Sanji and Zoro do not get along. It was a widely accepted fact, first on the Merry and now on the Sunny. When cook met swordsman…sparks flew.

The confrontation after Thriller Bark had been especially heated. Sanji standing over a bandaged and barely recovering swordsman in the infirmary bed, both a little hesitant to turn to their typical violence when the frustration set in. The accusations of idiocy, of martyrdom, the argument of trust, and whose life has more value to who.

It was a very passionate talk.

If only Sanji had allowed himself to kick Zoro, the patient wouldn't have gotten the strong grip on his shirt and pulled him so close. If only Zoro had recovered enough to have his swords ready, then the cooks' mouth wouldn't have been able to fall against his empty, swordless lips.

If only they weren't so frustrated…or pent up…or so annoyed with relief the other survived. If only they hadn't deemed this conversation necessary to be held alone and in private.

If all that had happened, it really wouldn't have started. They wouldn't have to deal with the beginnings of whatever it is that they had become. They wouldn't have had to quickly pull on the clothes when they heard Chopper outside the door an hour later. They wouldn't have to explain the slightly strained wounds and askew bandages.

And they wouldn't feel that awkward embarrassment knowing the crew probably had noticed the sparks between cook and swordsman were now very different.