Chapter 4

After they had finished their soap and water fight, both men were dressed in dry clothing. Food was brought up to them and they could smell it. Zoro went right to the table and sat at his plate of food. Sanji did the same, though he wasn't particularly interested in barbarian food.

Sanji stared at the plate full of meat with barely any vegetables. He also had a much smaller portion than Zoro. Zoro had twice the amount of meat. Sanji stuck his tongue out when Zoro began eating with his hands. Sanji looked for utensils but there were none. His frown deepened. Did the people of this dreadful place eat with their hands? He was very hungry, though.

"Do you happen to have utensils?"

Zoro looked up from his plate. "Huh?"

"Utensils! Forks, spoons, knives?"

"Oh. Yeah, we have those. I don't usually use them."

"Well, I'm not eating all this food with my hands," Sanji said.

"Then starve,"

Sanji rolled his eyes and kicked Zoro from under the table in his shin.

"Ow! What the hell was that for?"

"Because you're an ass! You have no manners and you eat like a boar!"

"Who cares how I eat?" Zoro said. "If you think I'm bad, then don't watch Luffy when he eats! Besides, you're a servant. You don't get the same privileges. You shouldn't even be eating with me!"

"Well, why don't I just get on the floor like a dog and eat there," Sanji said sarcastically.

Zoro smirked as he swallowed a piece of meat. "I've always wanted a dog,"

Sanji narrowed his eyes at Zoro. "Don't make me kick you,"

"Don't make me hit you," Zoro countered.

Zoro went back to eating his boar meat but kept glancing up at Sanji. The omega had given in and was picking at the food with his fingers. Zoro had the sudden urge to toss Sanji into a mud puddle. Sanji was just too prim and proper to tolerate being dirty. Zoro was used to getting dirty, especially on hunts and raids. Then, he noticed Sanji making a face of disgust as he took a bite of the meat.

"What's wrong with it?" Zoro asked.

"It's overcooked," Sanji replied. "It's like eating dried meat. You have to let me into the kitchen! This food is just…not acceptable."

Zoro stared at him for a moment, then said, "Food is food. What's the big deal?"

Sanji moaned at Zoro's words. Non-chefs were just the worst sometimes. "I won't even bother explaining food to you, you barbarian! Your tiny brain won't be able to understand. Tomorrow, I want to be in the kitchen teaching the cooks how to cook right and I'm making dinner! I'll prove to you just how little you know about good food."

Zoro finished his plate and burped, earning a glare from Sanji. He smirked and chuckled. He liked to drive Sanji crazy with little things like that.

"Yeah, you can go into the kitchen tomorrow," Zoro said. He got up from his chair and stretched. "I'm going to bed."

Sanji watched Zoro make a pelt bed for him on the floor at the foot of the bed. He wished he could get Zoro to sleep on the floor instead. At least he got a pillow. Sanji was feeling very tired and he barely ate his food because it was tough, salty, and bland. Sanji got up from his seat and made his way over to the makeshift bed. He saw Zoro taking his shirt off, revealing strong, well-defined muscles. Sanji swallowed hard and looked away quickly. He got into his bed of furs so he didn't have to stare at Zoro. Zoro put out all the candles and Sanji heard him getting into bed. Sanji grumbled very low at being stuck on the floor.

He tried to sleep but the floor was unrelenting and it was giving him neck and back pain. Sanji tried to fall asleep two more times before he gave up. He stood up and moved to the empty side of the bed. Zoro was snoring softly on the other side. Sanji got into bed, making sure he was far from Zoro, and got under the sheets and furs. He smiled and inwardly sighed. This was much better. In a few short moments, he was asleep.

Zoro woke up because he had to relieve himself in the water closet. After he used it and returned to the bed, he noticed something different. There was a large bulge under the covers. He saw that Sanji's pelt bed was empty. Now, he could see a tuft of blonde hair. Zoro grits his teeth as he gets into bed, staying on his side. He did not like the feeling he was getting knowing that Sanji's body was right there. He has never had an omega in his bed before. His cock twitched at the thought. Zoro tried to ignore it, but something was drawing him to Sanji. He caught Sanji's omega scent, warm cinnamon and vanilla. Zoro buried his nose in the golden hair, taking in more of Sanji's intoxicating scent.

