*THWAP*

[chibi_trillian]

This series has the worst titles EVER. So cheesy. Also, I think Nami and Luffy are standing in the background cracking their knuckles for a solid head-smacking on both sides.

Title: Missteps
Series: One Piece.
One Piece: Not mine.
Rating: PG-13.
Summary: Sequel to Misunderstandings. Theoretically, talking about things is supposed to make them better, not worse. Crossposted to onepieceyaoi.


It’s done.

I’m not Luffy. I don’t do “unconditional love.” I’m not Chopper. I don’t come with a bottomless supply of patience and forgiveness. I was at the end of my goddamn rope with you, and I didn’t know if I wanted to throw it to you one last time or strangle you with it.

I meant to discuss it when I was prepared, on my own turf, in my own time. Pull the splinters of you out of me slow and careful so they hurt less, bleed less, heal quicker.

It’s your fault. You’re the one who came to me with your skin still smelling like blood, hands so hot and eyes so cold that I couldn’t stand it. It tore its way out of me premature and sudden, hot and wet and red and violent, words sharper than any sword you’ve ever swung, hitting harder than any kick I’ve ever landed. It hurt saying them, and they were supposed to hurt more being heard.

And all you could manage to do was look re-fucking-LIEVED for half a second before your eyes froze over again. I told you to get the hell out, and you didn’t so much as hesitate.

I wish we were in port, so I could sit in a bar and drink and not get asked questions.

I wish we were in port, so I’d have a thousand other things to think of and a hundred other places to be.

I wish we were in port, so I could find someone else for long enough to make you go away.

****

It’s done.

I didn’t have to give you up after all. You gave up on me instead.

I don’t blame you. It is, after all, something I really should have expected.

The rage in your voice, the venom in your words—I ought to welcome these things. You’re like a damn cat—if I’d have thrown you out, you’d have clung to me more tightly. You had to think it was your own idea. And it’s good for you. The farther away your skinny ass is from me, the better.

Luffy won’t be pleased. Quiet as we tried to keep this, he still knew. And somehow, he knew when I started pushing you away. He hasn’t said anything, but I can read his disapproval like it’s written on his forehead.

He doesn’t understand.

Humans are fragile. They’re emotional. They do stupid things that get them broken. Luffy’s a hell of a lot less breakable than most—he can afford to do dumb shit. Hell, he exists to do dumb shit.

I can’t. The Greatest Swordsman in the World stands on a pedestal meant for one. Why do you think Mihawk sails alone?

But you, dumb cook, you make things complicated, like everything else you touch. God forbid a sandwich exist unless it’s got capers or some shit on it. You had a better grip on my heart than you thought, and you did a decent job ripping it out with those precious hands of yours.

So that’s why I’m doing katas down here on the anchor deck. Calm down, focus, find the quiet place inside. Don’t think, don’t feel, just move.

Every slice of the blade through the air cuts away a little more of what hurts.

Comments

[nike-victory.livejournal.com]

You inspired me again. My mind insists on a happy ending, and damn it, I'm really tempted to write this one, if only because of this: "Ow! Why the fuck did you kick me, Shit Cook?"
"For not talking to me."
"I was being choked to death!"
"That wasn't what I was fucking referring to, you dumbass!"

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

O_o

XD

Sorry, that's about all the response I can make to that.

[nike-victory.livejournal.com]

That's fine. It was essentially the response I was expecting. ;D

Seriously, though, I love this fic.

[vampire-otaku.livejournal.com]

Wow, my heart was just aching by the end of this one...

Pull the splinters of you out of me slow and careful so they hurt less, bleed less, heal quicker. So poignent... *sniffles*

You had a better grip on my heart than you thought, and you did a decent job ripping it out with those precious hands of yours. Oh. Yes.

This is just one big ball of emotional meltdown, and I loved every word of it. :D

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

A ball of emotional meltdown in a hard candy shell, because damn if those two are going to get weepy over each other. Stubborn jackasses.

[vampire-otaku.livejournal.com]

XD

[keakun.livejournal.com]

eiofwepf ewfopwrmiv, dar...

*Is so flabergasted right now* (Is that even a word...?)

There's more right?! There had better be more...cause you can't give the masses something great, addicting even, and not expect them to want more. I love this series, the way how you counter balance the two Povs, Sanji's anger towards Zoro, and Zoro's determination to be rid of his wounded pride? lol...I think I phrased that wrong, but I still loved the fic, so there had better be more, or Nami and Luffy won't be the only one's cracking their knuckles! :P

Great work. Kea

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

I hope there's more, but I don't have a good track record on that. We can hope, though, mostly because I want to hit both of them for being dumbfucks, and I frigging wrote them.

[kikkuma.livejournal.com]

Aaaagghgghg.... Now this is the point where I seriously consider punching the nearest living object next to me. And I really, really don't think my dog would appreciate that much.

I love this series. And that aching frustrated chest-tightening feeling I get from reading it.

