Anon: zosan/sanzo fic where Zoro is eating a lollypop

The store was warm and inviting, the sugar coated air just rested in your lungs and lifted youi up like you were on a cloud. Sanji was carefully drizzling caramel over the tops of the perfect chocolate bricks he had been crafting since this morning when he heard the light ring of the shop's bell and the door opened to allow the cool outside air to rush in.. Sanji turned just in time to see five kids scatter throughout the room, laughing and pushing each other as they ran along the candy filled aisles.

"Oi Luffy you can't eat that yet, I haven't paid for it!" Yelled a man just now entering the store, rushing over to pull a massive jaw breaker out of the hands of a small kid beaming from under the brim of a straw hat that was clearly too large for him. The kid just giggled oddly and ran after his companions into another aisle.

The man turned to Sanji and shrugged apologetically, strolling over to the counter where Sanji was working. The man was gorgeous, even with oddly colored hair and strange ear piercings he looked like he belonged shirtless on the cover of vougue, his wide shoulders rolling with every step he took.

"Sorry about them…. I really don't have any control over them." The man said with a deep voice, sweeping his dark eyes over the store to spy on each of the rambunctious kids. Sanji gave a small chuckle, cutting the chocolate in front of him absentmindedly into exact squares.

"They're not all yours, are they?" He asked curiously. The other man looked like he choked on air.

"Oh god no, none of them are mine." The other man sputtered in horror. "I'm babysitting for my neighbor, and then they brought friends with them too."

"Sounds rough." Sanji joked.

"You have no idea." He huffed, leaning against the counter casually. "Ah shit, sorry, I'll be right back. NAMI I SAW THAT PUT IT BACK." He jogged over to where one of the kids was currently trying to fill her pockets with little tangerine hard candies. When he picked her up the other kids saw and gathered around at his ankles begging to be picked up too: the poor man looked absolutely lost.

Sanji smiled and grabbed the small wicker basket full of candies hidden under the display case, pushing the little wooden gate to walk out from behind the counter and towards the mini hoard of kids. He knelt down onto one knee and held out the basket.

"Do you guys want some free candies?" Sanji asked happily. The kids pounced on him in an instant, grabbing and shoving their way over.

"Come on guys, don't push." The babysitter said weakly. "Luffy that's too many put some back."

Sanji stood, holding the basket just out of reach from the little straw hat boy who was still trying to nab a few more sweets.

"You guys can each go pick one thing out, okay? And what do you say to the nice candy-store guy?" The other man instructed. Sanji was given a few gleeful 'thank you's as the kids dispersed throughout the store again.

"My name's Sanji, but I guess nice candy store guy works too."

"I'm Zoro. And Thanks for that." Zoro gave with a soft smile, extending a hand which Sanji took maybe a little enthusiastically.

"It's not a problem really; I deal with kids a lot, as you can imagine." He watched as the kids inspected every shelf the shop had to offer, bickering among themselves and having more than a few close calls to knocking things over. Sanji looked down at the basket in his arms and then at Zoro before holding it out to the other man. "Want one?"

"Thanks." Zoro said, quickly snagging a bright red lollipop. Sanji returned to his spot behind the counter, carefully tucking the basket away for another occasion, and went back to cutting up the chocolate. Every once in a while he would spare a glance to the babysitter, who was now meandering behind the rowdy kids. Sanji almost regretted giving Zoro the candy; it was getting painful to watch.

His throat grew dry, trying to avert his gaze to anywhere but the damn lollipop in the other man's mouth. The way he rolled it side to side, gently sucking on it absentmindedly… His eyes glided over and saw Sanji staring and gave a small smirk. Sanji's face heated up from embarrassment and whipped his head to look back down at his work, which was currently placing the chocolates neatly on a platter and adding garnishes here or there.

Eventually, each kid one by one walked up to Sanji at the register to place their own little treasure on the counter. Zoro was like the caboose of train, counting each kid's head in front of him to make sure he had them all before handing the money for all those goodies. The moment the cash made it to Sanji's the kid's already had their candies in their mouths, it was obvious none of them had a patient bone in their little bodies.

"Hey, can I borrow that?" Zoro asked, pointing to the colorful pen at the side of the register. Sanji passed the pen over, the other man quickly scribbled something on the tiny receipt before tearing it off and handing the scrap of paper and the pen back to Sanji.

"Call me some time." He gave a wink and then he was out the door trailing behind the noisy kids. Sanji watched them from the large windows all the way down the street before looking down at the small paper in his hands.

Thanks for the candy~ Was written just below a phone number.

"Cheeky bastard." Sanji mumbled, happily tucking the scrap of paper into his apron.