Suddenly, there was sharp movement from Sanji as he kicked Zoro hard once, then kicked him again to watch him tumble off the bed and onto the floor.

"What the hell were you doing?" Sanji shouted, sitting up in bed. "You have some nerve sniffing me!"

Zoro got back on the bed and he threw a pillow at Sanji. "Get out of my bed!"

Sanji threw his pillow in retaliation. "Make me!" Sanji challenged.

"I swear to all the stars in the sky, I will throttle the life out of you!" Zoro crawled closer to him.

"Get used to seeing my foot in your face!" Sanji inched closer as well.

"Watch how fast I break your ankle!"

"My feet can break your damn nose!"

Their foreheads were touching and they growled and grit their teeth at one another.

"At least I have two eyes!" Sanji said.

"I bet you're not really a blonde!"

Sanji was offended. "It's my real color! What about that green moss on your stupid head? Do the goats and sheep think it's grass?"

They were pushing each other back and forth, foreheads still touching, teeth still gritting. Zoro had pushed harder and Sanji slipped off the bed. However, Sanji grabbed Zoro's arm and pulled him down with him. Zoro landed hard on Sanji as they hit the floor. That didn't stop them from wrestling with each other. The pair rolled around on the floor, punching and kicking the other. They broke the fight when it was clear there would be no winner. They lay spread out on the floor, panting, and staring at the ceiling.

"I hate you," Zoro said plainly.

"I hate you more," Sanji countered.

"Where are you really from?" Zoro suddenly changed the subject. "You don't seem like the kind of person who would seek out a monastery. And you're uppity and snobby too. Were you raised as a noble?"

"...yeah. I come from nobility." Sanji said. "But I am not one of them. I swore I would never return. I'm going to live my omega life as I see fit."

"Who is your family?" Zoro asked.

"I'm not saying. It's not important," Sanji sat up. "That pile of fur on the floor is not going to work for me."

"You're not welcome in my bed," Zoro sat up as well.

"Then I require some kind of mattress or padding."

"You make a lot of demands for a servant,"

"Fine, then I'll ask Luffy,"

"Do what you want," Zoro said, standing up. "I'm going back to bed. Just deal with the pelt bed for the night."

Sanji stuck his tongue out at Zoro and made his way back to the bed of furs. He grumbled and tried to get comfortable in the pelts. Zoro was already snoring.

'Stupid alpha,' Sanji rolled onto his side and barely slept.

Sanji had only fallen asleep for a bit but he had a nightmare at that time. He was back home with his brothers and they were all children again. Sanji sat in the center of the circle, crying, as his brothers danced around him, calling him a baby, a loser, and a dumb omega. They continued to brutally tease him by chanting, 'blah, blah, blah, ome-GUH! They switched the end part of 'omega' to make it sound like they were vomiting. His brothers would say this to him often.

Sanji then found himself in his castle's classroom sitting on the opposite side of his brothers and sister. He remembered the words of the tutor.

'Sanji, what are your life rules and goals as an omega? Be sure to say each one correctly.'

Sanji had to stand up in front of his brothers and sister. His brothers were already snickering. 'I…I am to take the alpha my father tells me to mate with. I will submit and obey my alpha. I will be seen and not heard. I will be loyal in soul and body to my alpha. I must produce strong offspring, and all should be alphas.'

'Whose fault is it if a child is born beta or omega?' Asked the tutor.

'My fault.'

'Very good. You can sit down.' He could hear his brothers snickering at him.

Then he remembered when their mother died during childbirth, and the baby died with her. Sanji was both saddened and terrified. He didn't want to end up like his mother, but as an omega, he had no choice. What if he died like his mother? He was angry at his father because he said it was all their mother's fault. His brothers agreed, but he and his sister cried.

His brothers came back to taunt him.

'You're such a weak omega!' Said Ichiji. 'I bet you'll have nothing but omegas and girls!'

'Yeah! We get to choose who we mate with!' Said Niji. 'You'll probably get some old fat alpha as a husband! We can mate with attractive omegas!'

'Maybe you'll die in childbirth like mother!' Said Yonji.