Luffy and Nami gotta knock beat some sense into the two of them, big time. "Hey, HEY. Things aren't that difficult you RETARDS."

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

Don't hit the Boba! D:

But they're Manly Men. Their terminal testosterone poisoning makes it utterly impossible for them to discuss girly shit like their feelings with each other.

[geuna.livejournal.com]

I think Nami and Luffy should bust a few skulls for this. BOYS!!! They're are such pains in the ass when it comes to love! I mean, even if they consider it the end of the world, they still can't TALK about it, and even if they do, they go someone that ISN'T the person that's causing the problem in the first place (a.k.a. their lover). For most of the men I know, the ones that acted quickly ended up happy, and the ones that waited and decided to "let things happen as they happen, and wait as long as it takes" sometimes didn't end up where they wanted. I remember one guy told a girl that he liked he would wait until she was ready to date, but then another guy of interest swooped in with a surprise kiss and swept her off her feet in an instant.

You have to take a chance when something is this important! Zoro! Sanji! You better work out in SOME manner! (shakes fist) Freakin' morons! I pity you, but sometimes you have to pound the sense back into someone in order for them to get it faster!

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

Don't worry. If they don't fix it, their nakama most assuredly will. *evil glasses glint*

[geuna.livejournal.com]

(cracks knuckles) Damn straight. (EVIL GRIN) This is why I love Nami. When the boys aren’t doing things right she comes along and makes for damn sure the jobs gets done. All fear the wrath of Nami’s pwning fists.

[crystal-lilly.livejournal.com]

*speechless*

Wow... that hurts to read. I wanted a continuation (thanks so much) and... it was so exquisitely painful. You just want to hug them both and then lock them in a room until they make up. (I could so see Nami doing that, too... well, locking them in a room anyway).

Wonderful. Simply amazing. Once again, the emotion just radiates out of this fic. I can practically feel how both of them are hurting. You may not like to write angst, but you are frighteningly skilled at it.

Thank you for sharing.

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

Nami's liable to pop them one each upside the head. She does not suffer fools lightly.

Thank you, and you're welcome.

[yuki-kokoro.livejournal.com]

...*whimpers just a bit* You just have such a beautiful grasp on these characters and the language oh the language. Somehow you just find the most eloquent, unique, perfectly-turned phrases to just tear me up inside.

"I was at the end of my goddamn rope with you, and I didn’t know if I wanted to throw it to you one last time or strangle you with it."

"The Greatest Swordsman in the World stands on a pedestal meant for one."

"Every slice of the blade through the air cuts away a little more of what hurts."

You just kill me. *sighs* This was lovely though, the hurt radiating off both of them (whether they choose to acknowledge it or not) and their refusial to see any other options makes this so heartbreaking... But so them. There's no way they'd let anything be easy, god forbid. They've made their decisions and are going to stick with them right or wrong (for as long as they can stand to...).

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *blushblush, has a secret weakness for having her turns of phrase complimented, oh noes!*

[snarkymonkey.livejournal.com]

Have I told you lately how much I yub you? ♥♥♥♥

You get the heart of that dumb, violent oaf better than anyone I've seen. Adn the thoughts of the both of them were perfect. So hard, angry and cold. *wibbles* So much adoration.

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

I really do have the easiest time writing Zoro out of all the Strawhats. Dunno why; Usopp's actually my favorite character. ^.^;

I'm glad you liiiiiiked it. *Chopperdance*

[kala-aira.livejournal.com]

First of all words can not express how happy I was to see a second part of this...

Second: (I will now commence yelling at a fictional character who can never actually hear me. But this is what good writing sometimes results in with me) *ahem*
OMG Zoro I feel like smacking you with a cutting board. They way I see it; you're not protecting Sanji at all, you're protecting yourself! You don't want to be close to Sanji because on the off change of him dieing ~you'll~ get hurt. Right now, to protect yourself from future pain, you are subjecting the one you believe you are protecting to actual pain.
Go after him!!!
(My apologies, but that is exactly what flew through my head)

And finally...
You had a better grip on my heart than you thought, and you did a decent job ripping it out with those precious hands of yours.
Loved it.

Is there perhapes a part 3?
(I'll try not to freak out if there is. ^__^)

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

...you know you've gone and done it when the characters get verbal abuse for the situation you wrote them into. XD

No guarantees on part three. I have a bad history of finishing this sort of thing. ^.^;

[dustyjack.livejournal.com]

You make me a happy fan. *slithers into your lap* More or no, I'm very satisfied with what this challenge has inspired in you. *love*

[dustyjack.livejournal.com]

...that was from me (Jess). Too lazy to sign out of Kim's account.

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked it. *heart* If we're lucky, I won't run this into the ground like I do most things that go past two chapters in length, eh?

