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There were many theories that people tended to bring up toward the thought of how the world could actually end, theories which often brought forth a lot of different discussions. There were too many unknowns while those theories tended to bring forth a lot of mixed feelings when it came to the people who were obsessed with them. Theories which easily could cause arguments whether it was over the internet or even in public, they were ridiculous outcomes which could easily make Sanji laugh. The blonde didn’t know what to think about it whenever he somehow managed to come across them knowing that they weren’t going to disappear anytime soon. Those theories were always going to be here because of the many thoughts which tended to run through people’s heads.
Natural disasters. Disease. War or even aliens were just a short number of those theories which existed. He had no idea why people were interested in them, which included a few people among the group of friends which he shared with Ace. He wasn’t too surprised by it, especially when it came to the ones who tended to have weird habits. They all had their own interests though when it came to the hobbies they managed to create over the years, his started with cooking. Cooking was something that Sanji managed to rely on as a child despite it being something Judge disapproved of. There were a lot of things Judge disapproved of when it came to him mostly because of how different he turned out when compared to his siblings. He wanted his siblings to be apart of the family business while Sanji wanted to use his hands for the sake of feeding people, he didn’t want to be stuck behind a desk. He didn’t want to become another face for Germa who only cared about themselves, there was nothing, but greed when it came to the man who was supposed to be his father. A father and a name which Sanji quickly separated himself from especially after he had been adopted by Zeff.
It was Zeff who showed him that there were good people out there, people who wanted nothing more, but to care about him. People who were willing to talk to him because they wanted to be his friend, people who didn’t talk to him because of the name he once carried on his shoulders. He was no longer a Vinsmoke, he probably never had been a Vinsmoke in the first place even before his mother was taken from this world. A mother who Sanji missed dearly since she was the one person who managed to bring a smile to his face even when the food he used to create wasn’t perfect. Sora praised him for his cooking despite how horrible it would look sometimes, she was even willing to eat it without a second thought while Judge would have pushed it aside. Judge would have thrown it onto the floor and tell Sanji that it was useless to put his focus on something that was the jobs of the cooks who served his family. His brothers were the same, they thought that it was foolish when it came to his cooking. The only sibling he could trust was Reiju, it was Reiju who never raised a hand or harmful words against him. The only sibling he was willing to let into his life because of the bond they managed to create over the years.
This though, this was the last thing that anyone expected to happen all because of a simple bite which quickly spread. A simple bite which turned the world outside even before anyone had the chance to realize what was happening. It was the end of the world, the end of the world that Sanji and Ace once knew. It was the dead which crawled over the streets now that caused nothing, but death and destruction to surround them. The people were scared, the people who survived the ordeal so far while it was unknown how long this was going to last because of how quickly it seemed to appear. Would anyone be able to help them? Would armed forces come to clear out the chaos that surrounded them? These were questions that Sanji was unable to get answers to nor would be able to find someone who possibly knew these answers.
This was a difficult time for the survivors, this was a difficult time for anyone who was trying to find a safe place to stay. If a safe place existed in the first place since it seemed that trying to find a place to avoid the wandering dead was difficult. A safe place that Sanji and Ace were trying to find if there was one out there at all. There had to be somewhere safe right?
There has to be someplace out there for them to live without having to worry about the fear that continues to linger over their heads. A fear which unfortunately wasn’t going to disappear anytime soon from what they have been able to see so far. This place was a living hell.
A living hell as Sanji was able to remember how everything started that fateful night. A night that he was unable to forget because of that familiar panic which decided to make an appearance.
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The shared apartment was quiet besides the glow of the TV which broke the darkness that had surrounded Sanji who was sound asleep at the moment. He was exhausted because of the busy day that he had at work dealing with the customers who came for the sake of food. It was normal in the restaurant which belonged to his adoptive father, it was because of Zeff that he was the sous chef at the Baratie working alongside the others that had been hired. The Baratie was one of his favorite places while he enjoyed nothing more, but being able to cook for the sake of sharing a good meal with anyone. Sanji enjoyed feeding people especially if they were in need of a bite to eat whether the recipe was a simple or a difficult one. He did have a habit of experimenting when it came to seeing which foods worked best with one another, seasonings as well.
