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Sanji woke with a start. He was lying to the side, his eyes still closed, he didn't want to open them and confirm that he had actually slept in. because he could recall waking up a few times before, his biological clock kept bugging to wake him up in the usual hour he rose every morning. But he couldn't bring himself to open his eyes and peel himself away from the pleasant warmth against him.
Screw work. The old man and other chefs can manage by themselves for one day—Ahh, who was he kidding?! The old man would kick the shit out of him and nag on him forever. The kicking he can tolerate, but the nagging… not so much. That would make the old man say other shit he's been holding for a while and Sanji wasn't ready for a talk just yet.
Reluctantly, the blond opened his eyes and was greeted by Aki's butt in his face. The boy was in the same position he slept in last night, except, he had climbed a little higher over Zoro, probably laying his head on Zoro's throat and blocking air from going to his lungs −He had been there− Sanji let out a small chuckle as he nuzzled closer to swordsman's arm and let his eyes close for a moment. He sighed, taking in the scent that was pressing against him, all around him… Sanji was inhaling deeply before he could catch himself.
Suddenly, Zoro rumbled, "You up, cook?" Startling Sanji who immediately unattached himself from the Marimo.
He rose on his hands to look over At Zoro's face. He could feel the heat spreading on his own face from being caught doing something so embarrassing.
"Did I…uh, Did I wake you?" He had to ask. God, he'd feel so fucking bad if he had disturbed the man just because he wanted to cuddle for a bit. Damn it what is he, a high school girl?
"No. I've been awake for a while now." The swordsman said. "I didn't want to move and wake up Aki. "
Just great. So, he was awake all the time?! It's fucking worse than disturbing his sleep! "Oh," Sanji said dumbly. "It's fine. Aki is a heavy sleeper. Just—Here let me." Gently removing the sleeping boy off of Zoro, His father placed him back on the pillows.
Zoro got up with a groan. "Damn, that felt…" Zoro trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck so the joints cracked audibly.
"Told you." Sanji smirked before he stood and pulled the covers over Aki. "Hey, I don't think I have time to eat breakfast so I'll make you something real quick, alright?"
"Nah, that's fine. I'll just have coffee."
"I can make somethin—"
"I'll eat with Aki when he wakes up."
"Okay…" Sanji shrugged. "You can come to the restaurant if you want."
"Sure." Zoro smiled, heading out of the bedroom. Sanji guessed to the bathroom.
As the green-haired man disappeared through the door, A grin took its place on his face as he strode to the kitchen, feeling better than he had for weeks, months…even years. He doesn't remember when was the last time he had slept so good at night. But it felt good to have it back.
He checked the wall clock by the kitchen door and realized he'd be more than late for work. A phone call should be enough for Zeff to not freak out on him…if only he could remember where did he put his phone−Ah! He didn't bring anything with him except for Aki last night! Not his cell phone, wallet, nor clothes!
"God damn it!" he cursed as he pulled out kettle and filled it with water. He really have to go back to his apartment now. He didn't think he'll have to face that shitty thing again. not this soon at least.
First, his old man. The marimo's phone! Sanji thought as he set the kettle on the stove and rushed out of the kitchen. "Hey, Marimo. Can use your phone?" He called.
"Go ahead." Came Zoro's voice called back from the bathroom. "It's plugged in near the TV."
"Got it. Thanks." Sanji said, grabbing said phone and sent his old man a text saying that everything is alright but he's going to be late. He placed the phone back in its place and turned to the kitchen. Knowing his old man though, he stood still. 3, 2, 1.
And the phone rang. His old man's number flashing on the screen. He answered.
"Who's the heck is this?" Zeff's voice came down the line.
"The hell old man! How many Sanjis do you know?" Sanji snapped.
"Oh, it's you. Why didn't it show your name?" Zeff asked.
"Cause this isn't my number!"
"Why didn't you say so?"
"I said so in the message! I made sure to put my name at the end too!" Sanji said low, his patience growing thinner by the second.
"Hmh." The old man grunted. "Didn't get to that part yet."
"Are you kidding me? Are fucking testing my patience?"
"Shut up, brat, or I'll kick you through the phone." Zeff growled. "What's the matter? Did you set the kid on fire?"
"Funny. Oh, you're so damn funny I'm dying here." Sanji rolled his eyes. "It's nothing, I'll just be late for a bit."
"Why?" Zeff's voice became very serious so suddenly.
"It's really nothing, old man." Sanji sighed softly. Would it hurt him to trust me a little? "Really, I'll tell you when I come."
"Fair enough. Don't be too late or I'll fire you."
Sanji snickered. "Like you'd do that."
"Come late and we'll see what happen." The old man grumbled and then Sanji heard a faint sound of clothes rustling.
"Hang up before you shove your phone into your pocket, shit-head." He sighed and rolled his eyes dramatically at his old man's idiocy. This man is hopeless when it came to technology. He though as he hung up.