'No one would miss you,' said Niji. 'Like father always says, you're just a failure!'

'I am not!' Sanji shouted at them. But all they did was beat him up everywhere except his stomach. Their father allowed the beatings but told the three not to punch Sanji's belly, as it would damage the omega womb there. Sanji thought that was the only time his father did something nice enough.

Sanji woke up from the dream that seemed more like a flashback. He sat up in the furs and looked around. It was dawn. He could still hear Zoro sleeping. Sanji ran a hand through his sweaty hair as he tried to forget the memories. He hasn't thought about those days in a very long time. He was at peace in the monastery because he didn't have to fear marriage, pregnancy, or death. He wondered why these memories came to him. His only thought was what happened to Law. It had been just like his mother's, only Law survived. He swore to himself that it would never happen to him.

He got up from the furs and went to the window, staring at the world outside. This castle felt like a prison. But it still was not his family's castle. Despite being a slave or servant, he had a few more freedoms here. He liked the monastery but always knew that his father could pull him out of it and send him off to get married. His family only saw him as a burden. Sanji never felt like a burden, though. He knew the truth about himself, and the rest of his family could shove it.

Sanji turned away from the window and his gaze settled on Zoro. The alpha was still asleep, still shirtless, and appearing calm with relaxed features. Sanji flushed a little as he stared at Zoro's chest. All of Zoro's training had paid off; Sanji could see the hard, tight muscles as Zoro's chest rose and fell with even breathing. Zoro didn't look too bad when he was sleeping. Sanji turned away and decided to leave the room. He wanted to see the kitchen. He probably should 'ask permission' from Zoro but chose not to.

He didn't know the way to the kitchen, so he just walked around the castle until he found it. It would likely be on the bottom floor. While heading there, he ran into Luffy. Luffy smiled at him and Sanji smiled back.

"How's Law?" Sanji asked him.

"He's doing okay," Luffy replied. "He just needs to rest. But he's having a hard time."

"I'm sure," Sanji said. "It was terrible what happened, and I'm sorry for the both of you,"

Luffy gave him a small smile. "Thanks. We'll be okay. I'm actually going to see him now. He wants to be alone, but I know he needs me right now."

"Yeah, good thinking," Sanji said. "Oh, which way is the kitchen?"

"Down this hall and make a right. You can also smell the bread they're baking! You can follow the smell!"

"Thanks."

Sanji waved back at him and continued down the hall. He could smell the baking of bread. He followed the delicious aroma and found the castle's kitchen. There were two cooks, one man and the other a woman. The woman was cleaning up the area and the man was sliding out some bread from the oven. Sanji's stomach growled at the smell. He was really hungry.

"Oh, hello there," said the man. "I haven't seen you here before?"

"I'm new," Sanji said. "I'm…Zoro's servant," the word was hard to get out.

"We were just going to make his morning meal," said the woman.

"Would you mind if I did the cooking for Zoro?" Sanji asked. "I'm also a cook."

The two looked at each other and agreed.

Sanji loved being in a kitchen again. He easily made a meal of eggs, bacon, seasoned steak, and garlic potatoes. Both cooks were impressed by his skill and told him so. Sanji set everything onto a plate and said he would take it to Zoro. They asked if he wanted anything and Sanji said he would come back after bringing the meal to Zoro. As he walked back to the chambers, Sanji thought about the possibility of drugging Zoro and running away. But again, where would he go? He had no issue staying in Luffy's castle, he just didn't want to be a servant. He mumbled to himself and kept on his way.

Zoro just woke up and he let out a loud yawn. No matter how much he sleeps, he's still tired. He can fall asleep anywhere, anytime. He looked around the room and noticed that Sanji wasn't there. Zoro got up and dressed, ready to go and find the shitty cook. But just as he was getting ready to leave, the door opened and Sanji walked in. Zoro paused and looked at the plate of food. It smelled delicious! His stomach growled loudly.

"I made you a morning meal," Sanji said, pushing past him to set the plate down on the table.

"You made food for me?" Zoro asked. "Wait, what's in it?" He narrowed his eye. "You didn't mix anything in there, right?"