The blonde just enjoyed cooking and seeing the smiles that it could bring to the faces of the people who were able to try his food. It was because of his skills as a chef which caused him to cross paths with Luffy who also introduced him to his older brother who ate as much as he did. Those two probably would eat everything that Baratie had inside its walls if they had the chance to, not that Zeff would allow them since they had other customers to take care of. It was because of that meeting which allowed Sanji to form a bond with Ace, a bond that eventually caused the two to start dating. A bond which led the two to live underneath the same roof of the apartment that the cook was in now, an apartment which came with the shared bed that they both occupied. There was no place where Sanji wanted to be since this was home, a home that had been created by him and Ace while it was unknown what would happen next. They could grow their family by adopting a child, moving into a bigger home and a ring being placed on their fingers showing their love for one another. A discussion about their future which has yet to happen since the blonde really didn’t know if this was something that Ace would want. It was a discussion that they would have eventually if he could find the words to say unless Ace ended up being the one who decided to bring up. He tended to speak his mind depending on the situation especially if food was involved, Luffy and Ace tended to have a big appetite. An appetite which Sanji was very familiar with, it was a good thing he was a cook which allowed him to deal with that large appetite that could easily empty the fridge. The food and the state of the kitchen tended to land on Sanji’s shoulders, not that he minded since it was one of the many places that he enjoyed spending his time in. The kitchen was his place.
Sanji didn’t know what caused him to wake, but it suddenly seemed like everything was chaos outside from all the noises. He could hear sirens, he could hear the sounds of a helicopter that was flying around and panicked voices? It was difficult for Sanji to tell what exactly was going on before the door suddenly slammed shut with Ace leaning against it. His chest heaved with each breath that he took while it seemed that blood was staining his shirt, he looked scared. He looked panicked as the noises continued outside the walls of their home, it seemed that they were getting louder. Was someone screaming?
“Ace? What’s going on?”
The dark-haired man quickly started to rummage through the shared dresser before grabbing everything that he possibly could. Items that were being shoved into the backpacks which lingered between his fingers, he was rushed. He was in a hurry.
“Ace? Babe?”
Dark-colored eyes finally turned their attention toward him while the tension obviously hadn’t changed from the moment that he had come barging through that door. Something was definitely wrong, something was causing Ace to act like this, which was a side of him that Sanji had never seen before. He has never acted like this even before they started dating.
“I will explain later, we need to get out of here. It’s not safe, grab what you can or anything that we might possibly need.”
With a nod, he grabbed an extra bag before starting to gather what they might possibly need since it was unknown what was going on outside. It was enough to scare Ace though which told Sanji that they couldn’t stay here for long, especially since the noises outside seemed to be growing. What exactly was happening out there? Was it an attack? Was there something wrong with the building?
These were one of many questions which ran through the cook’s head, but he figured that he would find out for himself once they were past the gray colored door. He would question Ace later after they managed to get somewhere safe if there was a safe place for them to go.
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Time quickly became a blur while it was impossible to tell what month it actually was despite the familiar weather which tended to linger above their heads. Sanji couldn’t even recall how long it actually has been since the dead first made an appearance in these streets. There was only one thing that remained the same which was the familiar presence of Ace who stayed by his side. The one person that he knew could be trusted while the fear was going to make it difficult to figure out who they could actually trust. It brought up the question if the other people who were just as important to them were still alive, have they been able to survive this mess? Was Zeff okay? Was Luffy and the others okay? Did they manage to get somewhere safe away from this miserable place?
These were just one of the many questions that Sanji had, but he knew that it wouldn’t be that easy to get the answers that he wanted. He knew that Ace most likely had the same questions as well since Luffy was his younger brother. He could understand Ace’s concern despite the both of them being someone who had siblings even though he didn’t get along with his. It was unknown where his sister and brothers had fled to because of the relationship that lingered underneath his feet, he never got along with his brothers. The only sibling he could bring himself to trust was Reiju, she was the only one who he trusted since she didn’t belittle him like their brothers did. She saw Sanji for who he truly was when they once lived underneath the same roof before he was taken in by Zeff. A man who he wouldn’t hesitate to claim as his father because of the bond that they were able to create, it was Zeff who claimed him as his son. It was Zeff who gave him a home where he was able to himself without having to worry about that judgemental laughter being thrown his way. He had been able to find his true family when he was no longer older than the age of eight, he had found the place where he truly belonged.
