Sanji's mood had started to improve greatly after the talk with the Captain and after receiving his position as the ship's cook. He was still ruled too weak to start his new job yet, but Chopper found that he was gaining weight more quickly. He wasn't back to what Chopper considered normal yet, but it was a good development. Chopper attributed this change to Sanji's mindset, and after a talk with Luffy, allowed the captain to visit and work with Zoro to help the cook get better. They gradually started letting him out often to just walk around the ship and build up not just his muscles but also his relationship with the crew. He was still shy, but he no longer actively avoided them. He spent most of his time sitting in one of the chairs on the deck watching the other members, or occasionally in the kitchen, where he was permitted to observe the other members as they rotated in their own cooking duties. The man's face showed a great deal of disapproval at their cooking styles, but he never spoke it aloud unless it was Zoro's turn. Then he would blatantly speak his mind, trying to curve the man's cooking. Zoro never listened to him.

It had been a couple weeks when they arrived at the next island. It was good timing as their stocks had gotten low and everyone also wanted to stretch their legs from their long time at sea. Chopper had given the approval for Sanji to leave the ship, on the condition that he always be accompanied by someone. Zoro was voted for quickly, as he was the one that Sanji seemed closest to besides the captain and would also be able to drag him back to the ship if something happened to him. Nami was then put in charge of Zoro, to make sure the man didn't get them both lost.

Nami headed out with her own shopping list, Zoro and Sanji following behind. Sanji looked extremely excited and nervous at the same time, his eyes wide as he took in all the sights, smells and sounds of a bustling coastal town. It was almost overwhelming to the man, and he kept stopping when he saw something new, causing Zoro to stumble into him a few times and then whack the man on the head.

"Get it together, you look like a dazed idiot. Someone would have robbed you by now if you had any money." Zoro scolded as the cook had stopped once again to watch some children playing in the street.

"I see…" Sanji tore his eyes away from the kids and tried to walk while staring straight ahead but found himself stopping again as they made it to the market square that was filled with carriages and booths overflowing with every kind of fruit and vegetable, as well as a large variety of meats and fish. Before Zoro could scold him again though, a large smile flashed across Sanji's face and he turned towards the swordsman, beaming at him and grabbing his sleeve.

"Did you see? There's apples there… and apricots! Watermelon!" Sanji said as he pointed to each item while Zoro tried to pull his sleeve from the man's grip. Nami had noticed a lack of two shadows behind her and looked back at them. She couldn't help but smile a bit at Sanji's enthusiasm.

"Sanji-kun? Would you like to choose something?" She asked, feeling generous and offering him a little money.

"R-really? I can?" Sanji asked, bewildered.

"Of course. But this is all you're going to get, so use it wisely." She replied, handing him the money. He took it with both hands, fingering the inscription on the money before his face turned a bit red and he looked down and away.

"T-thank you Nami-san… You are such a kind and wonderful person…" He muttered, causing her to chuckle. Zoro rolled his eye and nudged the man with his elbow.

"Choose quickly, I'd like to get to the bar."

"The bar? Are you sure you should be taking him there? Wouldn't it be dangerous?" Nami asked, frowning.

"Only dangerous if we fight." Zoro shrugged.

"Hmm… well fine, I do want to shop for some clothes..." Nami pointed to the bar with a bright red sign on the same street. "Go to that one and stay there. I'll come and pick you two up when I'm finished. And really, keep an eye on him. He's a bit naïve… and could get into a lot of trouble."

"We'll be fine—wait, where did he go?" Zoro asked, suddenly realizing that the man had slipped away while the two of them were discussing the arrangements. Both quickly looked around, but thankfully they caught sight of the cook's lean frame and bright blonde hair only a few meters away, listening to one of the venders talk his ear off.

"….If you lose him, I swear….I'll charge you so much money your ghost will still be paying me back…" Nami trailed off, narrowing her eyes at the swordsman.

"I won't lose him. He can barely walk." Zoro replied, glaring back at her before stomping off towards the cook.

Sanji was standing in front of a gruff old vender with a large cigar in his mouth, puffing at it. He held out his hand and Sanji placed the money he had just received from Nami into the old man's hands.

