Serious Men Talk

At breakfast of the Straw Hat Pirates there was a depressing atmosphere. An outsider would not notice but who knew this crew would have said here is something strange.

Up to two particular persons, the rest just acted like it was used by them. The black-haired woman retracted in the corner, sat on her chair and looked thoughtfully out the window. She had previously touched a bite, although Sanji had prepared one of her favorite foods for her, which was caused directly by her side on a small side table. Even the book, which was normally always open next to her, was closed.

The green-haired sat with folded arms and head bowed in front of his full plate at the table with the others. He also got down anything. Too much buzzed around him in the head, it concerned him, his thoughts were always with the same subject.

'Why did she suddenly leave the bathroom? What did I do wrong? Did I say something wrong? Should I apologize, but then what? A few minutes after she left the bathroom I came here to the door, she looked at me not even more.' He came to no decision.

'Otherwise, no matter what kind of mood I came here, she pulled me with her enchanting smile. Again and again, exactly the same endearing expression in her deep blue eyes, as deep as the sea, so mysterious. I literally sank forever in this sea, I must pull together each time to not to be noticed among the rest. I wanted to take her at any moment in my arms, pressing her tight, never let her go. I need her presence, I would be nothing without her. I want to feel her, not only physically but also mentally. She is the one that I always wanted to have by my side, no other. But why exactly this woman?'

"Hey Marimo, you do not taste my food? Today I have used specially no rotten egg for your food!"

Chopper and Usopp went into hiding, waiting what will happen. But no answer, no movement of Zoro.

The Blonde wondered, 'It was a perfect template. Usually he always yells to me but that's something ... strange.'

"Hey Sword-Brandisher, today you have dishwashing and one great mountain of pots is waiting for you!"

Zoro raised his head and gave the cook a short answer. "Okay, Sanji."

Even the others wondering now. They both were known for the numerous conflicts between them, each individual always was carried off injuries and not least of Nami a hefty headknock and a proper dressing down.

"I think he slept poorly again or a weight landed on his skull," said the blue-haired carpenter to the others.

"I thought so, too and it would not be the first time," agreed the captain. They voted him with a nod in chorus.

Later the rest of crew left the galley, only a rattle of the dishes and the faucet was to hear. Both men stood side by side at the pelvis, were doing their work with no one spoke of them. The untouched plates were still on the table together in the middle. The smoking Cook began first with the conversation:

"I know something is wrong with you."

...

"I also know what happened this morning."

...

"I know what you feel for her ..."

"Sanji, let it be!" Zoro clenched his fists, "You know anything, you know nothing about my feelings!"

"Your feelings for her?"

Zoro paused, lowered his head and closed his eyes: "She ... she would never ..."

"Oh sure, she would. She would definitely even. She is just afraid. Remember she only trust very few people" he drew on his cigarette. "... I know for a long time, I've watched you both, the small gestures, the looks, your behavior. I have an eye for such things. At first I thought I fancy it all just until I spoke with Nami about it."

"You talked with the navigator about us? But nothing can keep her down, probably the whole team already gossiping about the matter!"

"No, no. Do not worry, she kept it for herself. Until now. Nami wanted to tell Robin, I advised her not to."

"Thank you. So she knows nothing about my feelings, my feelings for her. And why not?" He asked quietly, turned around and leaned against the countertop.

"I think, you should make the first step," he got the answer and thought he had misheard it:

"Are you crazy, and then in front of her to make a completely fool of me? And why should she has feelings for me of all people? I'm indeed not the right guy for such a woman. She could have any other."

"Perhaps it is precisely this reason that she could have any other. She just want only you. I do not really know however, it is the mystery of women" the cook shrugged with his shoulders.

"I'm an idiot. I have a lousy sense of direction, get hardly a word when she talks about her beloved books, I'm younger than her, so inexperienced and I have to offer her anything." He sounded totally desperate, he held his head between his hands.

Sanji put an arm on the shoulder of his pal and smiled at him: "First, you're not an idiot. Second, she found you despite your bad sense of orientation and returned with you to the ship. Third, you must not constantly chatting about books. I've seen that you both understand any way. Age does not really matter, she looks young. Perhaps she is moreover much less experienced than you in other areas and finally you have to offer her something, your great heart, Marimo."

He nodded as a sign of understanding what the cook met with him. "Thank you, onion slicer."

"I have never heard the words 'thank you' so many times from your mouth."

"Today started just badly." Zoro pushed off leaving the galley and strode directly into his new intended target. It was his heaviest adventure to exist.