Sorry for the kinda late uploaaddd. Life kinda got ahead of me! But I hope you enjoy33 :D Thanks again for all the awesome reviews and favourites and follows and errythang! Appreciate it all!
Chapter eight: Chopper's resolution
The rain began to pour on the two men as they ran out from the boy's room, both still somewhat dazed in regarding the past events. The two men ran towards the main deck to see Chopper; jaw dropped and eyes wide.
"Oi, Chopper what happened?! Are you okay?" Zoro ran towards his little blue-nosed friend.
"I…The people who…Stole our crew… The-They…Just appeared out of nowhere! They tried to take me but I screamed and used a Rumble Ball and they jumped off the ship... into the mist…I heard them say as they jumped off "Be careful where you travel. For the safety of your crew is now in your hands." Guys, I'm scared…" Chopper was barley choking those words out. He wasn't sure why all these things were happening to the crew, but he was afraid for his nakama. Tears began to fill the little reindeer's big eyes.
The two men looked at one another. Zoro knelt down next to Chopper and whispered in his ear.
"Don't worry, come into the kitchen and all of us will talk. Don't be scared Chopper… Our crew isn't in danger! They have Luffy! Believe in our captain."
Sanji then joined the green haired swordsman in comforting their furry friend.
"Come on, I'll make some snacks…"
The three boys made their way quickly to the kitchen.
The ship was slowly rocking as Sanji put a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies in the oven and sat across Chopper, next to the swordsman. Chopper was beginning to calm down the tears had subsided and he now had a look of determination on his face. He was going to save his nakama! Those two brothers won't stop him.
"Oi Chopper, we'll be at Fushio Island by late afternoon tomorrow… Those two brothers can't do anything to our crew, and anyways, our nakama is strong! There's nothing we can't do." Sanji's attempt to comfort the reindeer seemed to be working. The little reindeer uttered out a little giggle.
"I'm sorry guys… I have just been so worried about our crew all my emotions were going crazy!" Chopper was slowly returning to his old happy-go-lucky self. Both cook and swordsmen were incredibly relieved.
The timer went off.
"COOKIES!" Chopper cheerfully said as he enthusiastically clapped and jumped up and down on his seat.
"You bet! Chocolate chip too!" Sanji smiled as he pulled out the tray of fresh golden brown cookies. Chopper leaped out of his chair and began to jump up and down around Sanji.
"Not yet! They need to cool off! I don't want you burning yourself or something; you are the doctor remember!" Sanji laughed as he got out plates and cups. Zoro was smiling to himself; he missed joking around with the crew. He was really beginning to miss them.
Once the cookies cooled down, Sanji placed a few on each plate and poured them each a glass of milk. What else is better than milk and cookies?
"Oh shittyswordsmaannn.." The cook cooed at the green haired man.
"What is it, love-cook?" Zoro said, annoyed at the cooks beckon.
"Did you want sake or milk with your cookies?" Sanji teased as he placed the plates down on the table.
"…Do I really have a choice..?" Zoro hesitated and raised one eyebrow in suspicion.
"Nope!" Sanji grinned as he placed the glass of milk in front of the swordsman.
"I knew it…" The green haired man rolled his eyes and took a bite out of the warm cookies the cook prepared for them. They were delicious; mushy and sweet, just how Zoro liked it!
Chopper was the first to tell Sanji how delicious the cookies were, although the blonde had a pretty good idea considering the two nakama had already gone up for seconds.
"I'm glad you guys like the cookies! So are you ready for tomorrow Chopper?" Sanji cautiously asked. He didn't want to get the reindeer worked up again.
"Oh yeah I am!" Exclaimed the blue-nosed reindeer- "We're gonna show them they can't do what they want with OUR nakama!" Chopper said as he stood on his chair with one cookie in his hand and fist pumped in the air as if to say "Let's kick some ass!"
"That's the Chopper I remember!" Zoro smiled at the courage Chopper was showing! How he had changed within these few days…
Chopper continued on about how they were gonna beat those two Kleening brothers up. Both blonde and green haired man stopped paying attention within a few minutes.
The cook looked at Zoro and to his surprise the green haired man was already staring at him. Zoro couldn't help but stare into the blonde's deep blue eyes. Both men blushed and quickly turned towards Chopper in embarrassment. While Sanji was pretending to listen to Chopper's heroic speech, he did something that he would have never EVER imagined he'd do in a million years. Sanji reached under the table and rested his hand on Zoro's knee. Alarmed at the cook's touch, the swordsman looked at Sanji whose cheeks were becoming a light pink. Zoro felt butterflies fill his stomach, and with a smirk and a playful laugh Zoro reached his hand under the table and placed his hand over the cook's and gently squeezed. The light pink on the blonde's face was turning to a dark red.