"Good deal." The old man said before handing Sanji a couple small boxes. Sanji stared at them with wonder.

"What's that?" Zoro asked, curious despite himself.

"Only the best tobacco on the island! My wife even hand rolls them each individually. How about you sir, would you like to buy some as well? I'll give you a good deal!"

"You bought cigarettes?!" Zoro asked, glaring at Sanji, who looked back at him innocently.

"He said they are very good and give you strength."

"You idiot… that's it, we're going to the bar and you're going to sit down and not talk to anyone." Zoro grabbed the collar of Sanji's shirt and dragged him to the bar.

Sanji sat properly beside Zoro at a booth in the bar, his hands wrapped around a cup of warm tea, as Chopper had requested that Sanji hold off on anything alcoholic until he was a bit stronger. He kept glancing around, taking in the colorful diversity of people there. Zoro was nursing a beer, leaning back, relaxed, but keeping his eye and ears open.

It was a good thing too, because after about an hour or so, a couple marines entered the bar for a drink. He didn't move and instead kept his eye on them.

"Zoro, look, it's some marines." Sanji said, pointing them out, seemingly helpfully. Zoro slowly turned his murderous gaze toward the cook, who smiled back.

"Zoro? Pirate-hunter Zoro?" Asked one of the marines, overhearing their conversation and looking over at the two. As their eyes locked, Zoro reached for his weapon while coincidingly aiming a well-placed kick at Sanji's hip, causing the man to flop over face down onto the seat of the booth. Now both marines were facing him, holding their guns steady in his direction as Zoro faced them down, side stepping slightly so that Sanji could remain unseen, hidden by the table.

"If you know my name, you must know my bounty. I won't be an easy catch." Zoro told the men, holding his swords before him.

"I don't know about that. I think you might be our easiest catch yet." Said a voice from behind him. In less than a moment, Zoro had half twisted to the side, one sword pointed towards the two marines at the door, and the other pointed at the new man that had snuck up behind him. He cursed, taking the man's appearance. He was obviously of higher rank, a lieutenant, but that wasn't what bothered Zoro. It was the fact that the man had his own gun pressed down against Sanji's temple, where he lay flat on the bench of the booth.

"Don't move." Zoro ordered, his eye flickering to the cook before landing back on the lieutenant.

"I don't think you should be giving orders." The lieutenant replied, cocking back the hammer on his gun, causing Sanji to flinch. "Now, be a good little pirate and put those swords down. You may be quick… but I can guarantee I can pull this trigger before you reach me."

Zoro cursed under his breath again, slowly setting his swords down, but still within grabbing distance, before standing back up and facing the lieutenant, eye narrowed as he thought of a solution. He was pretty sure he could fight his way out of this mess. The marines didn't look that impressive, especially if they were outposted here on this random island. He would have to get them to release Sanji though. The cook didn't have a bounty, so they would have no reason to hold him. Once Sanji was out of their hands, Zoro could strike. He watched as the lieutenant smirked at him then glanced to his companions behind Zoro and nodded his head.

Zoro felt something clamp around his upper arms and chest, pinning his arms to his side. He winced, the clamp was riddled with small jagged spikes, digging into his skin. He heard something that sounded like a dial clicking as the clamp tightened slightly. It was annoying, but he'd felt much worse. A second clamp was put around him, this time it fitted around his forearms and stomach, effectively preventing him from moving his arms at all. The same clicking noise followed.

He looked back at Sanji, who was staring back at him, fear in his eyes.

"Perfect, now let's get these two back to the base." The lieutenant said, digging the barrel of the gun into the side of Sanji's temple as a threat.

"Two? You're arresting civilians now too?" Zoro asked, glaring at the man.

"Civilians? He sure looks like an accomplice to me."

"He has nothing to do with me."

"We'll see about that." He grabbed a handful of Sanji's hair and pulled the man to his feet. "Not much of one, is he? Should be enough to keep you in line though. Walk boy, before I blow your brains to smithereens." He shoved Sanji forward, who stumbled into a table.

