Chapter Text
Once they hit the open ocean, Miss Wednesday and Mister Nine officially passengers on the ship, Zoro sits along the railing of the ship and all three swords are removed from his hip to be laid out on the deck before him.
Ah. Sanji lounges, watching as Wado Ichimonji is picked up in those brutish hands and unsheathed- Zoro better be treating her right or Sanji will take his hands off- , saya tapped out and then set aside.
It seems Sanji needn't have worried, though- Zoro's expression is steady and calm as he works, his touch sure with the expertise of years of practice. Wado Ichimonji only sighs pleasantly, relaxed under Zoro's care, fan fluttering lightly as her aura fills with warm affection. It's enough to make Sanji fluster and turn his focus aside, giving Wado Ichimonji her time to connect with Zoro.
When Zoro finishes with her and sets her down, Sanji focuses back on his master as he's lifted. Zoro's hands are warm and calloused as he unsheathes Sanji, his gaze intent and focused as he studies the blade. Sanji can't help but preen under the look, catching the light to show off the swirling pattern that dances along his length and make the blue stone set into his handle sparkle. He's a proud blade- and what of it? He and his siblings have earned their place as strong swords.
'I'll accept you for now,' Sanji tells the swordsman with a derisive sniff. 'But we'll see if you can prove that you're worthy of handling me.'
A grin tugs at the corner of Zoro's mouth. "You sure are going to be a fussy sword," he says, lightly tapping Sanji's saya out and setting it down. Sanji pauses, looking at the swordsman as he picks up the wiping cloth.
Can Zoro hear his voice? That's unusual for a swordsman that's only just picked up a blade, they haven't even fought in a battle together yet.
'Oi,' Sanji tries. 'Mosshead. Brute. You hear me?'
'He won't hear you, Sanji-kun,' Wado Ichimonji murmurs, a twinge of sorrow in her voice. 'He cannot even hear me and I have been by his side for years.'
What the hell? Maybe Zoro isn't a proper swordsman after all, if he can't even hear his swords. Sanji sniffs in derision, only to melt with a shiver of enjoyment as his blade is wiped down. Ohhh… yeah, that feels nice. Too long sitting in the dusty barrel has left him in dire need of a proper cleaning, not just the shitty wipedowns that store owner would do every other week.
He's tempted to take a bite out of Zoro's fingers. Just a bit, just a little taste. He wants to know what his new master's blood tastes like, what his temperament will be if turned on by his own sword- will he snap and bark at Sanji to stay in line? Will he curse and toss Sanji aside?
He wants to know.
As Zoro's fingers pass him by, Sanji digs in. Blood spills from the creases of Zoro's fingers and he pauses, hissing lightly in pain. It drips across the shimmering pattern on Sanji's blade like a warm shower, making the sword shiver in delight. It's delicious.
"Oi," Zoro growls, "what do you think you're doing?"
I don't know what you mean, mosshead, Sanji coos back. Zoro raises him to be eye-level and stares at the gleaming stone set into his hilt.
"You will only cut what I tell you to cut," Zoro says. "I have no use for disobedient swords."
And I have no use for a master that can only swing me about like a brute, Sanji says with a sniff. Prove me wrong and I will consider being yours.
"Are you… talking to your sword?" The lovely Miss Wednesday asks from further along the deck, still sitting with Mister Nine as they huddle together and watch the crew. Ah, she's so beautiful~
Zoro grunts, lowering the blade and glancing her way. "He's a brat," he says. Oi!
"Do you give your swords personalities?" Mister Nine pipes up, his brow furrowed incredulously.
With a snort, Zoro resumes cleaning Sanji's blade. "I don't give them anything. Each sword is unique, even if they were forged in a batch together."
He pauses to point at Wado Ichimonji. "That one is steadfast and reliable. She cuts true." Wado Ichimonji hums softly in pleasure at the compliments.
"This one," Zoro goes on, holding up Sanji, "is a brat. He's powerful, but wild. He's a cursed blade, I have yet to test him in battle."
Rude!
"That one," Zoro points at Yubarashi and Sanji can hear the young blade holding her breath eagerly, "is young. She's strong, but timid, and I can tell she'll need encouragement to bite deep into enemies." Yubarashi practically radiates an innocent determination, eager to please her new master.
Miss Wednesday and Mister Nine stare at Zoro like he's insane. "I see," Miss Wednesday says carefully. "We'll just… leave you to it."
He dismisses them without a word, resuming Sanji's cleaning. Sanji can only softly grumble at the insults- I'll show you wild- but is lulled back into a sense of peace and contentment at being so clean.
When Zoro slides him back into his sheath, he's almost sad that it's over.
Wait, no! He shouldn't be so pleased about being handled by a man! Ahhh, why couldn't he have been bought by the lovely Tashigi-chan….