AN: Thanks for the many nice review guys, they all made me smile and giggle, keep on your good habit! :) *cough*itmakesmeworkfaster*cough*
Chapter 10
Usopp: And here they are, our beloved Shrek and Fiona.
Tony Tony Chopper:Whaaat? It's Zoro and Sanji…
Usopp:Because Zoro is the big green meathead and Sanji is the trashing/dashing princess :D
Franky: Whahahaha awesome picture Longnose-bro! *thumbs up*
Nico Robin: You sure you wanna leave that note?I bet Sanji'll see it sooner than later, and he knows your address. You may want to hide your sharper kitchen utensils. But I'm sure he can be deadly even with a spatula too.
Usopp: …ugh "_ …
Nami: Don't worry Usopp, I'll arrange everything. You'll have a beautiful funeral… if I'm in your last will of course. Otherwise I know some good places where your dead body won't bother anybody.
Nico Robin: The police keep a close eye on the river nowadays, they'd find him in no time. but winter is coming, so it might take three or four days, also the pollution and the fishes would help to make the police's work harder with identifying the body.
Franky: Ugh I really didn't need this image… But knowing Cook-bro, I doubt our paparazzi friend would make it to the river…
Kohza:?
Franky: Just think about it, he'd hate to let so much good meat go to waste… I wouldn't be surprised if there would be a new treat on next day's menu!
Nami: Uuuuugh…
Kohza: Iiiiii think Vivi just ran to the bathroom…
Tony Tony Chopper: ?
Nico Robin: I love you 3
Monkey D. Luffy: Somebody said meat? OqO
Usopp:…I-I think I'll just delete the comment…
Sanji Blackleg: Late.
Sanji rolled his shoulders and waited for the effect of his cryptic comment with a devilish smile on his face. Usopp wasn't so hard to scare (more like not at all) but very entertaining. He could almost see the engineer's eyes popping out of his head as he painstakingly tries to find an escape route out of his so imagined death threat..
The cook couldn't get enough of this game, just like everybody else. Expect Chopper, he was too innocent, and Luffy, who was as clueless as always. But he could scare the shit out of all of them, without even trying.
He's really lucky anyway they are in a private group where no one else can see these photos.
The page informed him about a new notification with a low 'ping'. The cook scrolled down to enjoy Usopp's panic, but…
Roronoa Zoro: With those eyebrows I'm not surprised he doesn't want to be shown on any photos.
The cook felt the blood flare in his veins.
Sanji Blackleg: Being jealous marimo? At least I have something on me pleasing for others' eyes, and anyone can see that I'm alone with that on this picture!
Roronoa Zoro:So that's why there are no pictures of your food then.
What happened after this not only made deleting the comments, but removing the whole picture from the group's page easy. It was a perfect escape route for the engineer (who secretely pledged his undying loyality to the swordsman from the bottom of his heart). The distraction turned out to be so efficient he was even able to delete the whole album, because the two idiots continued the show, jumping from one picture to the other, giving free entertainment – and gossip material – to the other members. Thanks the gods – and Vivi's skills – the pictures reached everyone privately and safe.
Time seemed to speed up after Halloween, and before people could lose themselves in the pretty colours and gentle warmth of late autumn, winter approached the town with all it's ferocious windstorms and nasty rains. However, after a few days– which seemed like years for the most of us – the rain turned into thick snowfall, and at the middle of November the frost grew to big fuzzy balls of snow on the tree branches.
The cook knew how to spend these days: at home, sprawled out on the couch under his favorite blue blanket with fish and starfish pattern – a gift from the restaurant staff for his 12th birthday. Not like he had any other choice, since Zeff – healthy and buzzing from the unburned energy – literally threw him out of the Baratie, saying he'll scare those guests who hadn't already abandoned the restaurant under his charge away too with his pasty yellow, crappy face.
However, Zeff may have meant this: "Good job kiddo, you can leave now, go get some rest."
Not like it prevented them from throwing some half-hearted insults to each other within hearing range of half the town. They were already familiar with their bonding rituals anyway.
Sanji sighed and closed his eyes, letting his head drop on the pillow. His morning coffee was still drumming in his system when he got home, so with sleeping out of the question he made a hot cocoa and got under the blanket with the first book he found in his hands. It wasn't that bad since he'd a bad habit of leaving them read halfway. Once it occurred to him that he may be doing this so the fantasy world could exist a little longer if he leaves it like this.
