A/N: Sorry for taking this long. I edited the first chapter... though I really just made the date part longer. I knooow, I really have to stop posting it before editing it like that. I'll try not to do that any more, I swear.

Sanji twirled as he distributed the snacks for his favorite and only girls on the crew. "Nami-san. Here's your dessert. Robin-chan, your coffee," he bowed coolly.

Nami and Robin smiled at him gratefully before returning to their own activities on the deck.

Two days ago, the crew had finally left, or rather, were kicked out of Saya-the island where they had docked for Valentines. For once it wasn't thanks to Luffy doing something… well, Luffy-like, but rather it was due to Franky stripping off his underwear, and Brook asking to see every girls' panties were probably a reason too. Who knew those specific acts were an offense to the ancestors of the land?

Whatever the history of the island was, no one bothered to know. Well, except for Robin, who didn't deem it appropriate for sharing to everyone. Something about an underwear thief...or something.

The weather was sunny and they knew well not to take that for granted on this part of the Grand Line. Everyone relaxed to their heart's content. Luffy, Usopp and Chopper lounged around the tree shade, playing some card game with the rules bent to accommodate their captain's habit of keeping too many cards,

Brook took it upon himself to play the background music for the relaxing afternoon on the upper deck. Franky sat relaxed near the helm, a cola in hand.

Zoro was in the Crow's Nest, watching the peaceful seas and was deep in thought. He didn't want to think about the date- in fact, he wanted to forget it ever happened. He want to go back in time and change it to something like a simple drinking-while-hanging-out thing with the cook.

That wasn't true. Actually, everything that happened on that date was a dream come true. Not that he had dreamed about it for a while. He used to dream of Sanji choking on his cigarette before. Then the coupon thing happened, so he dreamed about making that date the best that Sanji would be forced to compliment him.

That part came true, alright. But it was just for one night. But it didn't have to be, he thought. Nami gave him all of the coupons Sanji gave her, which was 24 in total, and he had to accept them unless he wanted "another 100% interest added to your debt", as she so sweetly said it.

No, it's not like he had to use the coupons anyway. And Sanji was clearly inclined to make that date a one-time thing by the way he curtly responds to Zoro's taunts. But at least he still retorts back, so it's not all that disastrous.

Fuck, he felt like he was in a-dare he say it-Cinderella story. Except he doesn't get the happy ending of the Prince wanting something more from that night.

Haha, prince. He vaguely remembered how Sanji liked calling himself as Mr. Prince. No prince would woo the resident swordsman. Maybe if he was a swordsman in a gown, with boobs...

Sighing, he grabbed a few large dumbbells and started lifting. Hopefully this would distract him from everything he's thinking about that was starting to drain out what was remaining of his masculinity.

Dinner time came, and Zoro came into the galley all hot and sweaty.

"Damn, bastard," Sanji spat, "Couldn't you have bothered to get rid of the smell before coming here?"

"I knew this'd piss you off, so I worked out some more before coming here," Zoro shrugged. His voice was a little out of breath and raspy.

"Give me water, will ya?" he said as he sat beside Luffy who started vacuuming the food in front of him. A glass of water was wordlessly placed in front of him. Everyone had started their own conversations by then, while Sanji stood near Zoro like he wanted to say something.

"I'll be on watch tonight, so…" Sanji trailed off.

"Okay," Zoro answered. Then they both noticed conversations around them had died down. Apparently everyone heard what they just said.

"Oh? A secret meeting tonight?" Nami had her cat-like grin. Robin had that same mysterious smile.

"Something must have happened the other night on your date eh?" Usopp teased, but shriveled up when he received glares from the both of them. Franky laughed out loud, along with Brook's 'Yohohoho' and soon attention was drawn away from them.

Zoro inwardly sighed and cast a glance at Sanji who was now catering to everyone. He had always noticed that the cook didn't actually eat with them, too busy serving everyone.

I saw how tired you were for the past few days, trying to make everyone happy.

His own words rang in his mind. He inwardly groaned. Damn, he probably sounded like a sappy idiot. No wait, that was Sanji's thing. Whatever. He shook his head, clearing any thoughts as he tried concentrating on his food.

But his plate was empty.

"Oi Luffy!"

True to his word, Zoro showed up at the Crow's Nest where Sanji sat sideways on the bench, gazing out the open window as he smoked.

Zoro climbed further in and moved to sit a few meters away from Sanji.

A million of things ran through his head, but most of them consisting of what he should say that night. That other night, he wasn't himself? Or maybe he just got caught up in the moment. Wow, that's pathetic.

He could just say to forget about it, move on, nothing changes... Yeah, that's a good idea actually. Beat Sanji to it.