"I'm sorry…" Sanji said as he pushed himself up weakly. Zoro clenched his teeth, his anger rising. The lieutenant prodded Zoro's back and the group made their way out the back of the bar.

"Nice to be back home, eh?" Zoro asked as the two of them sat together in the dingy cell of the marine base. It looked old and rarely used. He wondered if they got many criminals in these parts, seeing as how the room was a bit dusty and there were even cracks around the sconce in the room. He leaned back against the wall, closing his eye. The clamps around his chest and waist were digging uncomfortably into his skin. He didn't know if it was his imagination or not, but it seemed like they were slowly getting tighter.

The whole situation was annoying, but they were both alright for now. It seemed the marines probably planned on using Sanji as their bargaining chip in the whole situation. The man was physically still unfit and mentally unprepared as well, an easy target. Zoro was sure they'd try to get information out of him, perhaps about their crewmates. Sanji didn't know much, but he knew enough.

Zoro would have to just figure a way out quickly, without using his arms or his swords, which had been taken from him. He assumed the other straw-hats would also come for them once they heard the news, but Nami probably wouldn't go the bar for a few more hours, and he didn't know if the rumors would spread to the others until then. If they decided to question Sanji before then, who knew what they would do to him.

He peered over at his quiet companion. Sanji had pretty much shut down. He was curled up in the corner and hadn't said a word since he had apologized in the bar. His face was obscured by his knees and though his breathing had seemed to steady out, he had nearly been hyperventilating earlier.

Zoro didn't blame Sanji for his weakness. He had seen the strides the man had taken to improve himself and was making a lot of progress. However, they had to be realistic, and Sanji was a dead weight to him now. That wouldn't do. There was no way that Zoro could pull off some sort of escape with so many handicaps. He needed help. He needed someone who wasn't bound like he was. He eyed the room for a moment before he noticed something.

"Oi… dumbbrows." Zoro prodded, using his feet to scoot a bit closer to the cook. There was no response. Zoro prodded at the man's thigh with his shoe. Sanji lifted his head slightly, looking at him with his one exposed and sorrowful looking eye.

"I'm going to need you to get a grip, alright? This is nothing. I've been in situations a thousand times worse than this. We can escape."

"Escape..?" Sanji whispered back, looking startled. "How could we possibly escape? These are marines… and you're useless now."

"Who is useless?!" Zoro asked, angry now.

"You don't have your swords and you can't use your arms…" Sanji replied seriously.

"That doesn't make me useless! Argh. Anyway, like I said, we're going to get out of here, and you've got to be the one to do it."

"W-what?! Me? What could I possibly do?"

"Look here, you're a straw hat now. We don't give up, no matter the circumstances. I don't give a shit if you're physically weak. We find a way. Look at Nami. No muscles but can hold her own." He scowled at that, realizing he was complimenting the woman.

"Doesn't Nami-san have a weapon though..?"

"And you've got me, which is way better than her even without my arms."

"I… I guess…" Sanji still didn't look very convinced. Zoro suddenly headbutted the man, causing Sanji to curse and grab his forehead in pain.

"Man up. This is serious now. You giving up means that you're not only giving up on yourself, but you're giving up on me too. That's a pretty shitty thing to do to a crewmate. Should I have Luffy revoke your title?" Zoro told him, glaring at him. Sanji dropped his hands from his forehead and stared back at the swordsman, at the man he owed his life to.

"I'm… I'm not strong like you…" Sanji muttered.

"Then become strong. Starting now. You survived in that god-forsaken cell for who knows how long. You have the will to live. Use that."

Sanji took a moment, contemplating Zoro's words. Finally, he bit his lip and nodded.

"Okay." He replied, the determination growing in his eyes.

"About time, you shit cook."

Sanji scowled at that nickname before pushing himself up.

"Should we try to get those bindings off first?"

"Nah, too tight for now. First we'll—"

"—try to break through the wall where the sconce is?" Sanji finished, and Zoro frowned, surprised the man had noticed the cracks.

"…Exactly. I can't use my arms but maybe I can get a few good kicks in." Zoro leaned back against the wall and tried to push himself to his feet without the use of his arms. The slick floor made it difficult, however, and he landed on his butt and let out a curse. Sanji watched, with a slightly amused look on his face.

