Megumi looks up at Sanji with tears starting to form. "Does mommy not like the surprise?" She asks Sanji. Sanji gives her a smile.
"I'm sure there's a reason." He says. Which he believes whole hardheartedly. There has to be a reason to act like that. Thinking about it now, he did visit his parents grave today so maybe... no, today isn't the day his parents died in the plane crash? He hopes it isn't that, he prays it isn't that. Anything but that. "I'll go check, help yourself." Sanji says as he chase after Zoro. The group all stared at each other before opting to sit down. Megumi just stared at the empty hallway where both her parent disappeared through. Did she do something wrong?
Sanji knocked on the door then opened the door not asking for permission. He didn't want it predominantly if Zoro shooed him away. He wanted to understand what went wrong. He closed the door behind him and heard sniffling. Zoro was crying? Why? Sanji turned to see Zoro hiding his face, back facing towards him. Sanji stays quiet as he goes to sit next to Zoro. Zoro feels the dip Sanji makes as he sits close to him. Zoro's sniffles trying to calm down. He didn't know what happened, one moment he was happy then he was overwhelmed and he had to get out.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Sanji asks softly. He trends carefully. When all he's met with is silence he does asks again. "Everyone thinks your mad, or you didn't like it." Sanji pauses. "Do you not like it, cause I can send them home." Sanji says. If Zoro says so it will be done.
"No, it's ok." Zoro says, voice a little cracked. Sanji sighs, he's talking. That's good.
"Do you want to tell me why you reacted that way?" Sanji asks, really curious as to why he acted that way. Zoro's tears started again. He turned to face Sanji leaving him dumbstruck, to see Zoro crying is like seeing Halley's comet. It doesn't happen all the time and not everyone sees it. Sanji reaches up and wipes the tears away with the pad of his thumb.
"I've never had my birthday celebrated." Zoro says. Sanji's eyes widen. Never?
"Never, not even as a group?" Sanji asks because he knows.
"I don't know if I was lucky or not but I was always the only kid with a birthday in November so they always skipped celebrating mine. When I asked they told me I was spoiled for wanting to celebrate only my birthday when other kids have to share so I never asked again." Sanji frowned at that. How could they tell a child that?
"Didn't you celebrate with your parents?" Sanji wonder, Zoro surely would have celebrated with them right?
"I think we did but I don't remember." Zoro says, a new wave of tears flowing. Sanji wanted to cry himself. This was not what he was expecting but he also didn't think it would be this bad. His parents most likely did celebrate with him but because Zoro didn't remember it felt like he's never gotten surprised and celebrated the day he was born.
"I'm glad that you're not mad." Sanji says he's relieved but it's sad to hear that about Zoro.
"I was really happy but I was just overwhelmed by the sadness of it all. I don't know what to do." Zoro says, his tears not stopping. Sanji couldn't help but let out a puff of a laugh. A grown ass adult not knowing how to take presents from his friends. And now it seems like they're making up for those birthdays Zoro didn't have anyone to celebrate with.
"Just say thank you and smile." Sanji says getting closer to him and cupping Zoro's face. He wipes the tears of the birthday boy with the pad of his thumb. They stare into each other's eyes, how did Sanji never know they were so silver, almost white, they are so captivating, like they're drawing him in. Without realizing it their facing had gotten really close. Sanji trailed his eyes down Zoro's well shaped nose, to his plump lips. He remembered those lips on his that one night. He wants to taste them because he wasn't really able to remember the taste back then. Their faces got closer and closer as their eyes closed. Then their lips met.
It wasn't the kiss Sanji thought of in his head but it still sent shivers down his spine, it still made him crave for more and it still made him happy. It felt so perfect, almost like a fairy tail kiss. He wanted more. He wants Zoro to be his, he wants to be able to do this without it being weird or embarrassing the next day. To have permission to do this in front of the other's.
Sadly it was not meant to last. The door is opened and a saddened Megumi comes in scaring her parents. Zoro turns his face to the side to look at her, Sanji does too, not letting his hands fall from cupping Zoro's face. Megumi sees that Zoro is crying, not as much as in the beginning but she still saw the tears. She looked shock at first, never having seen her mother cry before and it hurt to think that maybe she was the cause, it was her idea. "I'm sorry mommy." She says. "I didn't know, please don't be mad." She pleaded. Zoro looks at her shocked, and confused. Sanji and Zoro pull away from each other.
"Why would I be mad?" Zoro asks as Megumi comes closer to him. He pulls her into his lap.
"Because you didn't like the surprise." Megumi tears start to run down her cheeks.
"I'm not mad." Zoro says wiping her tears away.
"But you ran away?" She says, not understanding how that could mean he's not upset.
"I'll go tell everyone, why don't you tell her." Sanji says getting up. Zoro nods as he watches Sanji leave. He looks down at Megumi to see her eyes on him. He gives her a smile so she knows he's not mad.
"Well you have me and your father right?" He ask and sees that she nods. "Well, my mom and dad died when I was around your age. Since I had no family they put me in a place where other kids who also don't have families are..." Zoro continues to tell her. Her eyes widen and her eyes get misty at the thought that her mother didn't have a lot, didn't have what she has. Never got another birthday party till today.