Well, whatever. He was hoping the caffeine would work out faster if he gets lost in the story.
~oOo~
The cook sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose, his other fingers drumming on the cover. He couldn't get hold on the story. The cocoa was long gone, and his back started to protest in the meantime, and despite his blanket and fluffy socks his feet felt like ice.
Sleep seemed like a good choice, but what the fuck will he be doing all the week at home?!
The beeping of his phone solved the problem momentarily. Sanji turned, looking for the source of the sound and frowned when he spotted it on the kitchen counter. So freakishly far away. And the thought of placing his barely warming feet on the cold floor dreaded him.
It could be as high-tech as it wants to be, but Sanji doubts his smartphone will make his dreams come true by growing legs and coming to him on it's own.
The blonde pulled the edges of the blanket tighter around himself and rolled off the couch, worming his way to the kitchen. When was the last time he did anything like this? Probably never. He'll have to examine his surroundings for the source of the bad influence. Yes, he'll do that.
1 New Message
Marimo Mossman:Ey curly! How are you working this week?
The cook raised an eyebrow.
Curly:Yo fuckface! I'm off. Zeff is back and sent me home. You should've seen it, Napoleon was nothing compared to that entering.
Marimo Mossman:I can imagine from your stories about him. So you're free after tomorrow?
Sanji decided to deal later with the small tremble in his stomach and threw himself at his keyboard.
Curly: Sure. Where do you plan to go marimo? Are you afraid of getting lost and having to wait until spring for the gardeners to find you? :D
Marimo Mossman:… you know I won't even try to understand this. It's about the kids. Part of the price is a group tour to the amusement park, and I need somebody help me keep an eye on them so they can't do enough damage to ruin the place.
Sanji was grinning. It wasn't hard to picture the pack of pre-teenagers on a sugarhigh torturing the unlucky guy. It'd look like this: an exhausted marimo with a red face trying to keep his grip on three wild kid, with a crying baby on his left arm, another sitting on his leg and afeeding bottle between his teeth.
The blond burst out laughing and then wiped the drops of saliva off the phone's screen.
Curly: Aaaaw, and here I thought you missed me. Don't pique my interest for nothing mosshead.
The answer took longer than usual and the cook started to panic.
Oh shit.
Maybe he went a little too far. Did he? It'd be better if-
Marimo Mossman: …I don't have a taste for anything in the fridge. Shit cook, looks like you spoiled my stomach.
Sanji's grin spread dangerously close to his ears.
Curly:Should I take this as my food is fantastic and you can't live without it anymore?
Marimo Mossman:Like I'd ever say anything like that. Mmmmm instant ramen!
Curly:Don't you dare!
The sky slowly turned dark outside and thick flakes of snow started falling. It was far into the afternoon when his stomach growled, expressing it's grudges over missed lunch. The cook sighed; his back and limbs popped as he stood up. He placed the phone on the countertop and glanced back at the spot where he'd spent the last few hours on the floor, chatting with the swordsman. No wonder he was feeling miserable, there was nothing, expect the blanket between him and the hardwood floor.
Well now that he thought about it, he couldn't even recall the last time he'd missed a meal. Not to mention the last time it bothered him this little.
The rest of the day and most of the next felt like a big blurry image, and the cook couldn't really recall what exactly he did with his time. There was some half-assed grocery shopping – half of the items from his list were missing, he bought toothpaste instead of scale remover, and he didn't have a clue how baby body lotion ended up in his bag – a nonsense movie so bad he couldn't even remember the actress' face after, and he did some thinking if he should go to the gym for some hours or not.
But Friday was finally here, and the blonde was looking for a pack of children lead by – yeah, disturbing thought – the swordsman. He took off his gloves to look at his watch. It's not their fault he arrived five minutes earlier just to be sure, but with their ten minutes delay he was already standing here for fifteen minutes, and nothing makes a dude's day brighter than when his balls turning into ice cubes, right?