"Need some help?"

"Your part comes next. I doubt those skinny arms of yours could do anything here." Zoro replied, this time rolling back and trying to get the momentum to jump to his feet.

"You look ridiculous." Sanji noted before crouching down beside the man and grabbing his arm. "On the count of three. One, two… three!" Using his legs, he pushed himself with all his strength, pulling Zoro up. It wasn't much help, but it was enough for Zoro to take it the rest of the way up. Now standing, Zoro walked over to the spot on the wall with the empty sconce that would normally hold a torch or candle of some sort that had been removed. Sanji reached up and pulled the sconce off, setting it aside. Where the sconce had been driven into the wall, there were large cracks that had probably grown over time.

"Alright, they'll probably hear it when the wall crashes, so be quick. Don't forget my swords. We'll go out the back. There's a hill there that leads into the forest. We'll go that way and circle around. Any questions?"

"Why are you bleeding?" Sanji asked, his eyes now on Zoro's arms.

"It's fine. Let's go." Zoro then kicked with all his might at the cracks in the wall. His power was undeniable, even without his swords, and with that one kick, a couple of the bricks fell. He tried kicking again, but the other bricks were more stable. Sanji took this as his cue and walked over to the hole in the wall. It was small. Very small. And high.

"Come here." He ordered his companion and he without notice pushed Zoro towards the wall. The swordsman stumbled from his lack of balance and landed on his face. Sanji used Zoro's body as leverage and pushed himself up to the hole. It was small, but Sanji had a lean frame. He pushed himself through the hole, pulling through the other side, his shoulders scraping the sides and ripping his shirt. But, he made it through.

"Shithead." Zoro muttered, now back on the floor and feeling the blood run down his arms as the bindings grew tighter. He then sat himself up and tried to listen. He had thought the guards would come running right away, but maybe their cell was far enough that they hadn't heard anything. He waited. And waited. Then he heard voices. Zoro scooted to the bars of the cell and tried peering out. A few minutes when by and then Sanji appeared again, panting and holding some keys in his hand. With a shaking hand, he opened Zoro's cell.

"I found this knife, and a few of our things, but I didn't see your swords anywhere." Sanji explained, holding up a small dagger.

"Shit. Didn't see any guards?"

"There's one in the next room, but he's wasted." Sanji grabbed the man and pulled him to his feet in a rapid movement, hyped up on adrenaline. There were footsteps and voices starting to get louder and coming their way.

"We'll come back for them once we've regrouped then." Zoro decided, just as the door to their right opened. The marine that opened it looked shocked to see them out and about and immediately started shouting for his friends as he pulled his gun. Sanji and Zoro made a dash for the opposite end of the hall, running past the drunk marine and for the door as a few gunshots rang out. Sanji quickly opened the door and they stumbled out.

"You said there was a hill here, Marimo." Sanji said as he skidded to a stop at the base of what he would have considered a cliff.

"It's a steep hill." Zoro replied.

"Fitting… that the one who saved me is the one who is going to get me killed." Sanji stated before they both dove down. Without the use of his arms, Zoro was unable to control his body as it slid down the hill, smacking into trees and bushes. He remembered seeing Sanji grab his shirt before everything went black.

Zoro woke up to two things: the dull and constant pain around his torso and the feeling of someone tugging on his cheek. His eye flashed open to see a certain blonde way too close to his face.

"Get the hell off me." He growled and Sanji grinned back and let go of the man's cheek.

"Good to see you alive Marimo." He seemed genuinely relieved and sat back, running a hand through his messy hair that was full of leaves.

"How long was I out?" Zoro asked, sitting up and feeling the bindings clench tighter around his torso. He winced. "Fuck…" Sanji seemed to remember something and fished a key out of his pocket.

"Hold still, I get that off." The cook scooted over to reach the dial on the back of the device around Zoro's upper body. He slid the key in and heard a satisfying click before carefully unwinding the clamp from Zoro's chest, careful to pull the spikes straight out. One the device was off, little rivers of blood flowed out from all the cuts around his chest and upper arms.