"Look, can we just let it stay in the past?" Sanji suddenly spoke up. "I don't want anything to change."

Ouch. This is why he wanted to say it. Hearing Sanji say it hurt a lot more than when he could have said it.

"Yeah sure," Zoro grunted. He didn't mean to sound upset, but his tone was naturally gruff anyway. Sanji wouldn't bother reading into it.

"It was romantic and we got caught up-"

"I said it's fine," Zoro cut in, standing up to distract Sanji from the fact that he was actually upset. "Let's just forget it happened and-"

"I didn't say we should forget!" Sanji suddenly said. That shut Zoro up. He looked at Sanji, wishing him to elaborate.

"It was a different experience for the both of us, and I liked it…a lot," Sanji began. He leaned his head back to bang lightly on the beam behind him. "I've never felt that way before…" he whispered, loud enough for Zoro to hear.

After processing Sanji's words, he felt more conflicted than ever. "So don't want to forget, but you don't want anything to happen between us?" Zoro clarified. He was swinging blindly here. Sanji was such a drama queen. Who knows what he actually means? It's just a simple yes-or-no question. Doing nothing about it is just the same as forgetting it.

"Yeah…" Sanji finally replied.

Zoro grunted a 'whatever' and left the Crow's Nest, leaving Sanji with his own thoughts.

The next day, everything went back to normal. Not the weather, but rather Zoro and Sanji. They went back to bickering regularly and occasionally getting into fights.

The weather was a bitchy storm trying to tip them over, but they took care of that soon. Now it was just a bad rainy day that had everyone lounging in the kitchen except for Franky who was outside steering the helm and Zoro who was in the Crow's Nest on watch duty.

Sanji was serving everyone drinks and snacks as they did their own anti-boredom activities. Nami and Robin were both reading books; Luffy, Usopp and Chopper were playing some card game that probably has rules set by Usopp and broken by Luffy. Brook was composing a new song, humming as he did so.

He made them some onigiri and different varieties of sushi.

"Oi, don't say it like I don't know how. Before we had you, I was the best out of all of them."

Sanji stopped in his ministrations as the image of Zoro presenting their dinner a few days ago. He looked down and all he could remember was the taste of Zoro's cooking. It was average, to be honest. But not bad at all.

"Nami-san," he spoke up. He was trying to think why he had to speak, but there's no backing out now. "Did Zoro cook for you guys…before you had me?" he asked. Then he mentally slapped himself. Why was he asking about Zoro cooking instead of who cooked for them before Sanji?

Nami didn't seem to notice anything strange as she answered, "Oh yeah. To be honest he was kind of the best out of all of us."

"Oh?" Robin smiled. "That's quite unexpected."

"I know. I thought at first he'd feed us raw meat or something, but it was cooked and seasoned," Nami emphasized the 'seasoned' part.

"Interesting… the saying people aren't always what they seem applies to Zoro," Robin mused.

"Yeah. He acts all big and scary, but he's actually just a big softie who secretly loves-"

The crashing of a plate distracted them all from their conversations as they looked at the blonde chef.

"A-ah, sorry about that," Sanji muttered as he bent to pick it up. Good thing there was no food on it or anything. He held out the two platters of sushi and onigiri and passed it around. Damn it, he wanted to hear what it was that Nami was about to say, but of course he couldn't ask anymore. Damn his clumsiness.

"Here you go, Nami-san, Robin-chan," he gently placed their plates in front of them. The other single and big platter was placed in front of the drooling captain.

Sanji turned to Chopper, Usopp and Brook. "If you guys want your share, you'll have to battle it out with him," he pointed at Luffy.

Usopp and Chopper scrambled to the platter, the cards ignored, and grabbed for the sushi as Sanji exited the kitchen. He held a cola in hand and ran in the rain to give it to Franky, who replied with his signature "Suuuuperrrr". He went back and grabbed a bento box, filling it with each variety of sushi and some onigiri before heading to the Crow's Nest.

When he opened the hatch, he caught Zoro staring out the window looking… dejected. He wasn't sure but he climbed further in and Zoro turned to him, acknowledging his presence.

"Here's a bento for the little Marimo," he said as he placed the bento on the bench beside Zoro.

Zoro muttered a "thanks" and turned back to the window, not paying attention to anything else but the rainfall and the sea.

Sanji stared at him. Something felt off. He felt like he should be saying something as he stared at Zoro's melancholy expression.

"Something wrong?" Zoro asked. His voice slightly above a whisper, taking Sanji back once more to that night. Sanji's heart was beating erratically, just like that night, at that soft voice. It was filled with emotion, but now it was just…dull. Zoro had glanced at him but turned his attention back to the sea.

