Sanji couldn't help but feel like he's on top of the world. Him and Zoro are now official. He doesn't have to worry as much as he was about the beach gathering for the school. Everything is as it should be.
As least that's what he told himself. One thing that's not how it should be is Zoro. Ever since he woke up he's been weird. Stiff, far away, at a distance, quiet and won't make eye contact. Sanji didn't let it get to him, he couldn't because he knew what's going on. This is Zoro's first relationship. Knowing Zoro, he doesn't know what to do or how to act. And Sanji started thinking about why he was acting the way he was and it hit him. He's decided to take things slow with Zoro, really slow if he has to. He doesn't want to spook Zoro and he wants Zoro to understand what it's like to date someone. Show him the good side and talk about the bad. He had to think really hard on how to do this with Zoro. He didn't want anything to go wrong.
Sanji had asked Zoro to sit down with him and talk, just talk. Sanji made some tea and put some crackers and snacks for Zoro to snack on to distract himself or to have a reason to look away if he wanted. Zoro sat stiff and Sanji kind of thought it was cute. Who would have thought Zoro would be so stiff about this? He didn't really have anything to worry about.
Sanji sat down with the cup of tea on the table in front of him. Zoro sat across him also with a cup of tea on the table in front of him. Sanji looked down at his cup of tea. "Zoro, I know this is your first relationship but you don't need to be so nervous about it." Sanji starts. He could hear Zoro choke a little. Sanji looks up and sees him looking away.
"I don't know what to do or how to act." Zoro says. Sanji gave him a smile even though he knew Zoro couldn't see it.
Sanji nod, "I thought that's what it was." Sanji tilt his head to the side. "Zoro you don't need to act like anyone but yourself. We've lived together for more than five months. I know how you act at home." Zoro looks down at the floor before turning to look at the plate full of crackers and rice balls. He knows Sanji is making sense. They've lived together for five months, one week and four days. They've gotten close to each other. They've seen each other brush their teeth, sleep, eat, they've even taken a shower together, Megumi was there too but still. At this point there was no surprise anymore. They've cooked together, watched t.v together and they've gone out together. Not on dates but they've gone out shopping and to the park, then there's Megumi's birthday. Zoro knows that he's acting stupid, there's no real reason why he's acting like this. He just started overthinking. "I don't want to force you into anything and I want to take things slow. I know Megumi would be both of our priorities so if I go too fast just let me know. If you want to talk to me about something then tell me, and if Megumi shouldn't hear it then tell me and we can talk in private." Sanji sees Zoro nod as he reaches over for a rice ball. "It goes both ways. So don't be surprised if I start talking to you like we've been friends for years. If I make you feel uncomfortable in anyway tell me." Zoro just nod, now looking at Sanji and he seemed less nervous, which is a good sign.
"Can I asks you a question?" Zoro asks.
"Sure." Sanji nods and smiles at him.
"How many people have you dated?" Zoro asks. This time Sanji chokes on his tea. That was not what he thought Zoro would ask. Maybe why he started liking Zoro or how long he's been feeling like this but not that.
"Um..." Sanji thinks for a second, should he tell him or just give a vague answer. But then Sanji thought about it, if he was in Zoro's shoes he would want the truth. "I don't have an actual number but I know it's more than ten. Like you saw in the video of when Megumi was young I was dating. But nothing lasted long and always ended." Sanji says.
"But you kept dating right? Why?" Zoro asks looking at Sanji right in the eyes or eye. Sanji kind of started feeling nervous. He's never talk about this to anyone and it's kind of like talking to a child about love and dating.
"Well as I've told you before I'm lonely and I thought dating someone would fill that but then I got you and Megumi. And I liked it, having Megumi run around and you just talking to her the way you do. I love it but I wanted something more from you, and developed feelings for you, so here we are." Sanji says looking at Zoro with a loving smile who in turn look at him with a blush on his cheeks, going all the way to his ears. "Any other questions?"
Zoro shook his head and he looks down to fill his cheeks with food before his eyes widen and he looks at Sanji. He swallows his food, "wait," Zoro says, Sanji prepared himself for the next question. "Can you drop me and Megumi off at the mall tomorrow?" Sanji almost fell off his chair. That was his question? He thought it would be about more of his past relationships. Sanji smiles, Zoro always knew how to throw him for a loop. Zoro is something else, and Sanji loves it.
"Sure but why?" Sanji takes a zip of his drink.
"For the beach gathering. We need some stuff." Zoro says drinking some of his tea.
"Of, if that's the case then I'll come to. I need some stuff too. I don't remember the last time I went to the beach." Sanji looks to the side to think.
"It's been a long time." Zoro says. Then they looked at each other.
"The trip to fishman island!" They both shouted at each other. They stared at each other for a while before going into laughing fit. That trip is rooted into the whole crews brain and will never be forgotten. The whole grade went there to relax only to get into a big fight with the local schools delinquents. They didn't get in trouble with the principle but they did get scolded by almost all the teachers, luckily Luffy had become friends with the princess of the island and her father let things slide as during the fight he had taught a lesson to one person who was harassing his daughter. After that they relaxed but didn't last long as it was time to go but that didn't matter to the straw hats as they made the last few hours of their stay a big party and had fun.