Sanji moved to the second device, the one surrounding Zoro's lower arms and stomach. He put the key in and turned it. It didn't move. He frowned and turned it the other direction. Nothing. He turned it back and forth.

"…. Shit…." Sanji pulled the key out and looked at it before looking back at the serrated clamp around Zoro's stomach. The dial ticked and got tighter, digging further into his arms. Zoro kept a steady face.

"…You only grabbed one key?" Zoro asked, looking over his shoulder, looking very unpleased.

"I thought there would only be one… they're the same device…" Sanji muttered, gripping his hair is distress.

"Way to use your brain, dumbbrows. How am I supposed to go back and get my swords looking like this?"

"I'm so sorry—" Sanji started, his hands trembling, but paused as he caught the look in Zoro's eye. He remembered. He shook his head and met the swordsman's eyes again. "It's your own damn fault for not being clear. If you knew there'd be two keys, you should've said something. Or better yet, got them yourself. But no, your weakass got yourself tied up and practically useless."

Zoro couldn't help the proud little smirk that appeared on his face.

"Because a certain someone was about to get their head blown off…"

"Because a certain other someone didn't notice someone walk up behind us." Sanji reached over and grabbed the edge of Zoro's coat and used the knife to cut off the end of it for a makeshift bandage that he wrapped awkwardly around the cuts around Zoro's chest from the first device. They didn't look too bad, but he didn't want to take any chances.

"It's getting dark… I doubt they'd risk coming after us at night when they know they have my swords and the other key. They'll probably wait for us there."

"Shouldn't we go back right away?" Sanji asked, his eyes flickering towards the toothed clamp around Zoro.

"Not until we have a plan. I can't exactly muscle my way through and they'll be on too much of a high alert for you to sneak around."

Sanji nodded grimly and then pushed himself up and simply walked off, hands in his pockets. Figuring he was off to use the bathroom, Zoro examined the clamp once again. It seemed to tighten on a regular basis, but he hadn't been paying enough attention to know how long it was in between. Each time it seemed to tighten about a centimeter, and it had progressed enough that he couldn't feel his hands anymore. He experimented with them. They still moved at his command, but he didn't feel anything from them.

He thought it would probably be best if they could get the key right away, but it also seemed like a suicide mission. They just weren't prepared. The clamp would slow him down tremendously and he'd only be able to kick or body slam into people, and that could potentially throw him off balance. They had a knife, but even if he used it with his mouth, it was too short to be effective.

There was another option. It might hurt, but if he pushed hard enough with his arms, he might be able to break the device using his own strength. With Sanji gone, he figured it was the best time to try. Zoro took in a deep breath then pushed outwards with his arms with all his might, the serrated edges of the clamp dug deep into his forearms. He grunted as the dull pain from before came to the forefront and with a click the clamp tightened once more. He slumped over, feeling lightheaded. Fresh blood dripped down his arms. With a frustrated grumble, he flopped onto his side and closed his eye. He would just take a nap and get his strength back.

Zoro woke up this time to the smell of meat, which confused him at first and he had to take a moment to remember where he was and what had happened. He was laying on his back and there were a pair of shoes under his head. He sat up too quickly and squinted as the blood rushed through his body. It was dark out, but he could make out a glowing yellow blob before him. It slowly took shape and what he saw honestly surprised him. Sanji was sitting next to a small fire, and there were two sticks with meat roasting on them. The cook was peeling the skin off a fruit of some kind, barefoot.

Sanji glanced over at the man.

"Hungry?" He asked as a long spiral peel dropped off the fruit. He tossed it into the fire before cutting the fruit into smaller pieces. Zoro stared at the man.

"You know how to hunt?" He asked, unable to ignore his curiosity. Despite their being together for a while now, the crew had never dug into Sanji's past. It seemed like an unspoken rule between them, everyone's past was their own business. The fact that Sanji had been found in an abandoned cell itself promised some sort of intriguing story, but they respected one another enough to keep their curiosities to themselves. Zoro didn't know anything about the man before him, other than what he had seen on the surface.