"What's that about?" Zoro was suddenly by his side. In his shirtless glory.
Sanji flinched comically, almost dropping the green-haired man's phone in the process. "God! Make a sound when come into the room!" He snapped, mostly at himself for being this paranoid for no reason. It's just Zoro and he knew it.
Zoro didn't say anything and settled for narrowing his eyes at the other man.
"What?" Sanji asked.
"Nothing. I was thinking of a way to announce my presence next time I walk into a room."
"Don't think too much or you'll lose what few brain cells in that moss-head of yours." He said before going around the swordsman and towards the kitchen.
Zoro glared after the cook, eyeing the kitchen door when he disappeared through it like it had done something bad to the swordsman. The cook was acting suspicious. He really should sit and talk with him properly and hear the full truth from the cook. That's, if Sanji was willing to tell him anything… at all. Zoro hung his head, defeated.
He really wants Sanji to be honest with him and speak to him about the problem he's got himself into. He even looked like he wanted to say something a couple of times now, but something was stopping him, something Zoro couldn't quite put his finger on. What was it? How difficult is it for the cook to talk about it?
Maybe he couldn't find the right moment? Zoro guessed. Probably. They hadn't had a chance to talk about anything to be exact. It's always either Aki or someone else interrupting them—not that he thought that Aki was in his way, No. the boy was completely clueless of what's going on around him. Zoro felt sorry for him.
So, He felt the need to fix this. It wasn't right. No matter what Sanji thought, Aki didn't deserve this and the idiot cook should be more happy and honest with himself and his son. He obviously wanted to have a normal father−son relationship with his son. From what he had said when he was drunk, Therefore, if this went on longer…Zoro didn't want to imagine how things could get for them when Aki grew up. It'd be ugly.
If only he could have a night without Aki around, perhaps he could bring the cook to talk?
Zoro heaved a sighed as he couldn't really muster any plan at the moment. He cannot think with an empty stomach—That's when the rich coffee aroma invaded not only his sense of smell, but he sweared that he can taste the heavenly, smooth liquid coating his tongue, the warmth sliding down his throat. Damn, this is the same coffee he makes every morning, right? Why does it smell so different when Sanji is the one who made it this time? And just from the smell of it, Zoro knew it tastes a hundred times better than the coffee he makes.
All thoughts shoved aside by the alluring smell of the hot beverage, Zoro sauntered to the kitchen. almost bumping into the cook who was making his way out with two mugs in his hands.
"Whoa there! Watch it, Marimo!" Sanji yelled, biting down his lip immediately as he slowly turned his head toward Zoro's bedroom where Aki was sleeping.
When no sound came from the room, he shoved the warm mug into Zoro's hand. "Here, I'm going to my apartment to change my clothes before I head to work."
"You going to be alright there?" Zoro smirked, taking a sip from his coffee. "The spider might still be in there."
A visible shudder ran through Sanji's body as the words left Zoro's mouth. He really didn't want to go near his bedroom—No it's probably out by now. Which means he had no idea where that damn creature is. It could be on the wall above the front door waiting for someone to enter the apartment to attack them and—Argh! Another shudder shook the cooks body. Gods, he didn't want to go near his apartment.
"I can handle it." He said, pried too high to ask Zoro to go and kill the damn thing.
"Okay." Zoro shrugged, taking another sip before turning his back to him.
Damn marimo! Wear a fucking shirt.
The cook huffed, placing his mug on the small coffee table next to the couch and sprinting outside.
"Alright, this is going to be easy. Just get a change of clothes from my room, my wallet and keys on the coffee table, and… argh, where did I put my phone?" Sanji stood frozen in front of his apartment door, planning on what he's going to before he opened the door. It's going to be fast and safe. Then he'll call a bug exterminator to do the job.
The problem is, Sanji couldn't bring himself to move. His hand is on the doorknob but he couldn't muster the strength to open it. it's just… he can't handle these creatures. They were disgusting and really dangerous and damn fast. The last part didn't bother him thought as how disgusting it were. God, only thinking about it is making his skin crawl.
Maybe he could borrow something to wear from Zoro? He thought. Despite Zoro's awful sense of fashion, Sanji will look over it this time since he's going to change into his Chef's whites once he was at the restaurant. But still he'd have to walk all the way there in Zoro's clothes. Also, going back to Zoro's apartment empty handed after what he'd said just now didn't settle good with Sanji.
And so, Sanji took a calming breath and pushed the door open. Taking a quick glance up over the doorframe to see if the spider was really waiting for someone to get in. and to his relief, he found nothing, which made him chuckle to himself. Of course it won't be there. Spiders aren't smart, they can't plan like that… or can they?
Sanji shook his head and continued to his room, looking around cautiously for the spider. Taking very careful steps and looking over his shoulder just in case it was behind him. That's when something soft brushed against his cheek and it suddenly got dark—!
