His foot connected with the leaders face, he could feel the bones under it cracking from the pressure, the force threw him back with enough strength to take out a few men unlucky enough to be standing behind him.
One of the flunkies with a sword tried to hit him from behind, Sanji spun round kicking the sword out of his hand, he pulled his leg back twisting slightly to land a sweeping kick to the cowards ribs. He stood staring the group down hoping they would back down and save him time, some looked wary but none seemed to be retreating. Fuck it, he moved forward using his highly trained speed to move swiftly from one lacky to the next landing swift kicks to the chest to knock them out.
He stopped and looked at the carnage, the leader was still unconscious, his jaw slightly offset, his lackeys either unconscious or pretending to be. He turned back to his group who were grinning at his victory, he started heading over to them as his horse had went over with them.
'Did any of you see where Zoro went?' he asked as he reached them.
The group shook their heads but then Luffy pointed towards the forest. Nami smacked the King on the back of the head.
'If you saw him why didn't you stop him?' she asked angrily.
'I figured he had a plan' Luffy laughed
'How can you still let him wander off? You've known him the longest. You know how easily he gets lost.' Nami sighed it sounded like this wasn't the first time she's had this conversation 'Chopper why's that bird with you instead of the directionless idiot?'
'Um well' the reindeer shifted uncomfortably 'He's in a bad mood because Zoro been spending so much time with Sanji'
Nami sighed again 'Fine I'm not even going there, Sanji go find Zoro. We're going to have to make camp here tonight' she didn't look happy, he guessed it's because she was losing some of the time she had gained.
'Of course Nami-swan' he turned to head into the woods.
'Bring back meat' Luffy called leaning forward on his saddle grinning broadly.
He reached the woods, now if he was moss in a forest where would he be? He picked a random direction and headed in it hoping that trying to think like the idiot would lead him to the swordsman.
He wandered around, it wasn't like Zoro would take a set path, from what he'd seen the man even struggled with a straight line. After what he could only guess was an hour or so, he saw the idiot lounging up a tree.
'Right Mossball out the tree let's go' he called up.
Zoro lazily opened his good eye and looked down at him.
'Would you look at that we're all alone' Zoro hummed thoughtfully.
'Yea now come on Luffy wants us to get some meat on our way back'
'No, I think this is a perfect chance to talk about why you think I'm having sex with Luffy' Zoro looked him dead in the eye.
'Fine as long as you get out the damned tree' Sanji stared up at the unbudging swordsman, after a silent staring battle he gave up 'Fine you win, it was just a stupid misunderstanding about when you said about sleeping with Luffy.' he muttered staring at the ground.
'So you've had sex with everyone you've slept with' Zoro sounded wary.
He looked up again 'Until you yes'
'Oh' Zoro swung round and slid out of the tree, landing with a thump in front of him 'Well when it comes to Luffy he's like my little brother, so that's never gonna happen. Also he's engaged already.'
'He is?' he couldn't mask the happy tone to his voice.
Zoro stepped slowly towards him, the other man looked deep in thought 'Yea but what I don't get is why you care so much'
Sanji stepped back slowly, Zoro was getting too close he was struggling to hide the slight flush in his face.
Zoro cocked his head to the side still looking thoughtful 'Are you interested in Luffy that way?'
Sanji's face screwed up how the hell did he come to that conclusion.
'Hell no' he answered as his back hit a tree behind him.
The other man closed the last bit of distance, standing so close that Sanji could feel the heat radiating off him, his uncovered eye locked with Zoro's good one.
'So why do you care if I sleep with him or not?' Zoro didn't appear to be teasing him.
'Are you winding me up or do you really not get it?' he asked through a haze of embarrassment.
The other man frowned at him, making it clear he wasn't messing about.
'Well it's because I'm interested in you, but how can you not know? You've been flirting with me almost the entire time' he let his frustration out.
Zoro stood staring at him, clearly trying to process what he had just been told.
'I've been flirting with you?' he cocked his eyebrow at Sanji.
'Definitely felt that way' god this conversation was awkward enough without Zoro being this damn closed.
Zoro stared at him clearly lost in thought, had he really been oblivious to what he had been doing.
'You've distracted me from my training' Zoro sounded almost surprised 'No one's ever done that before'
Sanji swallowed hard as Zoro moved forward closing the last of the tiny gap, his arms each side of Sanji pinning him to the tree.
'I suppose as long as it doesn't get in the way of my dream, I wouldn't mind giving this a shot' Zoro said as though this was a negotiation.
Sanji dropped his head onto Zoro's shoulder and tried his best not to laugh, of all the people to fall for why did it have to be this romantically challenged stubborn bastard.
'Look I don't know what your dream is but I'm not going to stop you and that was the most unromantic response I've heard in my life' Sanji spoke quietly enjoying being this close and not having to worry.
'I'm going to be the world's strongest swordsman and I don't do romance, ero-cook' he couldn't see Zoro's face but he just knew the idiot was grinning.
He sighed and leaned back against the tree 'Look as much as I want to stay here with you' he so badly wanted to take this further 'but they're expecting us back and Luffy wants meat'
'Good thing we're sharing a tent then' the smirk on the swordsman's face sent his blood supply south, his mind racing with images of what would come.
He leaned forward waiting for the swordsman to move out his way, instead he pressed into a wall of solid muscle.
Ah fuck it, he slid his arm up and around Zoro's neck and pulled him in, thankfully the other man had the same idea and their lips clashed.
He was enjoying being allowed to touch the swordsman when he heard a crashing sound heading his way.
'ZORO! SANJI? Where are you? I found meat'
He felt Zoro pull away, feeling disappointed but at least the first hurdle was over.
'Over here Luffy' Zoro called in the general direction of the noise.
Zoro pushed away from him, he felt Zoro's hand trailing down his side as though trying to keep some contact for as long as possible. He couldn't help feeling disappointed as he lost the last bit of physical contact.
By the time Luffy arrived at them, they had managed to regain their composure.
'Sanji can you cook this?' Luffy pointed enthusiastically at the massive brown bear he had dragged with him.
'There's not much I can't cook' he grinned with pride.
The king cheered, there was just something about the guy that you couldn't help but get carried along with his childlike excitement about well everything.
'Let's head back then' he grabbed Zoro's shoulder and pointed him in the right direction, as Luffy dragged his haul back.