"I learned when I was a child." Sanji said, but his voice held a hint of bitterness in it. "Came in handy." When Zoro raised an eyebrow at that, Sanji elaborated. "Rats. But they left too when there was nothing for them to eat."

Seeing as how Zoro couldn't use his hands, Sanji had to reached over and shove the fruit into Zoro's mouth, much to the swordsman's humiliation. He also at this time realized that the blood on his arms had also been cleaned away. He wasn't enjoying the current reversal of roles, but at least appreciated the fact that the cook wasn't blatantly pointing it out.

"Can't imagine it was much meat." Zoro replied once he had swallowed his food.

"Too fuzzy." Sanji joked lightly as he checked the roasting meat that had already been skinned. Finding it thoroughly cooked, he held up one of the sticks to Zoro's mouth. He chomped down on it, grabbing it in one bite. Sanji took his own and started eating as well, his eyes turning up towards the star filled sky.

They finished their food and sat in a comfortable silence for a while before Sanji pulled a small box out of his pocket and opened it.

"Want one? It's supposed to make you strong." Sanji said with a grin, pulling out a cigarette. Zoro rolled his eye, wondering why he had for a moment thought the man before him had become somewhat mature.

"Those things will kill you."

"Oh goody." Sanji lit the cigarette from the fire and placed it into his mouth, taking a deep breath. He immediately broke down into a fit of coughs.

"Idiot."

"Wow… that's awful…" Sanji muttered between coughs.

"Wake me up when it's morning." Zoro said, scooting back against a tree and leaning against it. He closed his eye and sighed. It was too dark to do anything. He figured in the morning they'd just have to meet up with the other straw hat pirates and work as a team to get everything back. His brow furrowed just thinking about it. He hated being useless, and normally he would have probably stormed in there on his own anyway. But with Sanji with him… who ironically was taking care of him now, it was another story.

This time when Zoro woke up, he was in immense pain. The clamp must've clicked tighter several times during his sleep, and he was practically panting as he looked down and noticed the odd colors his hands were changing. This wasn't good. He looked up and noticed the sun straight above him. His mind went immediately to the cook, wondering why the man hadn't woken him up much sooner. But the cook was nowhere in his sight. The fire from the night before had been snuffed out and the shoes gone. The only remnants of the cook were now a large amount of cigarette buds. Several of them were scattered in a line, as if the cook had been pacing back and forth.

Zoro was angry the man hadn't woken him up sooner, but figured he was out hunting again. He waited. And waited. Zoro's breath was getting heavy and he was sweating. Had the cook abandoned him? His gut told him that couldn't be the case. Either way, Zoro was a sitting duck out here. He used the back of the tree to give himself leverage and he managed to stand up. He swayed, blood now steadily dripping down, soaking his coat and pants. He'd go back on his own and worry about the cook later. He'd find the shoreline and follow it like before.

He took a step and swayed again. Another step, he toppled over onto his face. Cursing, he rolled over onto his back. The edges of his vision were blurry.

"Zoro!"

He was even hearing things.

"Zoro! Where are you?"

And they were getting louder.

"Zoro!"

It was so loud and annoying.

"Zoro! I found him! Chopper! Over here!"

Before Zoro could say anything, he was roughly shoved over onto his stomach and he heard a distinct click before the pressure around his torso immediately was released.

"Hey bro, you doing alright?" Franky asked as he stepped in front of the swordsman, pulling him up so that Chopper could jump in and start examining him.

"-the hell happened…?" Zoro muttered, already feeling claustrophobic as he was surrounded by half of the crew.

"Sanji-kun told us you were out here about to get your arms chopped off." Nami explained, twirling the key around her finger as she kicked the weird clamp away.

"Where is he?" Zoro asked, frowning. "Is he alright?"

"A little banged up, but he's okay. We arrived before anything bad happened." Franky said, reaching over to help the swordsman who smacked his hand away and stood on his own. He flexed his hands, feeling the blood rush through them, an odd sensation. He frowned, wanting to know what happened, but at the same time not wanting to sound like he was worried.

"He's your little chick for sure, the idiot went to get the key by himself." Nami said, rolling her eyes and poking Zoro harshly in the chest. "He could've gotten himself killed, all because you couldn't take a couple pathetic marines."