Sanji couldn't believe what just happened! He felt those butterflies in his stomach again. It was incredible how one simple action could make the blonde feel so happy…
"And that's how we are going to get our nakama BACK!" Chopper loudly exclaimed with such courage it caused both men's heads to immediately turn towards their furry nakama.
"Mmm… I like it Chopper, but let's go over it in the morning again okay?" Sanji happily smiled, hoping the little reindeer wouldn't see right through it.
"Alright Sanji! Sounds like a plan!" Chopper said as he sat down with his half eaten cookie.
"The one thing I'm curious about is how those two brothers got on our ship…" Zoro said as he swished the rest of his milk around in his cup. "We must be getting very close, then eh Sanji?"
"I've been worried about that too. We can't do anything rash; the fate of our nakama really is in our hands." Sanji inhaled the fresh nicotine of his cigarette, leaned back and blew a cloud of smoke towards the ceiling. "We're in a damn rough situation."
"But we'll do it! Right Sanji? Get our crew back..?" Chopper said looking towards Sanji, his eyes filled with hope.
"Of course Chopper! But I'm going to take a nap; I'm not used to night watch…" With a yawn the blonde got up, placed the plates in the sink and went to the boy's room.
"Oi Chopper, let's surprise the cook!" Zoro grinned as he got up and began to rinse the dishes and motioned for Chopper to help dry.
"Good idea Zoro! Sanji alwaaays does the dishes! Let's give him a break for a change!" Chopper absolutely loved the idea of making Sanji smile. Since all Sanji has been doing was trying to make him smile!
The two friends washed and put away the dishes with ease. They then decided to attempt to clean the kitchen. Chopper cleaned the floor as Zoro began to wipe off the counter and clean the table.
"Cook's gonna be in for a surprise!" Zoro exclaimed as he hugged Chopper tightly.
"Yeah! I don't know how Sanji does this every day…" Chopper slowly stated as he wondered if he could handle being a cook for this crazy crew.
"He's a pretty amazing guy…" Zoro said under his breath. Once the swordsman realized what he had said his face turned a bright pink, hoping Chopper didn't hear.
"You two seemed to be getting along much better, I like it…" Chopper stated with a smile.
"Yeah, we are…I like it too!" Zoro never gave it much thought but Sanji was the only guy his age in their crew. Luffy was okay, but he's always so hyper and getting into trouble. Usopp is like Luffy in too many ways. Franky and Brook are too old. Chopper's great but Zoro felt he couldn't tell him the things he could tell the cook. And the only one Zoro could ever want, was the cook.
Nearly asleep Sanji, heard the floorboard's creak as he saw a shadow swiftly enter the room.
"Oi marimo, I'm sleeping go away." Sanji said as he shooed away the swordsman.
"How did you know it was me?"
Taken aback by how close the voice was Sanji flinched a little. He felt a hand gingerly begin to play with his hair.
"Just a guess…" Sanji could feel Zoro's warm breath against the nape of his neck, the sensation comforted him in a way he'd never experienced before.
"Cook, Chopper and I have a surprise for you in the kitchen for when you wake upp…" Zoro taunted the cook and gently poked the blonde's cheek.
"Oh boy…You didn't break anything right?" Sanji's voice was becoming quieter every second; his eye lids were feeling heavy. "Zoro…" Sanji whispered and turned to look at the swordsman.
Zoro's eyes lit up with shock. That was the first time the cook had ever called him by his name, it felt perfect.
"Hmm..?" Zoro whispered and kissed the blonde's nose and noticed a faint smile appear on Sanji's face.
"Stay here with me…" Sanji's voice turned to a faint mumble.
"I was hoping you were going to say that… Oi, when we get the crew back-"Sanji cut Zoro off.
"Shushh..I don't want to think about anything else right now. Being here, on the floor next to you is all I want… It may sound…Selfish but…" Sanji's voice trailed off he couldn't stay awake any longer. The last thing the blonde felt was the tingling touch of Zoro's lips pressed against his neck. With one sleepy smile the cook lost consciousness and fell into a deep sleep.
Zoro was hesitant to lay his head on the cook's chest. Sanji's breathing was slow and relaxed. Reassured by the cook's breathing, Zoro decided to continue where he left off.
"When we get the crew back… I don't want what we have to change…Sanji, I'm really starting to fall for you. For you and your silky blonde hair, those deep sea blue eyes that make me feel as if I'm home each time I look into them, your smile, your laugh and most of all how perfect you are…" Zoro's voice faded to a light whisper as he too slowly lost consciousness.
"Your cooking… Just a bonus…" Where Zoro's final words as he fell victim to the rhythm of the cook's breathing which made the swordsman feel safer than he'd ever felt before.