000
Zoro, who'd finally put a shirt on, was still enjoying his cup of coffee. He's now sitting comfortably on his couch, thinking of how good his life could be if he always started his morning with this coffee, after waking up from a good sleep next to the blond man.
His face broke into a big goofy smile,−that he'd never show to anyone− as he remembered how Sanji snuggled up against him in his sleep last night. "He's a cuddler then." Zoro mused. He'd never been fond of cuddling, but when Sanji did it, it felt different. All he wanted to do was move his arm a little bit so he could pull the blond closer, but it wasn't really possible to move with Aki on top of him like that—!
A loud screech pulled him harshly from his thoughts. He instantly recognized Sanji's voice. It was close to the scream he heard last night before he found them on the balcony. But this one was worse, it sounded more frightened and kind of muffled…?
Zoro was on his feet before another thought could float into his mind. He heard a loud thump and a yelp as he dashed into the cook's apartment. The cook better not got himself bitten or anything. He didn't want to suck a spider bite to get the poison out, though, he'd like to suck on something else.
Pushing all inappropriate thoughts away, he found the cook trashing and cursing while rubbing his forehead and kicking away a poor jacket that was probably hanged on the coats peg that was lying on the floor near Sanji's feet.
"Motherfucker." the cook made indignant noise as he kicked the poor fabric.
"What was that just now?" Zoro asked. He had to make sure.
"What was what?" Sanji asked bitterly, A red tint was also spreading on his cheeks for having the man catch him cursing when he was nagging at him to watch his mouth.
"Did it get you? The spider?"
"No! I haven't seen it yet!"
"Then why the hell did you scream like that?!"
"Shut up, I didn't scream!" Sanji yelled his face getting darker by the second.
"I'm pretty sure I heard a scream just now." Zoro muttered as the cook turned away.
Sanji on the other hand, was furiously rubbing his burning face. "I'm going to find something to kill this thing with." How could he tell Zoro that he accidently ran into this stupid coats peg and thought that it was the spider! He'd rather die than be the marimo's laughing stock. Besides, he should remove the stupid coats peg and place it somewhere else it was in the fucking way.
The cook quickly went to the living room and found his keys and wallet laying on the coffee table just like he remembered. He'll get back to fetch them later. First was the suit. From his room. Where the spider was last night.
"Alright, I can fucking do this." He muttered lowly, encouraging himself. He saw Zoro step closer to him holding a rolled-up newspaper. Clever. Sanji thought. He could've come up with this idea too but his problem was holding himself still and actually hit the shitty thing instead of focusing on getting away from it. So what he originally thought was to find a pair of shoes and throw 'em at the spider from very, very far distance. Cause some spiders can jump, obviously.
"This is the only thing I could find." Zoro said when Sanji gave him a weird look.
"This'll do. It's in my room." Sanji said, pushing the man to walk in front of him, a silent way to tell him to Please kill that spider. Not that he'd say it out loud, but he hoped Zoro would catch on. "I'm right behind you."
"Alright, don't push!" Zoro grumbled, what was he thinking worrying about this idiot. Seriously, how big this spider could be to scare a man this big?
"What are you doing?!" Sanji suddenly asked.
"What?" Zoro said dumbly.
"This!" He pointed at the newspaper hanging limply in Zoro's hand at his side. "It's your weapon! Hold it properly! Aren't you a swordsman?" he grumbled pushing Zoro's forearm up and showing Zoro how to hold a wepon.
Zoro narrowed his eyes at the cook, offended. "This is not a sword!" He said matter-of-factly.
"No. That thing is fast! Hold it right!" Sanji waved his hand. Not giving a shit about what Zoro said.
"Alright, don't get your panties in a bunch." He said mockingly, holding the damn newspaper up. Che, like a sword. "Stay close, cook."
Sanji glared at the back of Zoro's head as he recognized that tone, he hated being treated like that but he brought this upon himself. though he couldn't say anything now. He wanted the spider dead first. Then he'll kill the Marimo. So, he'll let it slide for now.
"—Did you hear that?" Zoro said, coming to a sudden halt which made Sanji bump into him.
"Eh? What?" Sanji peeked his head over Zoro's shoulder.
"It's the sound of your bones shaking, cook! Calm down! It's more afraid of you than you are of it."
"Shut up and move before I strangle you!" Sanji yelled wrapping his finger around the swordsman neck for emphasize.
Zoro laughed and smacked Sanji's hands away from his neck as he started to move once again towards the cook's room, curly brow hot on his tail.
Sanji continued to glare at the Marimo's head, looking around cautiously every now and then. His hand unconsciously moved and took hold of the back of Zoro's shirt, his grip tightened when they finally stepped into his room.
After looking around the room, Zoro moved to the bed and lifted the covers. "It's not here." He sighed.
"You think it left?" Sanji's head perked up, expectantly.
"Maybe." The green haired man said, "But don't let your guard down." He added with a smirk. He was having so much fun.
