'Let me take you up on that 'telling you something new'. When are you free?'
Sanji read the text as it flashed up on the screen of his phone, looking up from the marking he was making on a child's homework with an expression of surprise as he stuck on a brightly coloured hedgehog sticker next to the comment of 'wonderful work!' he'd made.
It was now Tuesday, two days after his and Zoro's official date, and in all honesty he hadn't been expecting a text back so soon. Zoro seemed to be wanting to take things slow and Sanji respected that, giving the man some space about it and he wasn't going to offer another date to Zoro until later in the week. He still cringed awkwardly at remembering what he'd said to the green haired man, "How about every time I kiss you, you tell me something new?" Jesus, how stupid must that have sounded? He was an idiot…
But here Zoro was nevertheless, offering a date as clear as day. Sanji was startled by the suddenness of it but pleased as well- at least Zoro seemed to be interested enough to initiate a second meeting with him and Sanji was more than curious about learning more about the other. He would have to think about the date though. He couldn't do Sunday this week, he'd promised the old geezer he'd help out at the restaurant, but he could do Saturday and hopefully Zoro could too. He sent his reply with his offer of the weekend day and implied he was free the whole day from morning to night, he even put in a little winking emoji afterwards which was perhaps a little pathetic but he hoped Zoro would get what was suggested there. It was almost a third date, and you know what they say about third dates…
Sanji sat up from his marking properly and yawned- it was already evening, where had the day gone? He'd poured all his energy into marking over twenty exercise books and he felt drained physically and mentally from it but with an offer to meet up again, he found himself feeling a bit more perky. He was already mentally choosing the clothes he would wear- casual but smart, and something he'd look great in. It had been a long while since Sanji had expressed a genuine interest both romantically and sexually in someone and it was refreshing and a little odd to be back in the dating scene but he was enjoying himself nevertheless.
Zoro messaged him back, affirming Saturday afternoon was okay and that Sanji could pick where they'd go for it because he'd been able to find Tony a babysitter. Sanji barely had to think about it now that he didn't have to accommodate for Tony. He loved the kid of course, Tony was a cute cheery child, but it had been difficult at last notice to find somewhere child friendly that was open late. At least this time it was a little easier.
Sanji smiled as he thumbed in his message and sent it, "Have you heard of The Baratie?"