Sanji exhaled the smoke and looked at the two burned out butts next to his feet. Maybe he should cut back a little on the smoking. By an impulsive decision, he threw this one to the floor too, and stepped on it. Thanking his lucky stars, by this time Christmas had already taken over the town, and little wooden houses were standing on both sides of the streets, offering scones, steaming hot coffee and mulled vine.
Sanji smiled at the woman behind the window. She was somewhere in her late forties, and despite the protective walls, her face was red from the chilly wind outside.
"Lovely hat" said the blonde as he retrieved his change and the steaming mug.
"Oh why thank you young man" giggled the lady and hooked a long red thread which was sticking out from under the colourful knitted hat behind her ear. "If you like it, I bought it two or three shops down the street" she leaned out and pointed to the wooden houses on the left. Sanji hadn't had a chance to find the shop the begin with – hordes of people flooded the streets in various states of shopping fever, from the hair pulling to the blood sweating until resigned accepting.
"Aaah… if it's quite far, then maybe another time. I'm waiting for somebody."
"Only three houses away. And whoever the lucky girl is, it's impossible to lose sight of a fine handsome boy like you, dear" grinned the woman. "But if it happens" she whispered, leaning further on the white-red squared tablecloth "my shift ends at 6pm." And she winked.
Sanji felt the heat spread over his neck and rise from under his scarf onto his cheeks. He was very grateful for the icy wind to blame the redness on.
Flirting with ladies was the most entertaining thing on the earth, of which he had a reputation going back for ages. On the other hand, being on the receiving side is a completely different story, and always hit him unprepared enough to make him momentarily speechless.
The lady behind the counter laughed heartedly and patted his shoulder.
"Here'ya go, boy, bring another cup to that lucky girl. Or… drink it before she gets here, you look like you need it" and with that she put another steaming cup in his hand.
Sanji was stunned for a moment, his brain completely blanc as he tried to find the proper words for the situation, but the people behind him shoved him to the side. He didn't realize how long the line had gotten while he was chatting with the lady, so it seemed best to just slide away. He nodded and the woman winked at him again, before turning her attention back to the costumers.
So that's how he ended up with two steaming mugs in his hands, but no sign of Zoro in sight.
To distract himself, he took a little sip of the rapidly cooling drink. The flavour blooming on his tongue wasn't perfect, but enough to make him feel pleasantly warm all over again. It reminded him of overly salted chicken, burned chocolate cookies and ugly Christmas sweaters – his favourite things of the season. Everything a large and loud family can ask for a homely Christmas. Supposing that the drunk uncle wasn't telling pig jokes to the kids and then puke in the corner.
Sanji opened his eyes and looked at the half empty mug in his hand. It was impossible for this amount to go to his head right? That sounded bullshit enough. But it still might be better if Zoro drank the other one. He can do this much for the baboon right? And in the meantime, maybe he'll check that stand down to the left.
~oOo~
"Okay boys and girls, let's get in line! Right here we go!"
"Zoro-san, that's the wrong way, we should use the stairs on the other end."
"… Then what are you waiting for?! Up the stairs one-two, everybody keep an eye on their partner and belongings! And if any of you try to hit me with a snowball, I'll make you do fifthy every day, until the end of the year!"
"But Zoro-saaan…"
"Of the next year."
The kids let out a terrifyed gasp. Zoro was smiling smugly inside. They all knew he'd keep his word, and that's how it was supposed to be. A teacher can be all nice and cool if he doesn't have a reputation in front of the kids. And it looks like he was able to find the golden path in between the strict teacher and cool friend.
The group had already reached the top of the stairs in the meantime, when Zoro slung the girl's bag next to him over his shoulder, and took her hand.
"Is everything alright, Koala-chan?"
"Y-yes sensei. Just… these subways are so… dark and claustrophobic."
"Don't worry now, everything is alright" said the green-haired man while squeezing her hand. "You made it! We're almost outside, see? Just focus on the light."
The girl nodded, and didn't take her eyes off of the blinding white square of the exit, and they slowly but surely made their way outside.
Just to get attacked by a full group of crazy minions.
"Zoro-san can we go now?"
"I know a faster route!"
"This way!"
"Hyaaaa Carrot if you put another snowball in my neck…!"
"Everybody stop!" said Zoro, maybe a little louder than he intended to. Yeah, he was definitely yelling.
"Problems with regulations moss-head?"
Zoro turned and a wave of satisfaction spread through him.
