"Where do you think you're going, cactus head?" Sanji's voice hit Zoro as he made a hasty retreat from the kitchen. The crew had finished their meal half an hour ago, leaving behind only Zoro amidst the remnants of their dinner. He had arrived late, his endless training sessions often preventing him from dining on time, a fact that never failed to infuriate Sanji.

"Time to hit the hay, idiot," Zoro quipped with a sly grin, as if that was the only logical course of action.

Sanji's frustration was undeniable as he crossed his arms, "No, you're not. It's your night to help me with the dishes, and then you're on night guard duty." He turned away, muttering under his breath, "Unfuckingbelievable. Why do I have to do everything around here? It's utterly exhausting."

"Calm down, okay?" Zoro's irritation was palpable, but it was softened with an understanding that arose from noticing the dark bags under Sanji's eyes. He left his swords by the door, and methodically rolled up his sleeves.

Zoro considered offering to handle the dishes alone, but knew Sanji would never let him take charge in his kitchen. As Sanji moved around the cluttered table, picking up the remnants left by the rest of the crew, Zoro gazed at him and decided to break the silence.

"We'll do the dishes quickly," he stated, his voice softer, almost apologetic, "and then you can go get your precious beauty sleep."

Sanji, with a smirk that carried the weariness of the day, tossed a rag in Zoro's direction. "I'll wash, and you'll dry, jerk."

With an unspoken agreement, they embarked on the task in near silence. Sanji would hand Zoro the clean dishes, and Zoro would dutifully dry and store them. The absence of their usual bickering felt oddly necessary, as if they had run out of things to say when not arguing.

As they worked, Zoro's mind wandered, reflecting on his interactions with Sanji since he had joined the crew. He couldn't help but wonder if they had ever had a conversation without the exchange of insults and taunts.

Then, a sudden realization struck him. "Hey, Sanji?" he broke the silence.

"Hmm?" Sanji's voice was heavy with fatigue, and he stifled a yawn.

Zoro hesitated before asking, "How come you never call me by my name? It's always 'Marimo this' and 'Cactus head that,' but it's never just 'Zoro'." He felt the weight of the conversation, uncertain of what Sanji's answer might reveal about their dynamic.

Sanji took a moment to ponder the question, choosing his words carefully. "I guess it's for the same reason you hardly ever call me 'Sanji.' We got off on the wrong foot, and the name-calling just stuck. It felt strange to randomly start calling you 'Zoro.'"

Zoro limited his response to a thoughtful "Hmmm."

But Sanji, after a brief pause, extended an olive branch. "But... I can do it more, if you'd like. Call you 'Zoro,' I mean."

Zoro's voice carried a hint of vulnerability as he replied, "You know what? I think I'd like that," and, with a hint of a smile, he added, "Sanji." and nudged him in the shoulder.

Sanji passed another clean plate to Zoro with a shy smile, saying, "Here, Zoro."

Zoro chuckled and continued with the task, drying the plates and stacking them. As Sanji handed him more dishes, their playful exchange continued.

"Another one, Zoro."

"Zoro, be careful with this one."

"ZO - RO."

"Here goes the last one, Zoro."

Laughter finally broke through the air, and Zoro couldn't hold back any longer. "You're such a little shit," with that, Sanji joined in the laughter.

"I think I like you better when we're not bickering," Sanji declared as he dried his hands and retrieved a bottle of rum and two glasses from a nearby cabinet. He held them up, signaling his intention to celebrate their newfound camaraderie. "What do you say to a drink, to mark the moment?"

"You're probably right," Zoro agreed, "and I can't believe I'm about to say this, but can I get a raincheck on that drink? I have to stay alert. I'm the only one on guard tonight, and I can't afford to fall asleep in the middle of my watch."

Sanji swiftly placed the bottle under his arm, gathered the glasses, and used his free hand to grab Zoro's. With determination, he led Zoro out of the kitchen and onto the deck. "Tell you what, I'll keep you company during your guard shift, and then you can have that drink."

Sitting down with his back against the Merry's railing, Sanji placed the bottle and glasses in front of them. Zoro knew how stubborn Sanji could be, and there was no point in arguing. Joining him on the floor of the deck, he poured them both a drink and offered a toast, "To you, idiot cook," accompanied by a warm smile.

Sanji chuckled as he raised his glass. "To you, marimo." After taking a sip, he added, "It's my turn to ask an uncomfortable question now. Why are you always late for dinner? Can't you take a break from your training to eat? I understand you want to become the world's greatest swordsman and all that, but it puts extra work on me to have dinner ready for everyone but you and then prepare your meal separately."

"I never thought about what it meant to you. I'm sorry." Zoro paused, considering how much he should reveal. "My training is important to me, but it's no longer because I want to be the world's greatest swordsman. I want to be at my best to protect the crew, to never fail in keeping you all safe. I've been fixated on getting stronger, but I never realized how it might end up affecting the people I'm trying to keep safe. You already do so much for us, I don't want to make your life harder."

Sanji's response was unexpected. "That's actually a pretty nice thing to say. I didn't know you noticed." He placed a hand on Zoro's leg, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Thanks."

"Just because I'm constantly on your case doesn't mean I don't appreciate what you do around here." Zoro, feeling a sense of connection, intertwined his fingers with Sanji's.

Eventually, exhaustion began to win the battle, and another yawn escaped Sanji's lips. He rested his head on Zoro's shoulder, and they sat in silence, gazing at the sea and the night sky. The only sounds were the soft flow of the waves against the Merry.

Sanji was the first to speak, breaking the tranquil moment. "We're having a moment, aren't we?"

"If by 'a moment' you mean that I don't want to strangle you for the first time since we met," Zoro mused, "then I guess we are."

Sanji began to pull away, ready to retaliate with a retort, but Zoro's hand guided his head back onto his shoulder. "Don't ruin the moment," Zoro whispered.