Zoro munched stoically on his food. He ate for the energy, not for the taste. His head pounded. Curse Franky's ear bleedingly loud music. He didn't understand how people could enjoy that.
"Earth to Zoro," a voice snickered. Zoro snapped his eyes on the offending figure in front of him.
"What do you want Cabaji?" he snapped.
"Ohhh," Cabaji held up his hands, "I didn't mean to awake the sleeping beast."
"If you have anything better to do, go annoy someone else."
"Yes, your majesty." Cabaji bowed mockingly deep and stepped away. Zoro really needed to reteach the annoying prick who stood on top. Zoro stood up, placing his dinner on the seat and stepped towards the prick, bristling. His opponent's eye twitched.
"Are you asking for something?" Zoro rumbled, deep in his throat.
"Hmph. Zoro you think scaring me will work but I know you're a tamed beast. A tamed beast is a dog and a dog's bark is always worse than its bite," the man sneered.
"You're just a coward Cabaji. Since you've lost you can't hold your head up high and move on. Instead you resort to petty tricks and jabs thinking it'll damage my dignity. I might not fight now but I hold the honour of a swordsman." Zoro turned abruptly, shutting the conversation down.
"Honour of a swordsman?" Cabaji screeched. "That's your bullshit excuse for not fighting!" Zoro stopped and swung to glare at the man. His eyes were startlingly cold.
"You know nothing," Zoro hissed. "If you speak to me again, I'll show you again who's better." Fear flitted across his opponents face. That was enough. It was time to return to work.
"Hey Sanji, you haven't met Ace yet right?" Luffy dragged the chef to the group.
"Nope," Sanji pulled Luffy to a stop and spied a freckled man with black hair, just like Luffy. He was shirtless, and wore a decorated cowboy hat. He lit up a cigarette, relieved at the nicotine shot. Hatchan didn't allow smoking so he ran without it during his whole shift. "You guys look kind of similar." He noted, blowing a ring of smoke. Heck, they even dressed similarly. Luffy nodded assent.
"He's my big brother!" he laughed. "Ace! Come and meet Sanji! He's the best cook ever!" The man poked his head up and grinned, coming over. The blonde's heart sank a little. It was entirely possible that Luffy dragged him over to make food for Ace and well, he hoped the black hole genetics weren't passed down the family.
"Yo!" Ace saluted with two fingers and looked Sanji up and down. "I've heard you can keep up single-handedly with Luffy's eating speed, which is damn talented."
"Thanks," Sanji said, uncertain where the conversation was going. Luffy jumped right in.
"He wants to eat your food!" Sanji eye twitched. He was going ground Luffy's face into the dirt.
"I can't." He flicked off some ashes into the tray. "I've pissed off some Government shithead and they've banned me for a while from working in the club."
"What?" The rubberman's jaw dropped to the ground. "Who's going to feed me when I'm hungry?" The chef shrugged.
"Others."
"That's so unfair!" Luffy stamped his foot and crossed his arms. Ace smirked and pulled his brother into a seat.
"Well, you can still eat you know?" he reasoned.
"Let's have an eating contest!"
"As if you'd ever beat me!" Sanji went around to other members of the group Luffy had forgotten to introduce.
"Yo Usopp," he grinned.
"Sanji! Oh man it's been so long!" the artesian hugged him tightly. "You've been doing good right?"
"Sure. It's been a little shitty recently but it's alright." The blonde shrugged. Usopp rummaged through his multiple pockets and produced a slightly crumpled but nevertheless brand new magazine.
"This my friend," he announced, "is the latest, hottest Paris fashion magazine!"
"Usopp you lucky bastard!" Sanji whined, pulling his friend's cheeks. "You went to that heavenly place? Didn't I tell you if you ever went there to make me along? How fucking dare you snoop there by yourself! All those beautiful ladies and the roses. The romance…" he trailed off and his face crumpled.
"It wah a detour Shanji. I couldn't go Italy because ohf bad weazzuh," Usopp mumbled through his stretched cheeks. Sanji sniffed as he accepted the magazine.
"Thanks Usopp. I'll treasure this will my life!"
"No worries Sanji. You still need to meet Franky and Brook and …" the artesian made a start but stopped himself. "Don't mind. My other friend is going to be working right now but we'll see the others right now!"
"Sanji?" Brook rested his chin on Sanji's shoulder. "Is that what I think it is?"
"Yes it is Brook." The chef lifted up the magazine. "Directly from Paris!"
"How fabulous! May I look?"
"Of course!" They spent a good time flipping through the pages and commenting on particular models.
"Is she gorgeous?"
"Is that a see-through dress?"
"No way!"
"Black panties… very sexy."
"Sanji!" a face popped up smack bang in their view. The blonde yelped, banging his thighs on the underside of the table. "You haven't changed a bit!"
"Franky you bastard!" Sanji rubbed his legs.
"Don't shake the table, crazy cook! You'll spill my drink!" Franky held onto the loaded tray.
"Very good Franky!" Brook chortled. "My bones are rattled!"
"I always develop new tech for stuff like this!" Franky picked up his burger and started munching.
"Franky! Eat with us!" Sanji turned to see the brothers over a pile of quickly disappearing food. He felt a pang of sympathy for the poor chefs who were about to suffer.
"Sure thing!"