The second thought was however how good the blonde looked in jeans. Because goddammit. The pale grey clothing was hugging his everything just right enough, showing everything – okay almost everything – his brain was lurking around the past few days. The yellow jacket was also short enough to give a lovely view of his ass. If he's lucky.
And if anything, Zoro always considered himself a lucky person. And gods be damned, he really wanted to be right now.
"Oy. I brought you something." The cook stepped closer, and came to a halt on his left, his face barely a meter away. His breath smelled spicy and sweet when it hit his face in warm puffs.
"Don't you wanna try it?"
Sure. Absolutely. Without a doubt.
Then his eyes focused on the cup in front of him.
"Oh. Yeah. Thank you."
The blonde grinned and Zoro was grateful for the Fates or whoever invented these Christmas drinks, giving him a good enough reason to hide his face behind the brim for a while. He didn't even care about the blond calling him weak for drinking the mildly warm vine so long as if it was still steaming hot.
And the swordsman had to admit that his laughter was even enchanting than his smile.
He was fucked.
~oOo~
The amusement park wasn't far and as they were getting closer the kids got wild enough that they had to give them all of their attention. After a small fiasco at the cash they all made their way into the park, safe but far from sound, yet without any catastrophe.
"Bringing you along was probably my best idea so far."
"Hmm?" Sanji turned to Zoro, catching the small smile playing on his lips as he looked after the kids. With his unzipped jacket and his arms behind his head he looked like a posterboy for zen, as he slowly walked after the group. Sanji felt the familiar calmness he'd experienced once before, when he first saw the swordsman on the train, settle inside him again, fluttering gently on top of his stomach. Before he could've noticed, there was a lazy smile stretching on his lips too.
"They only reason they haven't run out of sight yet is because you asked them at the cashregister. You're good with them."
"Well it's not surprising, being with you all day they're craving human treatment, those poor creatures." Which wasn't true of course. Anyone could see they were all-over for the meathead, but he wasn't supposed to know about that.
"You know what? I take it back. You're a little shit. And why am I the one carrying this backpack? You're more fitting for these girly things."
"Oy be careful mosshead! This belongs to Koala-chan isn't it? I've seen her taking out her gloves earlier. Do you want to break something, you inconsiderate fuck?" huffed the cook as he put the pale pink, My Little Pony backpack on without hesitation.
„I was totally right."
"Huh?" asked the blonde.
"It fits you."
"Do you think there are goldfishes in this park?"
"…Why?"
"I just need to know in how little pieces I should chop you to feed you to them."
"Oooh" Zoro grinned "bring it on shit-cook. Do you wanna fight?"
"Won't be too long anyway. The zoo is up next, I'll just smash your face through the wall so the lions could finish what's left!"
"Then it's better if…"
"Sensei! Zoro-san…"
They both looked down. They were so into each other's face they didn't see the little boy heading in their direction until he was standing right next to them, pulling at Zoro's trousers for attention.
"Yes Timothy?"
"Can we go with that?"
Zoro looked at the direction he was pointing. The little kid train was just getting to halt at its station.
"Of course. Go, enjoy yourselves…"
"We can't go alone. And Mandy and some others are afraid they will fall out."
"Then tell them it's safe. This is all toys, they don't have anything to be nervous about."
"But you have to come with us."
Sanji lifted his hand to keep his snickers at bay.
The mosshead let himself be dragged to the little train.
"Puffing Tom" he murmured the train's name and looked at the boy. "You can't be serious" Zoro deadpanned.
"Zoro-san! Here here!"yelled a girl, pointing at the little wagon behind their backs. Sanji didn't even bother anymore to contain his laughter as the green haired man squeezed his body into the small, sea creature decorated car, right next to a small toy cannon. His face turned dark red –more deeper than the chilly weather indicated. But he still had enough dignity to shoot a murderous glare at the suffocating cook between the swirly white pillars which held the roof above his head.
"And why aren't you coming too,?
Sanji wiped the tears from his eyes.
"Somebody has to keep an eye on the rest of the troublemakers while you enjoy yourself."
He pointed behind his back to where Pepper, Carrot and some other boys were pressing their faces against the glass walls of the video game room.
"Hmph. Whatever."
"Hey. Zoro."
