He'd barely paid attention to the meeting with the mayor, bits had caught his attention like Chopper dealing with the injured people, Franky and Usopp with the buildings. He sat in the corner torn between storming out and tracking down a certain moss brained idiot and staying here and actually helping out how he was needed.
'Sanji' his attention flicked to Nami instantly.
'Yea my love' he did his best to give her the adoration she deserved.
'We need you to go through the food stores, work out how long what they have left will last' Nami handed him some sheets 'You can start tomorrow'
He nodded glancing down at the sheets that seemed to cover what they should have and where. He would also have to work out how to feed his group too. He wasn't sure how long they were going to be here and Luffy had left with most of the fresh bread, meats and cheese. Hopefully there would still be some for Zoro when the pair meet up.
Although there were concerns about food in the long term the mayor had invited them all for dinner at the Inn and Nami had made it clear that it would be rude to refuse. Outside had been set up with tables and chairs and the place was packed with villagers. This wasn't just a private dinner with the mayor; the entire damn village was here.
'Ladies and gentlemen his majesty has arrived with his trusted advisors to deal with the bandits who have been terrorising us' the mayor announced to the waiting people. The crowd cheered but he could see them scanning their group, he wasn't sure who they were looking for more, the King or the swordsman. 'His majesty has already left with his trusted swordsman to deal with the threat. So that his precious subjects may no longer live in fear'
'He's good' he whispered quietly to Nami.
'Garp moved him here and put him in charge, after he took Zoro, he made sure nothing like that would happen again. He even put laws in place to hopefully make sure it doesn't happen anywhere else.' Nami smiled.
He settled into his spot on a large table with the rest of his group. When the dishes came he was pleased to see that pretty much everything was either hunted or gathered from the forest. Most of his job would come down to making sure they had enough to see them through winter and early spring.
He was eating away happily wondering what Zoro and Luffy would have made of the spread.
'Sanji was it?' the mayor was sitting next to him.
'Ah yea sorry I was so out of it at the meeting' he couldn't for the life of him remember the man's name.
'It's no problem. I heard about the cottage incident. I'm sorry, he was one the hunters gathering food for this evening' the older man sighed 'I had hoped to show Zoro how far the village had come. I'm glad you were unscathed and I hear you are to thank for de escalating the situation as well.'
'I'm just glad no one got hurt' he forced a smile. Inside he was still disappointed that Zoro had left him behind, he got why but it sucked nonetheless.
He glanced around at the tables filled with what looked like generations of families. How many had been here when Zoro had? How many had moved here or moved on? God this was getting depressing he knew he was wallowing but it's not like he had sharing the tent to look forward too.
He kept up the small talk with the mayor, asking about the food stores and plans for tomorrow, until he'd finished and could excuse himself to go to bed. As he left he could tell some people were staring and whispering. There were too many possibilities for him to dwell on why. He was foreign, with the king, in a relationship with Zoro and he had curly brows.
He went into his tent and fought the temptation to chuck a certain swordsman stuff outside. He knew it would be petty and he also knew he'd feel bad if anything happened to the stuff. He was still pissed off, hopefully being busy tomorrow would help. Instead he shoved Zoro's baggage to the very back, changed into his pyjama bottoms and stretched himself over both bed rolls, he missed the extra warmth. Dammit he'd grown too attached too fast. He was always one to dive in head first and worry about everything later.
Later.
Like when he would have to return home.
Would Zoro come with him?
He doubted the other man would leave Luffy. Luffy was a king with a kingdom to run.
He threw the breaks on. He was spiralling fast. He needed out this damn tent that smelled like its missing occupant.
He got out his tent after slipping his shoes back on. It was a warm summer night so he didn't bother changing or getting a top. He needed to find some water, he was too far in for the ocean but he'd take a river, lake, Loch maybe even a pond would do.
He wandered towards the woods.
'Wait! Please I've been looking for you!' The hunter from earlier was running towards him.
He let him catch up and catch his breath.
'I wanted to thank you again for this afternoon'
'It's fine it all worked out' Sanji held his tongue and didn't add he mainly did it for Zoro. He wasn't quite sure if that would have been an accident in Luffy's book.
'My father-in-law is a tailor, I explained what happened. He said he'll make you a new shirt' Sanji forgot that Zoro had pulled the man up for damaging his shirt.
'It's OK I can afford to lose one or two' wasn't like he was poor or anything.
'He insists he says it's to apologise for his daughters poor decisions in life' the guy started at the ground out of embarrassment.
'Uh, I guess I can't really refuse then. Could you do me a favour though?'
The man's eyes lit up 'Of course anything you need?'
'Is there water around here? A river or something?'
The man nodded enthusiastically you can't really see it but it runs down the back of the village it cuts through the forest as well if you want somewhere to be alone'
Sanji nodded and followed him. It wasn't far until he could hear the running water and he could feel the calmness start to set in as he got closer. He thanked the man and promised to meet up with him tomorrow after they were both done for the day.
He waited till he knew he was alone before slipping his shoes and trousers off the river was wide here and he could tell it was safe to swim in. He placed his stuff on a nearby stump and dove in, the water was nice and clear. He swam upstream for a while then let himself float staring up at the moon and stars, closing his eyes he focused only on the sound of the water. The river was slowly pulling him back to where his stuff was; he opened his eyes again, finally feeling calm, rid of all the pent up anger and feelings of abandonment.
He swam to shore shaking excess water off before sitting on some rocks to finish drying off. He couldn't deny that this reminded him of meeting Zoro and he couldn't deny that he wished he'd have sneaked a peek then. Maybe he could convince him to come for a late night swim with him when he got back. He jumped up and got his stuff on before that thought got him worked up.
He walked through the woods following his way back to camp. He slipped back into his tent, snuggling into Zoro's bed roll before finally falling asleep.
The next day he spent going round checking the food stores and working out what would need to be topped up. It wasn't as bad as he'd thought but still without the extra they wouldn't have made it through to the first harvest. He kind of understood why Nami had got him to do this, Baratie Islands were almost military about each town and village having enough food for the winter months.
He had just left the mayor office giving him and Nami his information and recommendations. They had seemed pleased when he gave it over and he was feeling pleased with himself when he left.
'Sanji!' he froze recognising the voice from last night. It was the hunter again.
Dammit he'd forgotten about his promise to go with him today.
'Lead the way' he lacked enthusiasm when dealing with men. Well except a few special exceptions,this was definitely not one of them. He was led to a row of stores, the tailors clearly marked with a carved wooden sign.
The hunter opened the door for Sanji and as soon as he entered the hunter muttered something about work as the door closed leaving him alone.
'Ah you must be the one who that idiot almost killed' the man behind the counter must have been about Zeffs age but was dressed smartly hair carefully combed back only just showing grey 'I also hear that your the reason he made it back in one piece, though don't worry that story stops with us'
'It's okay really, I'm fine he's fine' he stopped short of saying Zoro was fine because he really wasn't sure he was.
The man smiled 'The least I can do is replace the shirt, apparently unlike him you care how you look'
'It's just a plain laced shirt I have plenty back home'
'Then I'll give you an upgrade, you have a figure that's made for good clothes' he whipped out a tape and before Sanji could object anymore the tape was round his chest. He reminded him of Inazuma, a tailor from his time with Iva. She was very hands on when making his clothes at least there was a lot less blushing with this tailor.
'I'll bring it to your tent tomorrow' the old man had finished scribbling down some information.
'Um thanks' Sanji would have argued but it was clear there was no point in arguing with the man he shook hands and left now curious as to what he was going to get.