Chapter Text
Zoro let out a strangled yelp when a freaking lizard appeared from nowhere! It dropped a pouch in his hand and screeched at him, before it disappeared again in a puff of smoke.
“What the hell?!” Zoro yelled.
“There's a letter with the pouch,” Sanji muttered.
Sanji had woken up not too long ago, quiet and distant. Zoro didn't bother trying to get the love cook to make conversation either, not in this state at any rate. He just kept an eye on Sanji to make sure he stayed put until a freaking lizard showed up out nowhere to give him a heart attack.
Zoro frowned but opened up the letter. It just said 'keys' on the sheet of paper. Nothing more. Zoro shook the keys out of the pouch into his palm, then eyed Sanji's restraints. Rouge must have pick pocketed Big Mom for these. Who knows when, but Rouge had said she used to be the best thief in the world.
Best thief and best swordsman. That was terrifying collection of titles she had been gathering when Rouge had been alive.
“C'mere, love cook,” Zoro said, turning Sanji around.
Sanji squirmed away. “I'm not allowed to take them off.”
“And you're also not allowed to fight,” Zoro snapped. “So just hold still!”
“I'm not allowed-” Sanji insisted, but Zoro tackled him, shoving him to the floor. “Zoro-”
“You'll thank me for this later, Sanji!” Zoro hissed.
He quickly inserted the larger key into the lock on the joint of the necklace, the piece digging the deepest into Sanji's neck. Sanji went still with a quiet, choked gasp. Zoro tested the key, it unlocked the necklace. Zoro carefully pulled it the lock off Sanji's neck, and scowled.
There was a thick bruise at the back of Sanji's neck, and blood trailing down where the necklace had sunk in. Zoro hesitated, but Sanji's eyes were squeezed shut, and he was beginning to shake, so Zoro began to pull off the rest of the necklace before it sunk in any deeper. Some of it was already sunk into Sanji's skin, and Sanji shook harder when Zoro had to tug them out like splinters. Zoro hated seeing the blood trails down Sanji's chest, and how sweaty and pained he looked, and it made Zoro hesitate at Sanji's wrists.
“Sanji-” Zoro began, when Sanji managed to crack an eye open.
“Do it,” Sanji hissed through gritted teeth. “I won't be free until they're both off too.”
“Your hands-”
“I'll heal them when I'm free.” Sanji's eyes hardened, burning with determination as he sat up, holding his wrists out to Zoro. “I trust you. Free me.”
Zoro paused for only a second at that, then nodded and quickly unlocked both of the cuffs. He peeled the first one off, grimacing at the bruises and blood, and how hard Sanji's hands shook. Chopper was going to freak. Zoro quickly did the same for Sanji's other wrist, and hated how Sanji's blood was dripping on the floor.
Big Mom would pay for this.
Sanji immediately held his right wrist and a white glow enveloped it. Sanji let out shaky breaths, but they slowly calmed as the wounds began to heal, the bruises looking less swollen and angry. Sanji then did the same to his other wrist, his brow furrowed.
“Thankfully Rouge-san managed to keep those restraints from digging too much more into me,” Sanji said softly, staring up at him. “Thanks for getting them off, Zoro.”
“Are you going to be okay, Love cook?” Zoro growled. “Your hands-”
Sanji smiled tiredly. “I'm healing my wrists as much as I can for now. Chopper can look at them once this whole mess is over, my neck and chest too.”
Sanji reached up to his neck and began healing that too, his shoulders slumping. Zoro remained silent, watching the open wounds slowly heal over, leaving only nasty, deep, purple bruising on Sanji's skin. Luffy was going to hate seeing that. Nami would lose her mind. Zoro stood up with a scowl.
“Don't you ever go and do anything like this again,” Zoro ordered sharply.
Sanji startled. “Zoro-”
“You could have died,” Zoro cut him off. “Died to the Vinsmokes, or been enslaved by the Big Mom Pirates, and let your dreams of finding All Blue go to dust-”
Sanji flinched.
“Because you didn't trust us to protect you and your family,” Zoro continued.