"Yeah, yeah, shut…" He looked down and Saw his hand clutching tightly on Zoro's shirt, "—Up!" He abruptly let go and went to his closet, pulled out the first suit, a white dress shirt, and turned back to the Marimo. "Bring that with you," He pointed his phone on the nightstand behind Zoro.
Zoro shrugged and grabbed Sanji's phone and followed him outside, taking his time eyeing the cook's ass as he walked in front of him, enjoying the view as his eyes trailed over the cook's body. He snapped out of it when Sanji rounded the couch and his ass disappeared behind it. And from the way Sanji was looking sideways so fast, he could see how the cook would die today. Not from a spider bite, not from a heart attack when the spider comes out, but from his neck snapping from looking around so fast.
If he was that scared of spiders he shouldn't have come to get his stuff. Zoro, would have brought 'em if he asked.
"God—! What was that?!" Sanji yelped, suddenly behind Zoro and clutching his shirt again.
Zoro blinked in surprise at how quick the cook was. "What?"
"I heard something move."
"I didn't hear Any—"
A click from the front door caught the men's attention before a tiny blond head peeked into the apartment. "Zorooo? Sanjiii?" Sniffled Aki.
"Aki! Don't move! Stay where you are!" Sanji called and Aki froze in his place.
"Why does this look like some kind of shitty movie?!" Zoro growled at the cook over his shoulder.
"You wouldn't want this to be a shitty movie! People always die in spiders mov—OH GOD THERE IT IS!" The cook yelled making the Zoro and Aki jump before he grabbed Zoro's head and forcefully turned it towards the living room where a flash of black appeared.
"Ack—!" Zoro's legs slightly bent as the cook climbed them up and took the opportunity to stand on thighs while clutching his green hair. How did the cook move so freaking fast, Zoro had no idea. Not that he could concentrate from the pain, though. They were both screaming now, Zoro from the pain from the Sanji's vice-like grip on his hair, And Sanji yelling in horror for Aki to get to safety. Probably scaring the poor boy even more.
Said poor boy ran out from where he came, slamming the door shut behind him.
"LET GO OF ME, COOK!" Zoro yelled, feeling kind of dizzy as his head throbbed.
Sanji was a lost cause though, not even listening as he took the freedom to yell obscenities since Aki's gone now.
When Zoro finally managed to get the cook off of him, Sanji wasted no time in marching forward and taking hold of one of the small cushions on the couch in both hands and let out a mad laugh; like he was some kind of serial killer ready to suffocate his victim with it. but that thought left his head as the idiot cook closed his eyes and swished the cushion around, once, twice—Sanji kept blindly smacking a spot furiously for a couple times before the pillow slipped from his hands and got Zoro straight on the face. Then, Another pillow was in hands again smacking around blindly with his eyes closed.
"Stop!" Zoro growled. "I think you got it!" he held the cook's arm when Sanji didn't seem to hear him.
Sanji, who's panting heavily by now, glanced over at him with one big eye. "Did I get it?" He asked, still holding the small pillow to his chest.
Zoro's eyes widened for a second. "You got it alright." He said pointing to the pillow. "It's not dead though."
Then it was as if everything went into slow motion with horrible opera music playing the background. he watched as the cook dropped the pillow and started running around the coffee table and threw anything he could get his hands on, on the poor spider. All in slow motion.
Zoro got into action by the fifth round and pulled the freighted idiot into his arms and dragged him out of the apartment.
That was not what he's expected. The spider wasn't even that big, But whatever the cook had with spiders, it was real and he should never be near them. What was he thinking acting tough like that?! Zoro thought as he slammed the door shut and leant against it, cook still in arms, trembling like mad.
"Oi," Zoro whispered, and Sanji flinched. "You okay?" he asked while rubbing the cook's back gently to make him calm down."It's gone now…I'm pretty sure you got it this time."
Sanji was nowhere to be calm though, in fact his breath caught in his throat and he clutched Zoro's shirt tightly. He's panicking. Zoro thought, he could feel Sanji's whole body shaking against him, his breath becoming harsh and shallow as he suffered to breathe.
"Calm down, cook!" Zoro said.
"No—It's…I.." Sanji stuttered, not able to form any kind of word. His breath getting faster and Zoro could sense the panic for real now.
"Look at me." Zoro said firmly, holding Sanji's shoulders and pushing him gently so he could look him in the eye.
Sanji's visible eye is closed tightly, so the swordsman gives him a light shake in an attempt to make him open his eyes. When Sanji's doesn't, Zoro cups his face in his hands and steadies him. "Sanji!" He said, sternly. "Look at me. Just Look at me!" Sanji finally opens his eye and look at him. Icy blue eye blinks at him.
"Good, now take a deep breath and relax." He smiled, stroking the blond's cheek with his thumb.
Sanji did as he was told and took a long, deep breath and allowed his body to relax against Zoro's body which welcomed him by wrapping his arms around him.