Sanji smirked. "I guess you won't know until you try it,"

Zoro crossed his arms. "You eat a bite first,"

Sanji rolled his eyes but did as Zoro said. He took a bit from each piece of food and at them. "See? It's fine. I'm not going to poison you,"

Zoro accepted the answer and sat down to eat. He noticed that Sanji brought him a fork. Zoro figured he should use it. The first bite of the steak filled his mouth with juicy flavor! Every piece of food was cooked just right and seasoned. Zoro greedily ate the food, completely cleaning the plate.

"So I guess you like my food?"

"It was good," Zoro wanted more. "You really can cook."

"It's a passion of mine. I would like to spend more time in the kitchen than being your servant,"

"You can work in the kitchen if you want, but you must come when I call for you. I'm going to train for a while, so go do what you want."

Sanji took him up on that offer and left to return to the kitchen to eat his meal.

Zoro went into his training room and started with the dumbbells. He found training in the morning was the best time to do it. It was a good way to wake up the muscles. He had a routine that he followed daily. He was on his second-to-last weight routine when he heard someone come in. Zoro lifted his head off the bench to see that it was Sanji. Before he could say anything, Sanji picked up two dumbbells and began lifting. Zoro sat up, surprised that Sanji could lift those weights. The omega didn't look strong, but Sanji wasn't breaking a sweat. Sanji even walked over to him.

"You look surprised," Sanji said.

"I didn't take you for a weightlifter,"

Sanji smirked. "I'm just full of surprises."

"Put everything back when you use it," Zoro told him. "I'm going out for a hunt today, so you can stay here and do stuff in the kitchen. Luffy loves to eat, so if you can make him something good, he'll be your best friend."

Sanji frowned a little at being told to go to the kitchen. He was reminded of his brothers always leaving to go hunting and ride horses. Sanji and his sister, Reiju, had to teach themselves how to ride. They still were not allowed to join in the hunts. Sanji remembered one of the days they went hunting and he had to stay back and mend his brothers' clothing like a 'good little omega.' But he wasn't living with his family anymore. He could make his own choices.

"I'm going with you,"

Zoro raised a brow. "Hunting? You don't look like the hunting type,"

"I've never been on a hunt before. And, as a…servant…I should be with you."

"Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt for you to come. I usually hunt alone. Sometimes Law and I will go together. Luffy is too loud with a short attention span, so hunting is not his thing. He'll eat anything we capture, though. Do you fish?"

"I've never been fishing," Sanji told him. Only his brothers got to do fishing. One time they put a fish in his bed and it stunk for days. They started calling him 'fish head'. "I would like to learn."

"What the hell have you been doing all this time growing up?"

"I was not allowed to do all those things because I was born an omega," Sanji said, crossing his arms. "My brothers got to do everything. I had to do domestic things. The only thing I liked was cooking."

Zoro wasn't all that surprised when Sanji told him that bit of backstory. He was aware that some omegas were expected to act a different way than alphas. Sanji mentioned he was born into a noble family, so he really must have had a lot of restrictions.

"Fine. You can come hunting with me. But you'd better not get in my way,"

Sanji hadn't been on a horse in a long while but he didn't forget how to mount one. Zoro had been a jerk for offering him a mule instead of a horse. Zoro thought it was funny, but Sanji wasn't laughing. But he mounted a chestnut-colored mare and Zoro took a black stallion. Sanji noticed that Zoro didn't have his swords, which was strange. Zoro had a bow with a quiver of arrows on the horse's saddle.

"I don't think I've ever seen you without your swords,"

"You don't use swords for hunting," Zoro said. "I have a dagger I bring with me if needed. Let's go."

They rode out of the stable and headed for the woods. Their horses rode side-by-side, but the two silently turned it into a competition. They didn't have to say it; they just used looks alone, and they started to race for the woods. They were still neck-to-neck and it looked like it was going to end up a tie, and it did.

Sanji rode behind Zoro, looking all around for any sign of an animal. Zoro said he found tracks, and they looked like they belonged to a deer. They followed the tracks that led to an open glen. Sanji saw the doe, as did Zoro. Zoro got his bow and arrow and aimed at the deer. With one shot, the arrow pierced the doe's neck. It took off in a quick run but it didn't get very far before the doe gave up and fell. It was still alive so Zoro had to finish her off with his dagger. She was a big doe and Zoro wasn't sure he could set her on his horse. He thought for a moment, then had the idea to make Sanji ride on his horse while the other horse carried the carcass.