“I trusted you!” Sanji protested. “I just didn't want to-”
“Burden us with it?” Zoro scoffed. “Like we'd give two shits about that, stupid cook. We literally followed Robin into Enies Lobby to rescue her. Luffy broke into Impel Down to save Thatch, a man he barely knew-”
“But we weren't already in the middle of a fight with an Emperor at the time,” Sanji said miserably. “And the Vinsmokes were never supposed to be a problem in the first place... we disowned each other long ago... for them I was too weak, and to me they were monsters... they were never supposed to come back into my life.”
“Don't worry, when your old man gets a hold of them they probably won't be around for much longer,” Zoro snorted. “You-”
They both paused when they heard Bege's men yelling. Sanji stood up as Zoro did, frowning at the doorway.
“We'll continue this later,” Zoro warned him.
Sanji nodded grimly, and they headed for the commotion. Everyone was gathered by the entrance, but before Sanji or Zoro could say a word, Bege spoke up first.
“I have an announcement for everyone in the castle.” Bege's voice was a forced calm. “The assassination of Big Mom has failed. We can't even move now. We'll be surrounded by the Big Mom Pirates in a matter of moments and forced to fight under siege.”
Luffy met Sanji's eyes and grinned. “Sanji!” He rushed over to his side, gently grabbing his hands and searching them. “Zoro got the cuffs off!”
“You're okay!” Nami beamed, rushing up to Sanji.
Sanji couldn't help but grin. “Nami-chan!”
“But you're covered in bruises!” Chopper cried. “Let me look at you, Sanji!”
“Thanks for the keys,” Zoro said to Rouge.
“No problem.” Rouge nodded. “And right now isn't the time to celebrate. Sanji isn't safe yet.” She jerked her head towards the Vinsmokes, who were all staring at Sanji.
“Well, well, well, if it isn't Sanji,” Niji laughed. “I'm surprised you're still alive after all these years. I thought you would have been murdered the moment you stepped foot away from us.”
“Yeah, never thought a weakling like you could become a pirate,” Yonji scoffed.
“Who are these rainbow coloured losers?” Zoro jerked his thumb at them.
“Bitch Number 1, then his bitchy kids,” Rouge said. “Say hello to the Vinsmokes.”
“Oi you-” Yonji growled.
“Oi you back,” Rouge snorted. “You wanna go? I'll slice you to pieces.”
“The ones who want to burn the cook?” Zoro bristled.
Luffy growled and Nami's hands clenched into fists.
“You're really a cook?” Ichiji huffed. “You're supposed to be a member of our royal family, Sanji. How disappointing.”
“I've always been a disappointment to you lot, so I doubt me being a chef changes much,” Sanji scoffed.
“Yeah, weren't you about to be murdered a few minutes ago?” Rouge mocked. “They-” She pointed at Nami and Chopper. “Had to save your asses while your father cried because Big Mom betrayed him. I mean seriously? Aren't you supposed to be some kind of genius? How did you not see that coming?”
“Shishishi, he's dumb.”
“This is not the time!” Bege protested. “Dammit. The assassination plot we had been working on for over a year has failed. This is the first time we've failed to kill someone.”
“It was a good attempt though,” Rouge admitted. “Most people wouldn't have been able to come up with it, so kudos to you, Bege, you ballsy fuck.”
“In the end, an Emperor of the Sea proved to be out of our league,” Brook said mildly, sipping at his tea. “I am glad to see we accomplished our goal though. Welcome back, Sanji-san.”
“Thanks, Brook.” Sanji smiled tiredly.
“Don't get comfortable,” Judge growled. “We have business to take care of, Sanji. You are the Vinsmoke witch. You belong to our family-”
“Like hell!” Luffy snarled, throwing himself in front of Sanji. “Nobody steals my chef and gets away with it!”
“Yeah!” Nami and Chopper yelled.
“We don't have much time,” Bege cut in. “And I'll tell you why-”
Rouge inhaled sharply. “Linlin's snapped out of it.”
Bege paled then gasped breathlessly and doubled over, clutching his stomach.
“Shit!” Rouge cursed.
“Father!” Bege's men yelled.
“Bege, what is it?” Luffy gasped.
“Honey, are you okay?” Chiffon cried.
Sanji cursed. “Big Mom is pretty much beating up your body right now! If she keeps this up-”
“Yeah. I'll die and you'll all be ejected from here,” Bege groaned, coughing out a mouthful of blood.
Chiffon handed her son over to Vito and rushed for the window, shoving it open. “Mama, wait!Bege and I are married, we have a son together! Please forgive him and let it go!” Chiffon pleaded.