The run-down house was quiet as Sanji found himself laying on the makeshift bed for them to hide for the night since the darkness was never safe. It would be a stupid decision to wander, it would be impossible to see the dead that decided to come out of hiding. They were always active when night fell for some reason as if they were like an animal who tended to favor the night. The dead were everywhere though whether in the streets or the many abandoned buildings which surrounded them. The dead weren’t going to disappear overnight unless a miracle happened, a miracle which Sanji unfortunately did not see happening because of much time had actually passed. This was a living hell, one that seemed to have no end even with all the rumors that tended to float around.
Rumors that started to appear out of nowhere whether by the signs they’ve managed to come across or the passing words from any survivors that decided to go searching for this place. A place that apparently was supposed to be safe from the dangers that continued to fill these streets. Sanji didn’t know if these rumors could be trusted since it could possibly be a ruse to bring anyone in for the sake of stealing their supplies. He knew that Ace was determined to find them someplace that was safe while he didn’t know if voicing his concerns was going to change his mind. He knew how Ace could be when he put his mind to something, a habit that tended to be a thing among those brothers. They wouldn’t stop until the idea they had in mind was successful especially since he wanted to get him away from these ruined streets. Maybe they would be able to find the ones they were determined to find if their friends and family managed to get away before everything fell apart.
It was because of this that Sanji soon found himself packing up his bag full of all the supplies he could possibly carry. Ace wanted to try, he wanted to see if this place actually existed while it was true that they couldn’t stay here forever. It was becoming more difficult to walk among these streets looking for supplies while it seemed that the number of dead was increasing each day. He knew what needed to be done despite the concerns that he had about leaving this place since it was unknown what was waiting for them out there. They could run into a large horde of hungry zombies waiting to sink their hungry teeth into something that was still living.
With a determined smile, Ace grasped at his hand causing the familiar warmth to be placed against his skin while those words echoed in his mind. Words that were spoken with the determination that tended to linger over his boyfriend’s head
“We will make it.”
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Tall buildings loomed overhead while it was obvious about the destruction that happened in this place which most likely appeared when this city started to fall apart. Broken windows, the obvious signs of fire from the blackened stone, and vehicles that have been riddled with age. It wasn’t surprising that these large cities ended up getting the worst of it because of the large population which once called this place home. A place that most likely still wasn’t safe since it was unknown what lingered in these streets from people to any wandering dead that might make an appearance. It wasn’t safe here though despite how quiet it seemed, Sanji knew that it was best not to stay on these once busy streets. Danger could make an appearance at any moment, he didn’t want Ace to do anything risky knowing that he wouldn’t hesitate to protect him. Ace had always been like that when it came to his well being, he wouldn’t hesitate to put him first even in the most dangerous situations.
A small sigh escaped from Sanji with a twitch of his fingers because of the desperate urge to get his hands on some cigarettes, it would be a complete miracle to find some though. He could easily make a trip to the store, but that was another risk because of the dead which could easily be inside that place. They both knew the risk when it came to entering the stores or other buildings that once held a large number of people in them. Those were the places which tended to hold plenty of hordes which were no longer considered to be living because of those hungry teeth that caused them to turn. It was a horrible mistake to wander into those places alone especially if it was impossible to defend yourself from what was inside. The dead could easily outnumber you, the hordes that decided to walk together weren’t something to underestimate. Just one of the many horrors that lingered in this world now, a horror that Sanji really didn’t want to experience for himself.
“What does the map say now, Ace?”
Shifting on his feet, he moved to take a look at the makeshift map which lingered between his boyfriend’s fingers. One that was supposed to get them to where this supposed safe haven was located from the information he managed to get his hands on. Sanji was still taking this information with a grain of salt because it was unknown if it was true, he didn’t know what to believe. It could be a setup. He just hoped that Ace wasn’t going to be too disappointed if the place ended up not existing. They would have to find a place to call home afterwards whether it be in an abandoned house or a workable car that could shield them from the outside world. Anything that would give them some type of sanity because of this world which they unfortunately won’t be able to escape from anytime soon. This is such a harsh world, one that Sanji wanted nothing more, but to escape from. It was a nightmare which had no end in sight, a nightmare he wanted to wake up from. He wanted to be back in that familiar apartment which once was their home, a home that has been long forgotten by this point.
“It looks like it should be somewhere in this apartment complex from the information I was able to gather. It should be on Bridgewater Lane, it’s only a few blocks away from here.”
