Sanji woke up early, the sun was only just rising, slowly lighting the room through Zoro's window. He crept out of bed, avoiding waking up the peacefully sleeping Marimo he looked so calm and dare Sanji say it slightly cute. He shook his head to clear the weirdness away and went to the toilet, when he returned Zoro was still snoring away so he quickly got changed. He put on a black ghillie shirt with black breeches and he pulled on his boots before heading out the door.
He automatically headed for the kitchen, after his work in the kitchen that first time they had welcomed him back anytime he wanted. It had been a few days since that day out with Zoro. The others had begun to relax around him and after Zoro and Nami had got in an argument about him having to wake up early to babysit a stupid cook, she had finally caved and let Sanji roam free.
He went down the main stairs into the large open hallway and turned towards the kitchen. At the door was a young teen, he was guessing maybe twelve or thirteen. He wore a red jacket left open to show his chest, blue trousers cut into shorts, sandals and a straw hat covering messy black hair. He was sitting against the wall legs out, arms crossed and pouting. He didn't look like staff and he hadn't met him yet so he figured he may be a young relative of one of the others, maybe Robin from the black hair or maybe Luffy had a little brother?
'What's wrong?' Sanji bent down so he was on his haunches looking at the kid.
'They won't give me any food, I'm hungry but Nami won't let them give me food until breakfast' Sanji felt for the kid, it would be a couple of hours before breakfast.
'Well would it count if I gave you food? That's not breaking her rule right?' the kids eyes lit up and he jumped up and hugged Sanji.
'I want lots of meat, can you cook meat?'
Sanji nodded and walked into the kitchen closely followed by his new shadow, when he saw the head chef glancing nervously at the young man following him he suggested that he wait in the garden; he'd bring the food out. The kids face lit up with the brightest grin he'd ever seen as he bounced out the door. Sanji couldn't help grinning himself at the over enthusiastic kid.
He worked quickly and quietly, the head chef busy with the early morning prep and cooking. He made the kid a large sandwich with leftover meat he had cooked for last night's dinner, he would have proper cooked food for breakfast later.
He left the kitchen to the morning chaos, he desperately wanted to join but the kid was hungry and that had him focused. He went out and spotted him lying on the grass looking at the brightening sky, he walked down and sat next to him. The kid snapped upright and was practically drooling as he was handed the thick filled sandwiches.
'Just some leftovers from what I made last night, you'll have to wait till breakfast for something hot'
He glanced at the plate and noticed the sandwich was gone, somehow he had managed to stuff the entire thing in his mouth.
'S'hoo gooood' he said his mouth still full.
Sanji grinned nothing like getting his ego stroked to make his day.
He heard footsteps heading down the path, he looked up and saw the Marimo walking down the path and he wasn't looking amused.
'What are you doing Curly?:
Sanji cringed 'Sorry the kid was hungry so I gave him some food, I didn't think it'd piss you off.' he had figured he may get into trouble from Nami but not Zoro.
'ZORO!' the kid flew at the swordsman wrapping himself around him.
Sanji felt a pang of jealousy at how at ease the younger man was with Zoro.
'Luffy get the hell off me' Zoro struggled against….wait
No way in hell was that Luffy, he stared at the grinning kid….no way was this the King. He'd done the math Zoro was the same age as him, Luffy two years younger was nineteen. He'd imagined some large muscled guy who was the rumoured monstrous fighter. Sanji knew what it was like to be underestimated but this kid was bright and bubbly and in no way scary.
'Did you get the message Robin sent you?' Zoro was still talking to…..Luffy.
This was a joke right? A test to see what he would do before Luffy really got home.
Luffy nodded 'Well that's him' Zoro pointed over at Sanji.
Luffy stretched his head back so he could see Sanji 'So I have to fight him?'
'He's here for both of us but I thought you should go first for once' Sanji noticed a sly grin on the swordsman's face as Luffy finally let go.
Luffy walked back towards him and stopped a short distance away from him, he crossed his arms and waited for Sanji to make the first move.