"Yeah, that's it…" Zoro breathed in his ear, causing the cook to slump against him.
They stayed like this for a while, Sanji catching his breath while the swordsman whispered soothing words in his ear and kissing his temple with each word.
"I'm okay now." Sanji whispered, not sure if the other heard him or not.
"Okay." Zoro said, not making a move to let go of the blond.
"We're outside, you know." Sanji informed.
"I know."
"People can see us."
"No one lives on this floor except us and Luffy and Ace."
"That doesn't mean I want them to see us…" Sanji pushing himself of the man before giving him a light kick to the shin.
Zoro huffed a hint of a smile tugging on his lips.
"Sanjiiii? Zorooooooo…?" The whine came from Zoro's apartment.
"Aki!" They said, and Sanji immediately sprinted to the rescue.
"I'll get your stuff." Zoro called after the cook.
"Get something for Aki to wear too!" Sanji called back from inside Zoro's apartment.
"Yeah, yeah.." Zoro mumbled as he went back into Sanji's apartment. He could see the remnants of the poor spider under the pillow Sanji was holding earlier. So, the cook did manage to kill it. he chuckled as he collected Sanji's stuff and went to get something for Aki.
When he got back to his apartment, he found Sanji struggling to get Aki to wash his face. Whatever happened just now forgotten like it never happened.
"I got your clothes, Cook!" Zoro said, dumping said clothes on the couch. "Quit playing and go to work."
"I'm not playing…" Sanji sighed, "And you are going with me, so get your butt moving and put on some clothes."
"Hah?"
"Clothes. What you wear when you go out."
"I know what clothes are, shit-cook! Why are we going with you now?"
"First, Watch your tongue, Marimo!" Sanji hissed dangerously. "Second, if you hadn't noticed yet, Aki is up now so why not come with me and have breakfast at the restaurant now?"
The cook was right. But Zoro didn't want to admit that loudly. He forgot that they were going to the restaurant for breakfast when Aki woke up, so he just scoffed and went to his room.
They were all ready and left in a half an hour. Another more half-hour till they got to the restaurant because a certain green-haired bastard kept taking random turns on his own.
"If you weren't holding Aki's hand just then, I would've left you go around that building all day!" Sanji's voice rang through the Baratie's kitchen as they walked through the back door.
"I didn't do that! You were going the wrong way!" Zoro accused. "Ask Aki."
"Yup, Sanji did~!" Aki yipped happily.
"I just got turned once because of you—!"
"Well, well, well. What have we got here?" Came Zeff's voice. He sounded pleased and Sanji hated it when Zeff sounded pleased.
"Nothing!" Sanji growled, walking past the old man.
"Daddy~" Aki hopped to his grandfather happily.
"Yo," Zoro greeted.
"Don't 'yo' me." Zeff grumbled, Giving Zoro an unimpressed stare as he picked up Aki. "It's good morning or how are you doing." He scolded.
"Good morning." Zoro grumbled back, crossing his arms like five-year- old.
Zeff ignored the sulky green-haired man though and turned to Aki, "How is my favorite boy doing?"
"Good~" Aki chirped. "We sleep over with Zoro~" He clapped his hands happily.
"You did?" Zeff raised a brow, before sending Zoro a questioning look. Since Sanji stormed to the staff room without anyone noticing. Zoro was left Alone with the old man. Which was good, because he could interrogate him all he want. Though, he didn't want to stick his nose in their business, again, but Aki being with them when they slept over was concerning. "Care to explain?" He asked the man.
"There was a spider." Zoro said shortly and the old man's face changed comically from serious to one who's trying to hold his laughter.
"No need to explain any further." Zeff said. "I can tell what happened."
"So, that fear was serious?" Zoro asked. He didn't doubt what Sanji had, but he wanted to know more. "Is it a childhood trauma or something?"
"Something like that." Zeff nodded, remembering all the times he sneaked a fake tarantula under Sanji's pillow when he was younger. How many times he had forced the boy to watch horror spider movies with him. All to make him get over his fears. When you fear something, Face it; That's what he'd wanted to teach Sanji. but it didn't turn out like he'd predicted. Now, He wouldn't even watch that Spiderman movie too.
Zoro's mouth turned into a grimace from the sadistic look in the old man's face.
He was led to the front of the restaurant to same table he sat at when he first came, by the kitchen. And Aki was thrust into his arms before the old man stormed into the kitchen after hearing a loud crash.
Sliding into his seat next to Zoro, Aki mimicked the green-haired man and placed his tiny arms on the table which he could barely reach.
Feeling sorry for how the boy suffered to keep himself from sliding off his seat and keeping his arms on the table, Zoro removed his own arms and placed them on his lap before patting Aki on the head.
"You'll hurt yourself if keep trying so hard." Zoro chuckled. "No one will yell at you if you did what you want." He said, recalling all the times Aki seemed like he wanted to say or do something but he'd changed his mind instantly. Those times would always turn Aki's mood. He'd lose interests in what he's doing, he'd look dejected and show that awful sad smile, an expression that was not suited for a four-year-old kid.