"Ha?" he huffed, turning in the blond's direction again.
Sanji curved his left hand next to his mouth, and raised his right above his head, bumping it twice.
"Shoo-shoo!
Zoro's eyes widened and he opened his mouth for a comeback, when the engine started and he bit his tongue, giving the cook a new reason for another laughing fit.
Revenge.
~oOo~
It gave the swordsman a worse headache than he'd first thought. The cook apparently didn't get nausea on the roller-coaster, but it put a smile on his face, as big like the motorbiker's in the joke.
The merry-go-round didn't do the trick either (though the over-decorated white horses kind of fit him which was just all kinds of disgusting), and neither did the mirror room.
(By the way, the group of kids send to his rescue was totally unnecessary because the assumption of him being lost were totally untrue. It's only that the mirror labyrinth was so amazing it captured his interest for… one and a half… or maybe two hours…)
"Okay guys, next stop: The Haunted House!"
"You're joking… right?" asked the cook, looking at him a little uncertainly. Hoops.
"What Curly, don't tell me you're scared of…"
"Zoro-san! Can we eat something first?" asked a boy next to his leg.
"That's right! Onion will faint if he doesn't eat in time!" chimed Carrot.
"I'm hungry too!"
"Me too!"
Soon the "I"m so hungryyyy!" and "Staaaarving!" cries could be heard from everywhere.
Zoro sighed and held up his hands before the whining could end him.
"Okay okay! Then let's go to the buffet! Pizza and hamburgers?"
"And hotdogs!"
"And sweets!"
"And icecream!"
"In -20C stupid?"
"It's not that cold!"
"It is!"
"Corn!"
A sharp shrill whistle hit their ears and Zoro jumped a little along with most of the kids. Sanji pulled his fingers out of his mouth.
"Okay guys, everybody take their friend's hand. Here are the rules: no running in the restaurant, neither on the way there! Otherwise no surprise, understand?"
The soundstorm died right away and Zoro watched with wide eyes as the kids got in straight line behind the blonde's back. They even lowered their voices to an acceptable level. Corruptible little brats. He, himself stayed at the end, making sure nobody wandered away.
This, as it turned out, was one of his brightest ideas, since most of the kids were so tiny they didn't reach the cook's hips in height. So, this way – and maybe with a little neck-stretching here and there – he had perfect view of… well, all the goodies on the backside. Also thanks to the long legs as well.
"I'm definitely lucky today."
"What was that Zoro-sensei?"
"Nothing Koala-chan" smiled the swordsman and squeezed her hand. "Nothing."
"You're strange today."
"Is that so?"
"Mhhm. You smile a lot. I like it."
Zoro looked up. The guy was talking and gesturing to the boys behind him, not really paying attention to where he went. Somewhere from the middle of the line a snowball flew and hit the back of his head, making him jump and do a silly little dance to prevent the cold water from trickling down his neck.
The swordsman couldn't help the edge of his mouth turning up a little.
With faked anger, the blonde pushed his way to the middle, violently looking for the culprit, making the kids scream and giggle.
"I think I like it too."
~oOo~
"Should I get you a hat and glasses with a fake moustache?"
"Huh?"
"Who are you hiding from?"
"I'm not hiding."
"Aha, right. No shit sir. You looked around at least six times" the blonde gestured around the room with a fry between his fingers "and that's just since we entered. And your chin is almost touching the table. I tell you, you can't be more suspicious, shitty swordsman." And with that, he put the fry in his mouth.
"I'm not suspicious."
"If there would be a lonely masseur around here he would jump on you immediately, to cure you from your back problems. And in your place, I'd try to avoid real teachers too – they would bind you to a chair to teach about straight -"
"What do you even know about straight anyway?!" the swordsman grumbled, grinning as the cook coughed violently on the food, and looked at him with big, red, watery eyes.
"You know" Zoro shrugged "with those eyebrows".
Sanji raised his visible one.
"Ok Ok right. Yeeez you're a smartass." Zoro mockingly held up his hands.
"Well somebody has to act smart at least. But as you can see, I'm a generous person, you can keep the „ass" and I'll keep the „smart" part to myself."
"Oh, so you're not interested in my ass then?" the green haired man sight with a hint of bitterness in his voice. "Too bad." Then snickered, and went back to his plate, completely missing the redness colouring the cook's cheeks and neck.
