene. They’d had to leave some towns faster than others.
“No. I’m not.” He knows Zoro’s teasing, but he feels the need to clarify regardless.
“Uh huh.” Zoro’s shit-eating grin is starting to get old, much as he likes it.
“How long are you even in town for anyway, mosshead ?” He puts special emphasis on the nickname after Zoro’s waiter comment. He briefly remembers he’s supposed to be charming the man- but damn, he makes the teasing back and forth fun.
Zoro glowers at him, but answers nonetheless. “Dunno. Depends on how long the job takes me.”
“And that job is…?” Sanji ventures, for what feels like the millionth time. Getting information out of this man was like pulling teeth, but he has a feeling he’s chipped him down a bit with the good deeds of both saving his ass and buying him a couple rounds. One of which Zoro seems to value more than the other- and not the correct one.
“After a bounty.” Zoro says simply. Ah, finally- a breakthrough.
“Sounds interesting.” Sanji replies, without much thought. Then his eyes again find their way to the swords strapped to Zoro’s side once more and a realization comes to him. The word ‘bounty’ replays over again in his head. No way. Was this guy…?
“Yea, well, I’m a bounty hunter. Not that interesting when it’s just my every day.”
Sanji’s eyes are still glued to the swords when his blood runs cold. Fuck- this dude was a hunter. “Bounty Hunter” and “Vampire Hunter” were borderline synonymous with one another on the Grand Line. And if it wasn’t vampires, it was something else, but turning a vampire’s head in to the Marines was always a guaranteed couple thousand berries, wanted or not. He feels stupid for not putting the pieces together earlier- all the interest in Thriller Bark, the swords, the aloof traveler’s demeanor…At least Zoro hadn't returned the favor.
“Yea I…guess that’s true.” Sanji fervently downs the rest of his second drink. He will not be courting this man. He will also not be sucking his blood. In fact, this entire night feels like a bit of a bust. From the back of his mind snakes the glaring thought that he’s already arranged for a second meeting.
“I’m heading to my room for the night.” Zoro says all of a sudden, standing up and placing a steadying hand to his swords. “Thanks for the drinks. I’ll take you up on that offer for dinner tomorrow.” He says, then realizes it vaguely sounds like a date. Eh, whatever, the guy knows what he means. He gives a simple wave and heads up the stairs at the side of the inn without any extra theatrics.
Sanji is left lurking at the bar stool, wondering half-heartedly if Zoro will manage to get lost on the way there tomorrow, thus saving him from possible eradication.