A confused blue eye looked up at him, "Daddy said I should be a good boy." He said.
"You are a good boy." Zoro asserted. "You can do as you want, Sanji will be happy if you do."
"But daddy.."
"I know what he said," He smiled. "That doesn't mean you can't do anything! If you want something just ask Sanji or me and we'll tell you if it is bad or good."
"Then I want to play with Momo!" Aki perked up.
"That we can do." Zoro chuckled at the sudden request, but glad nonetheless.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Aki squealed happily before giggling into his tiny hands as a plate of French toast and bacon was placed in front of the swordsman by an annoyed cook.
"Having fun here, aren't we?" Sanji said, balancing a tray on one hand before placing a plate of scrambled eggs in front of Aki with two glasses of orange juice, one for said boy, one for Zoro.
"Mhmm," Zoro hummed, "Planning our day ahead." He said so smugly, making Sanji want to smack him in the face with a broiling toast. But he's not a one to waste food by such crude behaviors.
"Sorry for spoiling your plans," Sanji huffed. "But Aki is staying here till my shift is over." He said as he settled in a chair across of them. With a only a cup of coffee in his hand, Zoro noted. But he didn't question it. maybe the cook ate in the kitchen.
The more important matter was the change of plans. Zoro thought he had Aki all mornings, which is what they had agreed on. He looked at the cook with a puzzled expression, which seemed to put the cook in even worse mood than the one he's already in as he rolled his eyes dramatically and crossed his arms.
"He wants to spend some time with his precious duckling." Sanji huffed, mimicking his old man's gruff voice, " It's been a while, he said." Sanji fumed, his voice returning to normal "We all know he just want to slack off so I have to do all his work!"
"Oh, so I won't be needed today." Zoro shrugged, shoving a big piece of beckon into his mouth. Now what's he going to do…? Maybe he can go home and see if Ace was free. He could finally shut the man up by telling him what he wanted to hear now that he's made a move on the cook. Or he could just ignore him for a while just to piss him off and go do some work-outs. That's why he took time off from work after all.
Sanji sipped his coffee. "You can stay if you want." He said in a very carefree manner, like it didn't really matter before reaching out to wipe the eggs that Aki somehow managed to get on his cheeks while eating. "I mean, I'll be working of course but I have two breaks and I can… sneak off for every now and then?" he offered and an awkward smile on his face. He knew the other chefs in the kitchen can handle themselves without him or the old man for a couple of minutes so, it wouldn't hurt to sit with Zoro for a while.
"Hide and sneak~" Aki cheered. "I want to play."
"No, Aki. It's called hide and seek. And we're not playing! Don't tell dad." Sanji hushed the boy, earning him a big pout from Aki. The thought of taking back what he said and tell Aki that he'd play with him crossed his mind before he pushed it away and turned to Zoro, he should seriously stop spoiling Aki too much. "I'd understand if you want to leave," he laughed nervously. "What was I thinking, of course you'd want to do something that you're free, forget about—"
Zoro cut him off, "I'll stay." He said, hiding his smile behind his juice glass. "I don't have anything to do."
"Oh… okay." Sanji didn't expect that from the swordsman, but the man kept surprising him by doing the unexpected. All the fucking time. He couldn't read the man and Sanji didn't know if he liked that about him or not.
After they finished eating, the old man came by to take Aki upstairs to 'spend time with him', Sanji resisted the urge to kick the idiot Marimo when he said that he'd pay for his breakfast. He did kick him in the end when the man wasn't convinced by saying that the old man never took money from Sanji's friends. Then he dragged him back to the staff room because he kept scaring the costumers away with the stupid scowl on his face.
The scowl on Zoro's face deepened as he glared at the ceiling of the staff room. His legs up on the table, crossed at the ankles in a very weird position, but that's how he finally got comfortable in these damn stiff chairs and he didn't want to move. He's been like that for two hours and a half, waiting for the damn cook to sneak off like he had said. But the cook never came. Other chefs came and went but no curly cook appeared for some reason.
There was nothing Zoro can do to distract himself too, the room was too dull to be part of this restaurant. There's these damn table and chairs which took a little bit of his time to settle on them, rusty lockers behind him, a bikini poster in the wall in front of him. And that's it. No TV, no nothing.
He should've gone home when he had the chance. He thought as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Then the door burst open and Sanji came in.
"Where the hell were you? I almost fell asleep." Zoro said, exasperated. He did fall asleep for two seconds but the damn chair wasn't that comfortable.
"Well, I didn't know we had morons as chefs here, so it took longer than I thought." Sanji growled. Not very amused as he leaned on the table and smacked Zoro's legs off the table not so gently. "Put your feet down. People eat on this table."
Zoro obediently did as Sanji told him. "Che, What's with you? Aren't you on break?" He said. "Relax."