[kiriyama-killer.livejournal.com]

This has left me with the desire to beat sense into my Zoro and Sanji plushies. Alas they're at home and I'm at college. I just hope their nakama beat some sense into them. *encourage Luffy with meat to beat sense into Zoro and Sanji*

I did like it, even though it left me with a feeling of no you stupid morons what are you doing.

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

Don't hit the plushies! They've done nothing wrong. Plushies are always innocent of whatever the people they represent did.

[kiriyama-killer.livejournal.com]

I changed my mind when I gto home anyway and hugged them instead.

[2metaldog.livejournal.com]

Another reader here who wants to beat the shit out of the two idiots and was in danger of yelling at the computer in proxy for Zoro/Sanji. That would be mildly embarrassing and maybe a little psychotic.

You do a bang up job of writing them so messed up. Really. You feel for them at the same time that you just wanna smack them silly for being clueless morons.

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

Damn, it's a good thing the characters in this fic are non-whackable, or they'd be a bloody pulp by now. ^.^;

[kotszok.livejournal.com]

OTZ You broke my heart. DON'T NEED THIS RIGHT NOW. lolol All the same, lovely writing. *cries in corner*

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

Oh noes! Uh...can I get you some superglue?

[akai2kuroi.livejournal.com]

I meant to discuss it when I was prepared, on my own turf, in my own time. Pull the splinters of you out of me slow and careful so they hurt less, bleed less, heal quicker.

There are too many lines for me to quote them all, but this one is my favorite.

*is broken-hearted*

Another fic to fav! Damn you! *enjoys it not so sekritly*

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

Eeee! Umm...may I offer you superglue as well?

Well, at least you enjoyed it, even if it did break your heart.

[kitty-foxglove.livejournal.com]

*bawl!*
I would be crying for real if I hadn't, while skimming over the start of the fic, read "I’m not Chopper. I don’t come with a bottomless supply of panties and forgiveness."

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

But Sanji does have a bottomless supply of panties. XD

[mango-32.livejournal.com]

I've read through all the reply posts and I had to agree with them. The characters are so well written. XDD And you have the talent to create the greatest impact with the fewest words. *I'm shivering with ache now*

It hurt saying them, and they were supposed to hurt more being heard.

And all you could manage to do was look re-fucking-LIEVED for half a second before your eyes froze over again.

I didn’t have to give you up after all. You gave up on me instead.

You’re like a damn cat—if I’d have thrown you out, you’d have clung to me more tightly.

Calm down, focus, find the quiet place inside. Don’t think, don’t feel, just move.

So much love for this one...(if I had to quote anymore I'd probably quote the whole fic!) And Thank you so much for sharing this.*melts*

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I very much enjoy compliments on my writing style. ^_^

[geekchic07.livejournal.com]

Echoing what other people said, this was really good. It's so in character and so heartwrenching!

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! I hope I don't disappoint in the future!

[bumpgrrl.livejournal.com]

I was at the end of my goddamn rope with you, and I didn’t know if I wanted to throw it to you one last time or strangle you with it.

oh, ouch. so like a realy break-up between two people who ACTUALLY DON'T WANT TO BREAK UP. the tension, the torment, the lack of honesty with self (zoro anyway).

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

Yeah, pretty much. Zoro and Sanji may be crazy, overpowered people, but they're still just that--people.

[orange-smaug.livejournal.com]

I imagine there is much wailing and gnashing about "idiot boys" in the comments preceding mine, but I can't resist throwing out my own lament at their stupidity XD. Your writing is always so wonderful ♥.

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there is. General consensus is that Nami and Luffy should beat them black and blue and lock them in a room together until their see sense. XD

[angstymcgoth.livejournal.com]

MAKEUP SEX MAKEUP SEX MAKEUP SEX MAKEUP SEX!

Dude, when Sanji figures out the cause behind all of this, he's going to tie Zoro to a chair and beat him repeatedly. With every blunt object in the kitchen. Because Sanji's no slouch, and he'd probably dump Zoro just for insinuating otherwise XD

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

Sanji's not dirtying his good kitchen tools with Zoro's blood. Stupidity might be contagious. XD

[fairycowsgomoo.livejournal.com]

I freakin' LOVE you your writing! Please continue this! I must have more ZoSan angst! So, once again, I loved the two different/clashing POVs. Oh, and you get a cookie for Luffy realizing what an insensitive asshole he is (ok, well, moreso than usual).

It’s done. = I suck, because for some reason that was my favorite line from both POVs. I read that and instantly thought, "Oh noes." It almost made me afraid to read on. I don't know; it just hit me harder than anything.

[fairycowsgomoo.livejournal.com]

It’s done. = Oops, that's what I meant. ^^;

[chibi-trillian.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, cookie! *narf*

I'm glad you liked it! No guarantees on a sequel, but this is a rather awkward place to leave it.

[anyjen.livejournal.com]

...you know, everybody writes how those two may hook up, but never how they would break up, or why. Now I know why. Tt's too painful to read!!! >_<

But if all pain was like this, I'd be a masochist. :P