Zoro was indignant.

"They held him hostage!"

"And yet it was him that went back to get the key to save your pathetic self. Maybe Luffy should make him first mate instead…"

"I was afraid they'd—"

"Oh, afraid?"

"Shut up!" Zoro's face was slightly red now and he glared at them all angrily. Deciding it best to not dignify them with any more answers, he huffed and started walking back, ignoring the giggles from behind.

When they had arrived back at the boat, Zoro was ushered into the infirmary for some disinfectant and bandages by Chopper who wouldn't take no for an answer. He was happy to see that they had retrieved his swords and they laid safe on the deck of the Thousand Sunny.

When he trailed after Chopper into the room, they were greeted by the cook who was taking up the bed, sitting up with his journal in his lap. He had been patched up but didn't seem to have any serious wounds and sported just a few bandages and a black eye. He raised his hand but wasn't able to get a word out before Zoro grabbed him by the collar and pushed him against the wall. Sanji stared back, startled, and Chopper yelped, grabbing onto his leg.

"Z-zoro! What are you doing?!" Chopper asked, alarmed.

"Give us a minute." Zoro ordered, his eye never leaving Sanji's. Chopper swallowed and looked between the two worriedly, but finally nodded and stepped out of the room, closing the door with a gentle click.

"What the hell is your problem, cook?" Zoro snarled at the man, jerking the man forward and back again. Sanji's head banged against the wall and he winced.

"What?"

"You know the hell what."

"You're welcome." Sanji replied, maintaining eye contact with the swordsman. Zoro's fist smashed into the wall where Sanji's head was before the cook swiftly moved it.

Hearing the noise, Chopper quickly reentered the room and panicking, tried to pull Zoro away from the now grinning cook.

"Ah, Cook-san looks very happy, doesn't he? How cute." Robin remarked as she and Nami sat at the bar, overseeing Sanji's first time allowed to cook all on his own.

"Robin-chan! Nowhere near as cute as you lovely ladies~" Sanji replied with a large grin over to the two as he sat two large pink drinks in front of the them before returning to a pan simmering on the fire.

"Let's hope his food matches his mouth." Nami muttered, eyeing the drink warily before taking a sip. She paused, then took a larger gulp, a grin appearing on her face. "This is good!"

"Nothing less for two beauties!" Sanji beamed, tossing some spices into the pan. He hummed happily as he moved around the kitchen like he had used it for years, completely in his own element.

The door opened and Zoro sauntered in having finished his daily training. He barely glanced at the women before heading behind the counter to get some alcohol to drink. He had to stop, however, as a leg appeared before him, blocking his way.

"This is my kitchen. No touching." Sanji told the swordsman, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it.

"You can have your kitchen, I'm here for the booze." Zoro glared at the man.

"Over my dead body."

"Sure." Zoro smirked and pulled out one of his swords.

"Idiots." Nami said as she and Robin watched the two bicker and fight one another. It had become a routine in their lives now. One of the two would insult or annoy the other, and then they would spend most of the day fighting one another. It had started out with small fights, but they had grown over time, coincidentally as Sanji grew stronger.

"It's done!" Sanji announced suddenly as he dodged one of Zoro's attacks and hurried over to the stove, admiring the food. Zoro grunted, annoyed that their fight had been cut short. He snatched a bottle of booze quickly before taking a seat at the table as the others entered as well.

Sanji started spreading out the numerous dishes he had prepared on the table, much to the wide eyes and watering mouths of the crew members. Once everyone had settled in, Luffy grabbed his cup.

"We finally have a cook! Welcome Sanji!" He lifted his cup and everyone else did as well, bumping them together and congratulating the cook, who looked clearly embarrassed and waved them off.

Once everyone drank, he started dishing out the food for them all, and Zoro couldn't help but notice that his plate held a bit more food than everyone else's. He took a bite. It was good. Not that he would ever tell the cook that.

AN: Thank you all for reading! This was a really fun story to write and I appreciate the support! It was fun to write a new style of Sanji. I tried my best to grow him into the person he is currently. If you had a favorite moment, please let me know! See you guys in the next story :)