Sanji's form remained obscured, forcing the dramatic silence into exceptional tension. A few seconds went by as he walked a few slow strides into the light. Hands resting in his pockets, his face expectant.
"It must be pretty important, for the entire crew to gather spontaneously in one place."
Zoro straightened out his stance and replied by walking a few steps toward his friend who held a consistently high spot on his shitlist.
"I guess it can't be helped." The swordsman placed his hands on his hips with an inhale. His flush subsiding into complete, battle-ready mindfulness.
"Listen well, Love-Cook."
He paused, glare still set intently on the suit-clad form in the shadowy entrance.
"Nico Robin…"
"…Is no longer a single woman."
Sanji's hands remained in his pockets as he leaned forward in disgust.
"No you listen, asshole! Why the hell should I believe something like that, coming from someone like YOU?!"
Sanji collected himself as his face softened somewhat.
"Robin-chwan…"
He looked over at the amazon-like queen still seated on the sofa. A note of concern laced his voice.
"Is this bozo telling the truth?"
All the heads in the room turned to her.
Utter silence, save for the slight noise of water sloshing in the giant aquarium behind her. She looked back at Sanji. Responded simply, blankly… With one word that she knew would put an unfortunate crack in the sweet-talking blonde's heart.
…
"Yes."
…
Sanji remained still.
"Then tell me…"
"What manner of Casanova has beaten me to your heart…"
Zoro's prior embarrassment had completely evaporated. Not missing a beat, the corner of his mouth lifted into an arrogant smirk as he responded menacingly:
"That would be the man you just called a bozo."
Subsequently, the spectators of the scene jumped in unison as the next man to speak was standing in their own ranks.
"HEY!" Luffy yelled.
He shot a serious look at Zoro. "A long time ago, you guys said to me and Usopp that fighting won't solve anything."
Then at Sanji. "You were both right. So take your own advice!"
"Whatever is going on... You had better not kill each other."
He followed up with the particular, thunderous shout. A war cry everyone knew he only employs in dire situations. One that reached even the seagulls, flying all those stories above the Sunny.
"THAT'S AN ORDER FROM YOUR CAPTAIN!"
Zoro had not moved a centimeter. As opposed to Sanji, whose face went from blank shock to a contorted look of fury, his frantic hand fumbling in his pocket. The moment he found the pack, he pulled out a cigarette and placed it shaking in his downward-curled mouth.
Zoro fought with all his energy not to roll his eyes at the display, the chef lit the cigarette hectically and breathed two lungs full.
"We can't do this down here." He exhaled a huge exasperated cloud.
"At least we can agree on that much." Zoro growled.
Sanji turned swiftly and began walking toward the stairs, his cigarette smoke trailing behind him along with a few words.
"You and me marimo. Main deck."
The man with the curled brow stomped upstairs like a man possessed. "RIGHT NOW!"
"You don't scare me. TURD COOK!"
Zoro followed, the other nakama behind him. Robin sighing at the young men's familiarly immature style of interaction.