Chapter two: Mission begins!
"God dammit marimo, wake up! And what's with the dopy smile on your face?!" Hearing the cook's real voice made the green haired man wake up and come back to reality. Unfortunately dreams couldn't last forever. Groggy from his awaken sleep Zoro growled at the cook and shooed him away.
"Oi, shitty swordsman we have a long day ahead of us if you don't get up now I swear I will throw you out of this crow's nest." Although he was smiling at the thought of throwing the green haired man down to the ship's main deck; he was serious. The swordsman slept enough!
"I'll meet you in the kitchen for breakfast, Chopper's already up!" Sanji flicked the swordsman's forehead. And with that, the blonde climbed down the crow's nest and walked back to the kitchen.
"Gah, fine I'm up." Zoro clumsily descended the rope leading to the deck. His foot tangled with the last bit of rope, he fell onto the deck and began to admire the blue sky as if he totally meant to do that.
"Oi, shitty cook, what's for breakfast?" Zoro's stomach growled for some rice balls. Fresh ones Sanji made just for him; and Chopper of course. Zoro made his way towards the kitchen rubbing his eye. As he walked in he saw Sanji and Chopper. Chopper was feeling much better after his goodnight's sleep. Thank goodness too, now they could get some information from the little guy!
"I don't know yet, what did you want?" The cook looked up at Zoro with caring deep blue eyes. The swordsmen, once again surprised by the blonde's recent kindness just stood there for a moment processing what the cook just asked.
What do I want?! Wow… Zoro couldn't believe his ears. Was this a dream too? No it couldn't be.
"RICE BALLS!" Zoro exclaimed happily. Hell, if this was reality or a dream, who cares, he wanted rice balls.
"Well alright then … Hey Chopper, why don't you fill in our little green haired friend about what happened last night?" Sanji gently asked Chopper knowing his friend could break down in tears at any moment.
Sanji knew Zoro loved rice balls. Making a dish for the marimo was a new experience for him. He liked it. It felt different than cooking for Nami-san or Robin-chan. Cooking for Zoro felt more honest. Why? He wasn't sure. All he knew was he enjoyed it much more, he wanted to see the reaction of the swordsman face once he ate some of his cooking that was meant just for him; and Chopper of course.
"Alright!" Chopper happily agreed and smiled at Zoro. Zoro sat next to the blue-nosed reindeer. The swordsman anticipated the reindeer's first words. He prayed his little friend would not burst into tears, Zoro knew the guilt weighing down the little guy's shoulders was nearly unbearable.
"So what happened, Chopper?"
"Okay… Bear with me okay?"
"Sure thing."
"Okay! Just as they took Nami one of the guys said like… "Let's hurry up and take them to the Boss. He will have to rank us higher now. The Kleening brothers will soon be a name heard around the Grand Line!" And then Luffy knocked out who might have been their navigator because the guy holding Luffy said "Goddammit! How are we gonna get to Fushio Island now?!" I mean now we know where they are right? And doesn't Nami have a map of the New World?" Choppers innocent face was filled up with hope.
"Yeah she does" Sanji stated as he was serving the rice balls to the remaining crew. "I'll go get it, I'll be right back!" With that, the blonde sprinted out of the room and within seconds he was back sitting across from Zoro.
"Yosh! Let's see here. Does anyone know how to read a map..?" Chopper helplessly asked.
"I do! Hand it over, cook." Zoro insisted as he took the map from the cook.
"Oh no no no no no no no." Sanji shook his head and stole the map back. "If anyone is reading this map it will be ME. You always get lost you shitty marimo. You think we'll let you read a map?" Sanji laughed and spread the map out on the table.
"Whatever… But if YOU get us lost, don't be crying to me, shitty cook." Zoro retorted and rolled his eyes. He knew the cook was right, but he would never admit it.
Zoro took a bite of the rice ball. His taste buds filled with sweetness. How did the cook know he liked them sweet..? Did he ever tell him…? No he didn't. No one's ever made rice balls sweet enough to Zoro's liking. He was amazed by how much effort the cook put into these. It felt like he really did make them just for him! Zoro began to daydream about the cook some more but was once again interrupted by the cook's real voice.
"So north we go!" Exclaimed the cook as he headed towards the helm.
"Wait what…?" Zoro missed out on the whole conversation. "Yeah north we go…" Zoro muttered and raised a fist in excitement, although he really had no clue what was happening.
"You totally missed out on the whole damn conversation didn't you?" The cook just shook his and pointed to the map. "Us here. Fushio Island there. North there. North go. Us." The cook spoke slowly and choppily in hopes the marimo would understand.
"Well when you put it like that… I'm NOT THAT STUPID, COOK." The green haired man exclaimed, his eye twitched with rage. That damn cook, always getting on his nerves.
"Looks really are deceiving then huh, Chopper?" Sanji winked and laughed. Getting under that dammed marimo's skin really was his favourite thing to do. For some reason that aggravated look on the swordsman face made the cook fall for him more.
Chopper closed his eyes "I'm not here" he whispered as he plugged his ears. This wasn't something Chopper wanted to get into.
Zoro and Sanji both laughed a little then smiled at each other. Maybe they could get along A LITTLE after all. The cook got up to steer the helm northbound.
"Hey…Uh, cook?" Zoro stuttered nervously. He hated expressing his emotions, especially to that damn blonde.
"What is it marimo?" Sanji hoped he was going to say something about the rice balls. He felt so stupid for feeling this way about the swordsman but what could he do. Even though the damn marimo has never called him by his name ONCE when he calls him "cook" it tends to give him butterflies. The uncertainty in the swordsman's voice made Sanji a little nervous but he loved the feeling.
"Those rice balls… Uh…They were amazing… Do you always make them sweet like that?" Zoro spat out the last words so fast and quietly a part of him wished the cook wouldn't hear.
"You…Liked them?" Sanji was shocked. He took a chance making them that sweet. The green haired swordsman just seemed like the kind of guy who would like them sweet, that's all…
"Of course! I love them sweet like that! Did Luffy tell you!?" Zoro was glad he made the cook show his nervousness. He always kept his cool so for Zoro, that was an achievement.
"No no, you just seemed like the kind of guy who would go for sweet things … er like that." Pink began to cover the blonde's cheeks he could feel it spreading across his face. Why did he have to embarrass himself like that!? He's just a marimo… A perfect one.
"Thanks again, cook…Hey did you wanna spar for a bit? We could let off some steam, but let's not break the ship this time. Franky would kill us!" Zoro felt like sparring could help them get closer. Also he just loves the face the cook makes when Zoro takes him by surprise and gets the upper hand.