"It's a girl though."
Sanji's head snapped up.
"A girl?" he asked as his insides churned nervously for some reason. Which was beyond him of course.
Zoro raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. I know girls too. Surprise motherfucker."
"Now, who is the smartass again?"
The swordsman laughed and the odd feeling was gone. Zoro dipped his fry in the ketchup and started munching on it.
"Well yeah. I've been trying to avoid her since our first meeting. She might be here somewhere, knowing my luck." His eyes darted around again, searching for hidden danger.
Sanji leaned in. He desperately wanted to know what exactly had happened but didn't want to seem too eager. He opened and closed his mouth several times, then licked his lips and decided it'd be better turning back to his own meal and business.
"I can see you're craving for it."
"What did she do that makes you shit yourself so much?" The cook blurted out before he could stop himself. Smooth and delicate as always, the cook berated himself. But the swordsman just chuckled, which was just a little below a laugh, despite his earlier attempts to stay quiet. In the privacy of his mind, Sanji felt a little proud, and a small smile crept its way onto his face too, so he quickly looked down, feigning interest in his own food.
Zoro sighed and wiped a hand over his face.
"It's true tough" he said which made the cook look up at him "she scared me shitless." And he told him the whole story. Of how he got lost in the Haunted House years ago, and trusted this girl to help him out because of the staff shirt and nametag. And how this slightly creepy, but harmless looking little girl – the swordsman estimated her age around 17 when the cook asked if he'd gotten kidnapped by a 5 years old – sewed him into to a mummy to make him a living part of the House and kept him captive until maintenance found him.
Apparently, since the pink haired weirdo – Perona – was family with someone from the ownership, she hadn't gotten fired and they gave Zoro a free pass to the park and free meals whenever he wanted.
This hadn't eased the mental trauma nonetheless. The swordsman avoided the girl like cats do water.
The swordsman really appreciated the way the blonde tried to muffle his laughter for his sake. Of course Zoro knew how ridiculous the story was, but he still kicked Sanji on the shin under the table, attempting to save the last bits of his pride.
He let out a strangled squeak though when the front door opened with a loud bang and a girl with long pink hair marched in. She was wearing killer makeup, and despite that she just came in from the freezing cold outside she was wearing frilly lolita skirts and stockings with her staff shirt.
Sanji peeked a sideway look at the swordsman and seeing his pale features and attempt to duck his face into his food he instantly figured out everything. With a quick motion, he pulled something from his pocket and put it on Zoro's head.
"Act natural" he whispered, leaning closer.
The swordsman looked at him a little baffled, an touched the whatever the blonde just forced on his head. Yet he did what he was told and – even if he was still crouching a little – he leaned on his elbows and continued eating.
Sanji kept observing the scene at the counter. After a minute another pink haired woman strolled out from the back office and to Sanji's utter surprise, he recognized Bonney, the owner of his favorite pizza house.
"Omg is that Bonney-chan over there?" he whispered as he leaned close to the hiding swordsman.
Zoro risked a glance raising an eyebrow.
"If you say so? I have no idea what her name is but she's the owner's niece. She's rarely here though nowadays, I've heard she runs her own business now."
"Yeah, my favourite pizza house" Sanji answered, still not taking his eyes off the scene. The way the two girls were arguing and by the identical pink hairdos, he supposed that they were probably family. That'd explain a lot. The cook thought he'd already seen that uncle. He used to show up at the pizza house, casually chatting with the workers and equally creeping out them and the guests. That didn't keep them from going back however. Yes, Bonney's pizza was just that good.
The guy, could only be kindly described as… odd, with his luminously white features and burgundy red hair. He usually looked like a Halloween party captive with the identical Dracula-clothes and zigzag tattoo down his neck. When he was grinning, showing off his pointy teeth, he reminded Sanji of the Headless Rider from the end of Sleepy Hollow.
It also explained why the whole amusement park led to the Haunted House.
In the end Bonney slapped her hands on the counter and pointed towards the door. The shorter girl puffed her cheeks, flipped her long hair and stomped out, without even glancing at the costumers. The glass in the door rattled after her.
"Hey Cowardly Lion" Sanji tapped his shoulder "you're safe now."