He felt himself torn, part of him was screaming at him not to do it, he took a deep breath and steeled himself this is what he was here for after all.
He aimed a kick towards the young man's chest he was holding back on his strength a bit, he would hurt the kid but not break anything and hopefully he would give up.
Except the kick never connected, Luffy had moved just enough to avoid the kick, he swung his other leg round using his landing leg to balance aiming harder this time. As Luffy dodged again he picked up both the force and speed of the kicks, still nothing landed. He stopped as he heard laughter from the side, Zoro was apparently entertained. He watched as Zoro walked up whispered in his King's ear and suddenly the atmosphere changed. His eyes darkened and Sanji was forced onto the defensive, as fists flew at him from an unnatural length and at an inhuman speed.
Suddenly he noticed Luffy in the air above him and a fist flying down at him, he tensed himself ready to block, a hand grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him out the way.
'Never try to block that' the Marimo said as he moved past Sanji placing his hand on the landed Luffy.
'My bad Luffy, he said he would cook you all the meat not that he was going to steal it'
The innocent happy look was back on his face as Luffy ran into the building shouting about a party. Sanji was left wondering what the hell had just happened as he stared at the crater where Luffy's punch had landed.
'You told him I was going to steal the meat?' Zoro nodded 'And that's why he reacted like that?' Zoro grinned at him looking smug.
'You were holding back though weren't you?'
Sanji paused he hadn't done it on purpose but no matter what they had said he had found it difficult to full out attack the cheery young man. Looking at the hole in the ground though he wasn't sure he could win even going full out, never mind if he had to face him and Zoro at the same time. Dammit he had screwed up, he had grown attached to the swordsman and now the King seemed to be growing on him.
'I can't do it' he let out deep breath 'I should probably head before your King decides to have me locked up for coming to kill him'
He turned to head back for his stuff, it wouldn't take him long to be on his way again.
He felt the hand touch his shoulder before he was spun round to face Zoro.
'You don't have to leave if you don't want to' Sanji felt himself held in place as Zoro's dark eyes held his, any resolve any resistance he had built against this man crumbled.
'You want me to stay?'
'Boys breakfast is ready and Luffy is already at the table' Robin called down from the doorway
'Shit' Zoro turned and bolted towards the door that Robin had disappeared into 'Hurry up Curly' he yelled back.
What the hell was that all about? He shoved his hands into his pocket and briskly walked after Zoro.
When he finally reached the dining room he noticed everyone was eating quickly, it reminded Sanji of the first meal he'd had here. The only seat left was next to Zoro who was seated at the King's right, Luffy was sitting with what had to be three or four times the portion that everyone else had and eating at an inhuman pace.
Sanji hadn't even gotten halfway through his food when he felt something bump his arm, a hand was creeping between him and Zoro trying to reach the food.
'What the hell?' he used his fork to smack the hand away and watched as it shrunk back to it's owner.
Zoro had apparently noticed too 'He's a rubber man, he can stretch' Zoro glanced at Luffy who was rubbing his hand and grinning 'He's also a bottomless pit so watch your food.'
Finally everyone was done, having fended off King Luffy.
'Everyone get ready we're' the King who had lept onto the table to make his announcement was interrupted by the fist of the beautiful red head and as he was dragged off the table.
Sanji watched in confusion as Nami continued dragging Luffy out of the room 'No announcements until we've planned it properly you idiot'
Robin got up giving Sanji a smile and followed the pair.
'Is that normal?' he asked the Marimo who looked completely unfazed.
Zoro nodded 'Yea Nami will only be able to hold him off so long though so we should find out tonight why he's so excited'
Sanji nodded he was used to strange, his father and the rest of the kitchen staff were odd and unusual but this was a whole special level of chaos. Yet it seemed fun and he couldn't deny he was enjoying himself, life back in the Baratie Islands had become so set that this freedom was exhilarating. If Zoro was serious about his offer then maybe just maybe he would stay consequences be damned.