With a nod, fingers shielded his gaze from the looming sun to get an idea on what street they were standing on at the moment. A few blocks until this supposed safe haven would be in front of him, it brought up one question though. A question that the blonde hasn’t been able to ask despite the many concerns he had from the moment this trip started. It was unknown how much longer luck was going to be on their side while they had managed to get to this ruined city safely. Would the people who called this supposed safe haven home welcome them with open arms? It wouldn’t be surprising if the people inside of their home would be wary of their arrival since they were strangers. It was unknown if any familiar faces that both of them knew would be behind the safety of those walls. He just hoped that they would be able to reach that street without running into any trouble, they were too exposed out here. It wasn’t safe to continue to stand in these streets because of the dangers that continued to surround them, dangers that Sanji wanted to avoid as much as possible. He didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks even though this trip has been risky since they set foot out of the place that was once their home.
This world has changed, it once was a place filled with life as the daily noises of chatter and busy streets no longer existed. Sanji didn’t even know if he would be able to remember those sounds, it became a memory of the past. Like the many memories which obviously were fleeting despite the good and bad times that he has faced even before he had been taken in by Zeff. Even before, he managed to build a relationship with Ace while it was because of Luffy that they were able to meet in the first place. His childhood was always a tricky one, one that he couldn’t bring himself to speak about that easily even to the people he was able to trust. The many words that Sanji was unable to bring himself to be freed from the tongue that they rested upon daily. There were things he hadn’t even spoken to Ace about since he didn’t know how his boyfriend was going to react to the past he had been desperate to keep locked away. A past which he did not want to relive because of the suffering it caused him, those memories were painful. They were always going to be painful despite how much Sanji wanted to forget them, despite how much he wanted to keep them locked away in that box to never enter the world once again.
“Let’s keep going.” Ace’s words snap the blonde out of his thoughts before hefting the bag onto his shoulders once more. They had a safehouse to find.
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It was a stupid mistake, he had failed to pay attention which caused the situation that they both of them ended up facing now. A trap that either one of them expected to come across which easily attracted the dead that continued to wander these streets. A loud noise rang throughout the streets causing the dead to come out of hiding, how was there this many here? How come they didn’t come across these wandering souls sooner? It seemed that they were hiding in plain sight unless there was a reason why they hadn’t come out when they were walking in plain daylight. The fear easily gripped Sanji though while glancing around the area looking for anything that could help with their means of escape. He didn’t know where to go especially since this was an area that he wasn’t familiar with, they should have never left to look for this safehouse. They should have stayed at the home they managed to create back in that abandoned town which managed to give him the feeling of safety. He wanted to go back to that home, he wanted to go back to the time when they weren’t having to fight for survival on a daily basis. This was terrifying...
Fingers gripped at Ace’s hand tightly while they had managed to avoid the zombies that lunged at them once again, but it was unknown how much longer they would be able to do this. They needed to get off these streets, they needed to get somewhere where those hungry teeth would be unable to reach them. A place that would be able to keep the creatures that were once human away from them. He just wanted to keep Ace safe, it was obvious that they both were trying to protect one another from this horde.
Blue panicked eyes scanned the area looking for anything that would give them the advantage needed to escape from this lingering threat. There had to be something even if he had to sacrifice himself for Ace’s sake, he would be willing to throw his life away for the man he cared much about. He didn’t want anything to happen to Ace because of the bond that they managed to create after their paths crossed that day. All because of his hyperactive little brother who he ended up becoming friends with, it was because of Luffy that they were able to meet. It was because of Luffy that Sanji managed to gain another person who ended up becoming important to him, a person who became apart of this stranger family he was able to give. One that was better than the one that he used to be apart before he was adopted by Zeff.
“There! It looks high enough!”
The ruined cars were laying perfectly by a bus while it was obvious that it was once covered with fire because of the burnt metal. It must have happened while the people were trying to flee from this place, he knew how it felt to deal with that panic. A panic which was lingering heavily on his shoulders while many thoughts continued to run through his head. It seemed that luck was going to be on their side until Sanji’s foot ended up colliding with an uneven piece of ground causing him to lose his balance. A misstep that caused the both of them to go crashing into the ground while the hungry teeth continued to surround them. He quickly turned to look at Ace before hands went scrambling to see if there was anything nearby to help fend off the dead that continued to get closer. They were inching closer and closer from each stumbling step that the dead continued to take. He was moments away from urging Ace to get up when all of a sudden the roaring engine from a vehicle was heard. One that was approaching them and fast.