"I did come here to reLAX! OI!" Sanji finished his sentence in a yelp as he suddenly got manhandled into Zoro's chair in a blink on an eye, with the marimo standing behind him. He tried to glanced over at the idiot and give him a piece of his mind if it wasn't for the rough hands that grabbed his face and turned it back, making him look forward. God damn it, he didn't appreciate being manhandled. One more wrong move and he'll kick the idiot in his stupid face.
Having the cook seated, Zoro's smirked as he gently placed his hands on the man's shoulders. Him doing so, made Sanji tense and turn to look at him with a questioning look. "The hell are you doing?" he asked.
Zoro simply disregarded his look and pulled him back against the seat, "Helping you relax."
Sanji's protest died down when Zoro started to move his hands. calloused fingers firmly but gently worked out the knots in his shoulders making him sigh in content. Because Sanji had never gotten a shoulder massage before he couldn't tell if Zoro was skilled at it or not, but seeing as the pain in his shoulders was going away, he concluded that the green moss-head was quite effective at giving shoulder massage.
The cook's sigh turned into a pleasant groan and Zoro's smirk widened.
"Where did you learn to do this?" Sanji purred as his eyes drifted shut and leaned his head to the side so the swordsman had more access to his neck.
"I didn't learn anything. I've been doing this for as long as I can remember thanks to a certain witch who's been forcing me to do her shoulders all the fucking time." He didn't want to mention his growing debts that were the cause of all his problems with that witch.
"Don't talk about a lady like that." The words didn't leave Sanji's mouth as harshly as he wanted them to be. Damn it, he was feeling too good to lash out at the man. "If you didn't want to massage her shoulders, just introduce me to the angel and I'll do it instea—Ouch!"
"Sorry, my hand slipped." Zoro said, but he didn't sound so apologetic. But he seriously couldn't stop himself from squeezing a little bit too hard on the cook's shoulder when he used that irritating tone that seemed to take over his mouth whenever he was talking about women.
By working his hands up Sanji's neck slowly, rubbing away the tension and stress that had built up in his shoulders. He smiled to himself when Sanji's head tipped back with another content sigh.
Seeing this as a big chance to steal kiss, Zoro leaned down and just when their lips brushed, the door to the staff room flew open, causing Sanji to abruptly sit upright and headbutt Zoro in the chin.
"Ow!" They yelled in unison.
Sanji looked at Zoro in confusion, wondering why the hell was he that close to his face. Then it dawned to him what he had sounded like just moments ago and how he'd made an opening for a perfect kiss if the bastard who had just interrupted didn't walk in. Sanji turned to the door to see who's the unlucky that is about to get his ass kicked—or maybe not. Cause a furcious Zeff was standing in the doorway glaring at them.
"What?" Sanji asked when the old man didn't say or do anything.
"I didn't know he's still here." Zeff spat, narrowing his eyes at them. "Don't use my staff room to do whatever you were doing just now." He said before turning around to leave the two idiots.
"WE WEREN'T DOING ANYTHING, SHITTY OLD MAN! I was just taking a break!" Sanji yelled after the old man.
The older chef waved a hand over his shoulder. Making Sanji turn red in the face. Zoro noted, he wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or anger though "There's nothing between us!" He heard Sanji say and Zoro's head snapped to the cook. What the fuck?
"What do you mean, 'nothing between us'?" Zoro asked. It was his turn to narrow him eyes at the cook. "I thought—"
"I don't know…" Sanji cut him off, slumping down in chair again.
"It's either you want to be with me or not, cook." Zoro said.
"I know," Sanji whispered, rubbing at his face. "It's just, I don't know if I should do this! I mean there's Aki and…" the fact that I'm lying to you. "and.." Sanji paused. He wasn't sure if he wanted to say that out loud. He knew he have to… at some point. But not now. It's too early to tell Zoro. He didn't want him to leave when this started between them. He really wanted to be with this man. God, he's already in love with him.
But once he learned that everything is a lie…
Sanji bit his lip as he dropped his gaze to the floor. He couldn't even look him in eye. How could he do this to the man he liked? To Aki too. It was too cruel. Sanji knew that and he hated himself for doing this to them. "Aki is too young… he wouldn't understand."
"Do you think being with me is wrong?" Zoro asked.
Sanji's head shot up, "No, that's not what I meant!" he said immediately. That wasn't meant for Zoro to hear, it was a slip of his tongue. "I want to be with you… I just don't think it's fair."—To you.
What's unfair? Is what Zoro wanted to ask. That's what he wanted to hear. He just wants the cook to open up to him. "You know what's unfair? is you keeping me in the dark. The way you keep changing your mind about me. Look if you don't want to have anything to do with me just spit it out! I'll still look after Aki in when you go to work so don't worry about that." He pressed. Regretting how harsh he sounded but that was the only way to make the cook either talk or shut him out of his life.