"Nothing," Sanji answered, turning around and exiting, not turning around and once again, unaware of Zoro's lingering gaze at his back.

It has been a week and a half since their stop at that unnamed island where they spent the Valentines event, and had yet to find another island. Supplies had gone down considerably, though thank God Sanji was used to Luffy's midnight raids, they can still survive for a week, in case they still haven't found land by then.

Not that he wanted to do that. He was itching for dry land after being stuck with the crew for so long; the only thing making it bearable was Nami-san's and Robin-chan's presence.

And what was making it unbearable the most was Zoro. After encountering the sad Zoro up on that crow's nest, he deliberately tried to avoid being alone with the Marimo. It wasn't normally a problem, because on normal days they rarely interact for a casual talk, conversation, or whatever.

Zoro usually left the galley first as soon as he was done with food, takes his beauty sleep… well, anywhere, and trains so much that he drones out everyone. But there were those times when he had to call Zoro in the Crow's Nest, or when they bump into each other, or when Zoro comes into the galley for booze.

Basically anything that involves interaction with Zoro, alone or not.

Around the crew, Zoro acts normally, arguing with Sanji and stuff. And he verbally or physically fights with Sanji, which was also normal. But every time he does it, Sanji couldn't help but think it was all just a façade to hide his sadness.

Was it really? Or was he just overthinking it?

Right now he was in the galley late at night checking their food supplies. Normally, this food would be enough to last them a week, but if he cuts down everyone's meals (and gives Luffy 2 days worth of food instead of his usual 3 days worth per meal), then they might be able to last for a week and a half.

Nami wasn't entirely sure when they would once again stop at an island, but she assumed it will be by the end of that week, which was four days more.

Zoro was currently on watch duty, which meant he'd either be sleeping, working out, or just watching the sea with that melancholic look on the Crow's Nest.

He really didn't want to see that face again. It made him feel guilty for some unknown reason.

Oh who was he kidding? He knew exactly what the reason was. The answer was something he didn't want to acknowledge as correct, but it was the most reasonable one: he shot down Zoro.

Well, he definitely wasn't going to kiss him at that time, no matter how much he wanted it! No wait, he DIDN'T want it! Or maybe he did, only at that time.

He suddenly thought of what could have happened if he decided not to stop the kiss. Unconsciously he closed his eyes as he imagined Zoro holding him at that time. Their lips had already barely touched more than once that night. Why did he have to stop it?

He licked his own lips at the thought of what Zoro's lips would be like. Rough but surprisingly soft and firm, they would slowly massage his lips, and his tongue would dart out, asking for permission. He would open his own lips and grant him entrance, and their flavors would combine. He wondered what Zoro would taste like. Zoro would hold him tighter by the waist and bring them closer-

"Oi! Cook!"

Sanji was pulled out of his thoughts by Zoro's voice. He was currently touching his own lips, in deep thought and was leaning on the counter facing the stove, his back facing Zoro who stood on the other side of the counter.

"What?!" he snapped as he turned to face Zoro.

Zoro tilted his head, observing Sanji, and Sanji felt a bit nervous on what he could've looked like right now. Luckily, Zoro just shook his head and answered. "Booze," he said.

Sanji rolled his eyes. "Tch." Of course.

He took out one bottle from the cabinet he reserved for Zoro's alcohol. They had this agreement that Zoro's booze will only be limited by the size of that section of the cabinet. So if it ran out, that's all Zoro will have for that time until they dock at another island. Although he secretly keeps like 5 barrels of alcohol in the storage in case of celebrations and Zoro's the only one who can finish those.

Slowly he held out the bottle for Zoro to take, not sparing him one glance as he stared at Zoro's hand, which was slowly reaching for the bottle.

Their hands slightly touched at the neck of the bottle. Sanji didn't remove his hand, making Zoro raise an eyebrow.

"Sanji?"

That snapped him out of his thoughts. Zoro never once called him by name. He looked up to find Zoro staring back at him, curiously. They held that gaze for a while, Sanji hesitating on what to do next. Zoro slid his fingers over Sanji's as he observed the blonde for any kind of sign. A scowl of disgust, a frown... but all he got was Sanji looking down hiding his face.

Didn't help though, because Zoro saw how red he was.

Zoro took a step towards him when suddenly a bang against the dining table disturbed the silence, making Sanji flinch and Zoro almost dropping the alcohol but he caught it, much to Sanji's gratefulness.

They turned around to see Luffy on his hands and knees sporting a bump on his head where he hit his head emerging from under the table.

"Er... ehehe, don't mind me," Luffy scratched his head.

Sanji felt a vein throb as Zoro made his exit. He was heading back to the Crow's Nest as he heard Sanji bellowing out loud. "Like hell I will!"