The dark-colored vehicle came to a halt easily blocking the dead that had been crawling toward them while a few ended up underneath those tires. Sanji didn’t know what to do before the window rolled down revealing a familiar face that the blonde knew quite well, a face that belonged to one of the cooks who once worked for his father. It was Patty.
“Get in, Sanji.”
Without wasting another second, Sanji moved to help Ace up before they were able to climb into the car that would be their ticket out of here. It would help them escape from the horde that decided to make an appearance because of that stupid trap which obviously had been hidden. It was unknown why the trap was put there in the first place unless the one who had made it was for the sake of the ones who they deemed as enemies. He doubted that he would be able to get an answer about it, but that wasn’t his concern at the moment. He wanted to make sure that Ace was okay as the car started to peel away from the horde which was determined to find a way into the car.
“Are you okay, Ace?” Hands gently rested against the side of his face before checking to see if he was hurt or worse. He needed to know since it was his fault because of the tumble that the both of them ended up taking. A sigh of relief escaped from him though because of the answer that Ace gave him, they both managed to escape unscathed from the horde that decided to surround them. He was exhausted, both of them were exhausted from this long trip while trying to locate the safehaven Ace had caught wind of. Maybe Patty knew something about it since it seemed that he knew the area quite well from how he was driving the car among these streets. He must have been here for a long time because of the knowledge that was obviously there while luck was on their side. It was because of Patty that they weren’t wandering around these streets anymore having to deal with the looming threat that lingered over their heads. They were safe. He hoped that they were going to remain safe once they were in a place that would be able to shield them from the outside world.
Sanji had plenty of questions to ask Patty, but those questions could wait until he could get his bearings. Until he finally had the chance to rest because of the exhaustion that was weighing heavily on his shoulders. He just wanted to sleep.
Patty had noticed that the occupants in the back seat had fallen silent causing him to glance backwards for a moment to make sure that they were okay. Sanji and the black-haired man known as Ace were asleep clinging to one another probably because of the situation that he found them in. That familiar flash of blonde hair and Sanji’s voice was enough to catch his attention while heading back to the compound where Zeff and the others are at. He couldn’t bring himself to wake them, it was obvious that they needed to rest. It was unknown how long they’ve been traveling while he could tell there was obvious wear and tear on their shoes.
The truth could wait though until they were behind the walls of the compound where their friends and family would be waiting for them.
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“...Ji... Nji... Sanji.”
A hand was gently shaking his shoulder as he slowly stirred awake before turning his head toward the one who was shaking his shoulder. Ace’s arms were still settled around his side whose chest continued to move with each breath that he took, he was still asleep. Patty was leaning over him as the echoes from outside was filtering through the tinted window
“We’re here. Come on, we’ll get you both cleaned up and some food.”
“That would be nice, thanks Patty.”
Sanji turned his attention to the sleeping Ace knowing that he could be a heavy sleeper especially when he randomly fell asleep sometimes because of his condition. He did suffer from narcolepsy, a condition that scared the former cook when it first happened before he learned the truth. He was just glad that it wasn’t something serious as it took talking to Ace’s brothers to calm him down about the situation of him randomly falling asleep.
“Ace, wake up.”
Fingers moved to run through his soft, black hair trying to rouse him from his slumber knowing that he was sound asleep because of the breaths that continued to escape his lips. It took a few tries before he managed to get those familiar dark eyes to open knowing that he would easily sleep the day away if he was allowed to. He enjoyed his naps.
“We’re here.”
The sounds of chatter got louder after the two exited the car revealing the community of people that surrounded them. A community that Sanji didn’t expect to exist, but it seemed that Ace was right about the rumors he managed to discover. One where they hopefully didn’t have to worry about the threat that still lingered outside the gates they now stood behind. Despite the doubts he did have, it was a relief that this place did exist since he didn’t want Ace to be disappointed because of how much work he put into trying to find it. Ace was determined to find them a place that was safe with people who were willing to take them in despite the concern that they were all facing.
Patty promised to show them around later after they had the chance to clean up and get some clean clothes since it was obvious how long they’ve been traveling. A tour that would allow them to run into those familiar faces which were important to him, Sanji wouldn’t mind getting the chance to sleep for a bit longer. He was still exhausted, he could tell that Ace was as well.
“I told you we would make it.”
A gentle smile moved to grace his lips as those fingers moved to intertwine with his, causing Ace to grab his attention once more. Those familiar words being spoken.
“Yeah, you did.”