The swordsman made a face but didn't comment on the nickname. He pulled the hat off his head and looked at the blue-white pattern.
"Yeah, thank you Queen Elsa."
The cook huffed, raising an unimpressed eyebrow.
"Really? That's the best you're capable of? At least I was creative with the Oz reference."
The swordsman leaned back and folded his arms in front of his chest. It was pretty impressive even through the large hoodie.
"I certainly wouldn't be the Cowardly Lion if we stick with fantasy characters."
"Sure, you'd be the Big Fat Dragon. The green already matches. And I'm sure the fat is already on its way with the amount of junkfood you just chugged down" the cook grinned maliciously.
"Oh I'd happily convince you about the opposite" the swordsman grinned "anytime." And winked.
The cook went red. Damn his eyebrow game was strong.
But just then, the surprise menu arrived with plates full of hot cocoa and icecream and the kids roared in cheers. The whole place stilled for a minute and then both the costumers and workers smiled, muttering about happy childhood between themselves.
It also gave the perfect opportunity to drop the subject, much to the cook's relief, giving him some minutes to calm his running pulse a little.
~oOo~
Despite the princess comment, the swordsman kept the blue-white hat on his head all the way in the Haunted House to hide his green hair, and stick as close to the group as possible. One for his own safety, and then because it was more entertaining watching the cook creeping out every ten minutes up close. He may or may not have caused one or two creeps.
The blonde was ridiculously jumpy even if he tried to hide it. He looked suspiciously at every cobweb and fake spider, almost expecting them to jump on him and disperse his soul. And of course, the swordsman took every advantage of his weakness, even if he was prized with some purple-green foot prints on various places on his body.
They were totally worth it though.
Zoro had a great time.
~oOo~
The hours flew by like minutes and before they realized, the kids were dropping down from exhaustion. They gathered the group – with two little girls half asleep in Zoro's arms and one in Sanji's – and lead them down the metro and back to the dojo, where their parents were waiting. They thanked them and drove off, leaving the two of them alone in front of the dojo. Somewhere along the way, snow had started falling again from the dark, starless sky.
"So I think I'm going. Are you coming along marimo?" The cook asked, kicking a fresh pile of snow in front of him.
Oh Zoro wanted to. But…
"I have something to finish before" he motioned toward the dojo. "Sorry."
The blond's expression fell for a moment, then regained composure.
"Oh. That's ok."
"Why don't you come in instead? It really doesn't take much time. Just some paperwork."
The blonde considered for a moment, then shrugged. He's not going to work tomorrow anyway.
They were on the train an hour later, on the way home. They didn't chat much – it was just nice to sit, leaning slightly against the other. fatigue made their bodies and minds heavy, but it was a pleasant exhaustion, the kind which leaves you smiling and makes you say stupid things.
Or not wanting to get up.
And Sanji didn't, he really really didn't. The moment – this moment – was just too good, leaning against the swordsman's shoulder.
Zoro shifted, and dropped his head on the cook shoulder, and Sanji put his chin on top of it. He needed to talk about something, or otherwise they'll both fall asleep and miss their stop.
"So, what are you doing on Christmas?"
The swordsman shifted.
"I think we're both invited to the same party" he muttered, sighing.
"26th, Luffy's place?" the cook asked. It was three weeks away from now.
Zoro nodded and straightened. The cook looked up and noticed the next stop was his.
"Okay" he sighed and got up, dusting his trousers as he did so. "See you marimo."
"Hey curly!"
Sanji turned as the train came to a halt and looked back.
"Thank you" the swordsman muttered, leaning back with crossed arms and a small smile on his face, which looked almost shy. Or maybe it was just Sanji. "You know. For today."
The cook rolled his eyes, smirking too.
"Go the fuck to sleep marimo. And you're welcome, anytime. Also drop by the Baratie sometime, I can cook you food which is actually good for you."
The swordsman's eyes widened slightly, and the smirk on his face grew to a genuine, fond smile. Sanji was grateful that the doors closed behind him and the train stirred into motion slowly, so it wasn't as obvious that he hid his glowing face in his scarf before he made his way home.
TBC
Thank you for sunshninesthroughtheclouds' hard work as a beta and edit!
(I'm really not worthy v_v)