But something was wrong. Zoro could hear something running towards them. Before he could react, a large brown boar came out into the clearing. It ran towards Sanji's horse and the horse immediately panicked. Sanji tried to gain control of the horse but she bucked him off and ran. Sanji landed hard on the ground and the boar came at him. He felt the big tusks cut through the skin on his arms. The boar was heavy and Sanji was having a difficult time fighting back.

Zoro aimed his arrow and let it fly, striking the boar. The boar made a pitiful, high-pitched sound of pain. Sanji tried to get up but the boar wasn't going down, the arrow sticking out of its side. Tusks found Sanji's side and ripped through the skin there. Zoro aimed again and the arrow struck the boar in the neck. This time, the boar moved away from Sanji and went towards Zoro. Zoro got another arrow and shot it straight into the boar's right eye. The large creature screamed and reared back in pain. It quickly took off back into the woods. Zoro wanted to go after it, but he had to check on Sanji. He rushed over and saw a large gash on Sanji's side.

"That's going to need stitches," Zoro said, carefully touching the swollen skin around the gash.

"Damn it," Sanji hissed. "Where the hell did that thing come from?"

"We might be in its territory," Zoro said. He saw more wounds on Sanji's body but they weren't as bad as the gash. "Sit up. I need to cover your other wounds." Zoro took off his undershirt and ripped the cloth into strips.

Sanji's body was aching from the attack but he wasn't expecting Zoro to be so tender. Zoro's rough hands were gentle as he wrapped up the wounds. The hardest one was the gash. Zoro took the saddle blanket from the horse and wrapped it tightly around the gash.

"Thanks…" Sanji said. "I thought my first hunt would be better than this."

"We need to get you back to the castle," Zoro said. "We lost the mare, though. My horse can't carry the two of us plus a deer carcass." He had an idea. "I'll walk instead. You and the deer can ride my horse. It won't be that far of a walk back to the castle."

Zoro helped Sanji onto the horse and then tied the carcass down behind Sanji. Sanji wasn't thrilled to have a dead deer pressed against his back, but he really couldn't do anything about it. Zoro was being nice to him, which was odd.

They barely spoke as they returned to the castle. Zoro helped Sanji down again and brought him to the physician. Zoro left Sanji there to get patched up. He was impressed with how Sanji handled the boar attack. The attack could have been much worse. Sanji got lucky.

He went to find Luffy who was likely in their chamber with Law. He knocked on the chamber door and he could hear Luffy's voice calling to him to come in. Zoro slowly opens the door and peeks around to see Luffy sitting on the bed and Law laying down. Two of the youngest children played on the floor while the youngest rested on the bed next to Law.

"I went out on a hunt and I was successful. I snagged us a large doe,"

"Awesome! I'm so stinkin' hungry!" Luffy whined.

Law rolled his tired eyes. "Each of our children have your endless stomach."

"That's how you know they're mine!" Luffy said proudly. "Oh, how's Sanji doing?"

Zoro explained to them about the hunt and the encounter with the boar. Luffy whined, saying that he wished he was hunting when it happened. Law told Luffy that he didn't have to stay with him. Luffy asked Law if he was really sure and Law said 'yes'. Luffy gave his mate a quick kiss on his cheek before leaving with Zoro.

"You know, Luffy, we're best friends and all, and we're always honest with each other, but I really think…maybe it's time for Law to stop having kids."

"Yeah, that's what I think too." Luffy said. "It's really up to him, though. If he still wants them, then we'll keep going until he can't anymore."

Zoro chuckled. "Like you need more kids!"

Luffy laughed and folded his arms behind his head. "When are you going to settle down with an omega?" Luffy asked.

"I don't want to settle down," Zoro replied. "I'm happy with the way things are. Brothels are always an option but I don't go into a rut often."

"What about Sanji?"

"What about him?"

"I think he's a good omega for you," Luffy grinned.

"W-What? Hell no! He's annoying and-"

"Then why did you make him your servant?"

"...I'm not sure."