“Chiffon!” Big Mon sounded even more furious and offended. “You look exactly like Lola as always!”
Sanji rushed forward, reaching out for Chiffon. He needed to drag her back. Big Mom was about to attack-
“Mama, please!” Chiffon screamed.
A rush of purple sped past him and was out the window in seconds. Chiffon yelled as she was thrown back, but Luffy caught her in time, his eyes wide. Sanji stopped, shocked, and saw Rouge's swords collided with Big Mom's fist right outside Bege's castle.
“Shadow Lady!” Luffy yelled.
“She's no longer in here!” Nami cried.
“Rouge!” Big Mom screamed. “Stop interfering!”
“That's supposed to be your daughter, you fucking hag!” Rouge growled, then spun her swords, the force of the blow sending Big Mom flying back. “How dare you try hurt your kid!”
Sanji watched as Rouge lightly stepped on the ground as Big Mom hit the ground with a yell. Rouge who was surrounded by all Big Mom's kids.
Rouge who grinned sharply.
“She was conspiring with Bege to kill me!” Big Mom snarled.
“And who told you that?” Rouge asked, smirking. “Or as you just assuming things again with that dumbass brain of yours? Although I wouldn't blame her for wanting you dead. You've always been a bitch after all.”
“And you've always been such a little slut!” Linlin snapped. “I'll wring that pathetic little neck of yours.”
“Rahahahaha! I'm the slut? How many men have you opened your legs for?” Rouge mocked.
Katakuri was rubbing the bridge of his nose, as were several of the other older children of Big Mom's.
“I'll go help Shadow Lady!” Luffy rushed for the window, but Chopper grabbed him before he could escape.
“Wait, Luffy!” Nami ran his way. “Don't get carried away! We came here to get back Sanji, which we did. We even got a copy of the Poneglyph. If you have time to fight back, then think about how we can all escape instead.”
“She's right,” Zoro grunted. “It's why we didn't bring the entire crew here, remember?”
“Nami-san is right,” Brook agreed. “We only made it this far because there was a small number of us. Let's go to the Land of Wano where the others are waiting for us, Luffy!”
“There is only one way for everyone to survive this,” Bege said, startling to them. There was blood trailing down his face, and he was panting heavily, but he looked determined. “Hibiscus can only buy us so much time before she's defeated, she's already starting to look worn down, so we need to hurry!”
.::.
Germa were out and fighting now and the castle was gone. Rouge grimaced and wiped a trail of blood that spilled out her mouth. She supposed that was a little handy. She was getting pretty exhausted and beat up, but the fact she was getting helped by those Vinsmoke bastards made her blood boil.
Shit, but all the Charlotte kids were chasing after Bege!
Rouge threw an air attack after them. “Pocket Swipe!”
The air blade attack got a lot of the little shits from behind, even if it earned her a punch in the back from Linlin that sent her flying and crashing into some tables. Rouge groaned, sitting up shakily from the rubble.
“Ouch.” Rouge rubbed her back, walking out the dust. “Fuck you, Linlin! That was sore.” She scowled when Linlin ignored her to attack the Germa girl, so Rouge struck Linlin from behind, earning a shriek. “You started it, Linlin!”
“Damn you, Rouge! You're being a pain in the ass!” Linlin snarled, grabbing her cloud, but the lightning strike went right through Rouge.
It didn't hurt at all.
“Linlin...” Rouge sighed. “Elements can't hurt me, remember?”
Linlin scowled. “That reminds me. Where is my witch?!”
.::.
A shiver ran up Sanji's spine at that.
.::.
Smoothie, Oven and Daifuku attacked Rejiu, which brought out Luffy and Sanji, much to Rouge's annoyance. Why the fuck was Sanji out here? Zoro came out right after them, attacking Smoothie (probably because she had a sword and Sanji couldn't hit women).
Judge came flying in to interrupt Rouge's fight with Big Mom, yelling something about ghosts and not being able to face them, some shit she really didn't care about. Linlin easily destroyed his spear with her teeth and caught him in her hand.
Rouge paused. Did any of the Vinsmokes even know haki? Or were they that reliant on their fancy suits? Rouge stifled a giggle as Linlin crushed Judge into the ground with a crash of lightning in her hands.
Was he finally dead?