Title: Bonding – Part 2

Spoiler: None. AU.

Characters: Sanji and Brook.

"So, Sanji-san, you haven't answered my question." Brook remarked gingerly, "I don't want to pry, but I have seen you like this, all alone, quite a few times and I have always thought it would be better to not overstep my boundaries. But, Sanji-san, this time around I thought I'm might offer an ear to a friend. Even though I have no ears! Yo ho ho ho hooo~"

"Thank you, Brook." Sanji chuckled at the undying joke, he then took a deep inhale of his cigarette before adding, "But what makes you think that I'm in a situation that entails an ear of a friend?"

"The longing in your absent stare." Brook replied with utmost honesty, "I may not look like it, but I know when someone is yearning for something or someone. You do know I can most definitely relate to that, being set adrift for fifty-two years. And If I could be even more frank, I have always sensed that there's a huge part of you that you keep shut from the rest of the crew. "

"You are really deeper than you lead others to believe so." Sanji replied with a smirk, as he wrapped an arm around the bony man's shoulder and jested, "I always keep forgetting that we have a wise old geezer on our ship."

"With an afro! Yo ho ho ho hooo~" Brook added with his signature laugh.

"Yup!" Sanji grinned. He then looked back at the ocean and added with a sigh, "I just wish I could understand it as well. This emptiness."

"Don't force it, just take your time." Brook replied, "But, Sanji-san?"

"Hm?" Sanji interjected as he turned his head toward Brook.

"Do keep in mind that you are surrounded by people who deeply care about you." Brook continued, "So when that time comes, remember that we are all here for you. Even Zoro-san."

"Always." Sanji chuckled, "Yah, even marimo."

"We live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence, and private: and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship." - C.S. Lewis