Luffy smirked and Zoro growled at him.

"Sanji is an attractive omega," Luffy said. "He's got that yellow hair and those blue eyes and he's tall like you."

"There is nothing between Sanji and me," Zoro said. "I don't want to talk about it anymore. Let's go get some ale."

Sanji was supposed to be resting but he didn't want to. Zoro saved his life today, so he wanted to do something nice for him. And by 'nice,' he meant quietly doing the chores assigned to him. He changed the bedsheets and organized the chamber, trying to make it more homey. Zoro was a messy person who wouldn't put his dirty clothes in the laundry basket. He was thrilled when some servants came in carrying a mattress. Sanji instructed them to put it at the foot of the bed.

His side started to ache so he took a seat on the sofa, sighing at the relief. He could only think of how much his brothers would make fun of him getting hurt. Hopefully, when he tries fishing, there won't be a giant fish to attack.

Zoro didn't have to save him. The way they hated each other, Zoro could have just let him die. He didn't want to say he was 'saved' but that's what it was. He wasn't some damsel in distress that needs saving.

It was starting to get dark, so Sanji went down to the kitchens to help the cooks make dinner.

Zoro was already tipsy as he walked to his chambers to sleep off the ale. His cheeks and nose were flushed red from the ale. Even with one eye, he was seeing double. He staggered on his feet and ended up using the wall for support. He heard footsteps coming up to him and saw a pair of black shoes. He looked up to see double Sanjis frowning at him with arms crossed.

"Hi," Zoro managed to get out, followed by a hiccup.

"You're wasted," Sanji said. He sighed and took Zoro's arm, throwing it over his shoulders. "Come on, drunkard,"

Sanji helped guide him to the chamber and he brought Zoro over to the bed. He sat Zoro on the bed and started to take off the boots when he heard Zoro snoring. Sanji rolled his eyes and removed the boots, then tucked Zoro's body under the covers. He stared at Zoro for a little while, taking in the strong features. Zoro's mouth suddenly opened and he really began snoring- a drunken snore. Sanji knew he would never get to sleep with that sound. But where would he go? He doesn't know all the rooms. It looked like he had no choice but to sleep here with the snore monster.

He got into his bed and let out a sigh. His side was starting to ache again, but he could bear it. He stuffed his head under the pillow to try and muffle the snores. Eventually, he fell asleep.

But he was having a strange dream. He dreamt that he was in a field of long grass dotted with wildflowers. He walked through the high grass, running his hands over the tops. They tickled his palm. He could smell the flowers, too. Then, he heard someone call his name. Sanji followed the sound and it was Zoro. Zoro was laying down on a blanket in the grass. Sanji noticed how calm Zoro looked with his arms folded behind his head. Zoro told him to lay down, and Sanji did. The sky was blue with white clouds that drifted slowly through the air. Sanji thought the whole thing was beautiful.

Then, Zoro rolled over top of him. Sanji wanted him to move, but he couldn't find his voice. He also didn't want to move. His legs were together but Zoro's knee pushed them apart. The other knee joined and they spread his legs, allowing Zoro to settle between them. Sanji gasped when he felt Zoro's erection pressing on his groin. Then, both their clothes were gone and Zoro laid down on Sanji, pinning him with his legs wide open. Zoro started kissing down his neck, to his shoulders and collar bones. He felt himself growing hard at the tender touches and craved more. He ran his hands along Zoro's strong back and arched up into him.

That's when he woke up. Sanji was flushed red and panting heavily. What the hell was that? Zoro was still snoring. Sanji got up quickly and rushed to the water closet to get rid of his erection. Once relieved, he went back to his bed, but he couldn't fall asleep. He never wanted to have that dream of Zoro ever again.

The next morning, Law was finally up and took to catching up on some castle work. He did most of the castle management because Luffy couldn't be trusted. He heard flapping from the window and saw that it was a messenger bird. Law slowly got up, his lower half still sore, and took the note. He opened it up and read it. Law knew this was going to become troublesome. The Vinsmokes are looking for Sanji to marry him off for an alliance. Law made a deep sigh. This was not going to be good or easy. One thing he does know is that they need to get Sanji to leave before the Vinsmokes come after them.

TBC