"Talk to me, cook." he continued. "Is there something bothering you? You need to help me understand you."
"You won't get it. it's complicated!" Sanji looked away from the man. He couldn't understand how did it turn like this. He was not ready to lose the man yet.
"It's not complicated unless you make so!" Zoro replied. "Try me." He insisted.
Looks like there is no escape. Sanji sighed. "It's… Aki..." he started, looking straight into Zoro's eyes, which were looking back at him and for some reason Sanji felt that those sharp eyes could see right through him. A shiver ran down his spine at the thought. "He's…" He paused again. come on, it's three words. Get it over with! He swallowed difficulty. It's no good. He can't do this after all. "No-nothing. It's nothing!" And he turned on his heels. God, what a coward he's become.
"He's not your brother?" Zoro said, sighing. The cook needed this push. If he hadn't, things will never work out between them and he didn't want that to happen. "I know that. From the start."
Sanji stopped dead in his tracks, hand on the doorknob, ready to flee. Yes, flee. Because this is where things will get worse and he couldn't blame it on someone else. It's all his doing. He brought this on himself from the start—god, things didn't even start with Zoro and it's already finishing.
"From the start you say?" Sanji asked weakly, letting out a bitter laugh. How did he even know? What does that mean? Was Zoro just having fun playing with his feelings and what how he'd react? is that how it's always going to be for Sanji? Yeah, he should be used to it now, but why did the thought of hearing it from Zoro hurt so much? Even so, he needed to hear it so he can move on. But first, he had to know how Zoro figure it out. "Was it that obvious?"
"Actually, I would've never figured it out if you hadn't told me yourself." Zoro muttered quietly, so quietly he wasn't even sure Sanji would hear him.
Another chuckle left Sanji's mouth, still facing the door. "Zoro… Can you not?" He pleaded the man to stop making fun of him. The shitty swordsman was having too much fun with this. He didn't need it. "I haven't uttered a word about it."
"You did," Zoro sighed. "You say too much when you get drunk." he said, his tone conveyed sincerity and maybe a tinge of remorse that Sanji picked up on.
Sanji's eyes widened at the realization. Remembering that night when he decided to drown his sorrows with that damn vodka. He does say unnecessary things when he's drunk.
Sanji groaned loudly as he banged his head against the door in front of him. How stupid his drunken self can be? For god's sake. He's never gonna drink again. Argh, this is fucking embarrassing. Sanji shouted in his mind as he covered his face with his hands and slid to the floor.
Zoro watched as the cook crouched down after he finished his business with the door. "Oi," he called. Not sure if he could approach the man or not. "You okay?"
"Of course I'm not!" Came Sanji's muffled voice before he abruptly got up and faced Zoro with a red face. "Why didn't you say something? You knew all along and watched me suffer to tell you." Stop! What the hell am I saying?! He thought, but he couldn't stop. It's like he lost control over his mouth. He didn't have the right to say that to Zoro. And from Zoro's shocked expression, Sanji knew that Zoro didn't mean any harm by keeping what Sanji's drunken self had said. "I bet you had a good laugh, huh?" He snarled. Taking long steps towards the man.
"WHAT?" Zoro bellowed, "I was waiting for you to tell—" The rest of his sentence died in his throat when the cook grabbed him by the front of his shirt collar and slammed him against the lockers behind him.
"I WASN'T GOINGTO!" Sanji barked, pressing his head against Zoro's chest. "I wasn't going to tell you…" he repeated, his voice shaky, and he found himself unable to swallow around the painful lump in his throat. He felt horrible; he was the worst. "I fucked up… and didn't want to drag you in all this! Once you knew everything you'd—" he released a choked sob, his voice broken and erratic. He had already given away his heart, and now he's afraid of the million ways Zoro could break it.
Zoro was thrown off guard by the sudden change of pace. His heart sank with each word the cook said. He didn't know the cook had suffered so much with his secret. It wasn't the green haired man intention to make the man suffer even more, if he'd knew how the cook felt about it, he would've said something sooner. However, now that the cook had said said it, he had no fucking clue what to say.
He wrapped his arms securely around the cook's body and pulled him in a crushing hug. He could feel the blond's hand clutch the sides of his shirt. The man's whole body trembling violently. He began to press comforting kisses to everywhere he could reach; Sanji's forehead, his temple, his cheekbone, and his ridiculously curled eyebrow. He sighed softly as he shifted to murmur in Sanji's ear, "Don't worry, Sanji. You're stuck with me for a long time." He chuckled softly as the cook flinched in his arms.
Zoro held Sanji like that until the smaller man's shuddering subsided. He comfortably nuzzled Sanji's temple before placing a kiss to his ear.
A/N: Serious business has just begun :3 hope you enjoyed this chapter and Thank you all for reading this far. oh, and let's not forget about the follows/favorites and everything ;v; it's all appreciated. Also I can't thank you enough for the reviews too. it makes me so happy so don't hesitate to leave one, please.
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