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The strawhats were in the middle of a fight with some random pirate crew when it happened.
They were handling them easily, barely breaking a sweat, until the enemy captain finally stepped in.
“Oh, you guys are in trouble now! Our captain’s got the What-If Fruit! Once he takes off his gloves and touches one of you, you’re done for! knocked out and trapped in your dream world- an alternate universe or whatever! And you won’t wake up until you choose to! Haha-” The man didn’t get to finish before Nami smacked him with her Clima-Tact, sending him flying straight into the water.
“Guys don’t let that guy touch you!” Usopp yelled out.
“I’ll take care of him” Zoro said, sliding a sword between his teeth.
The fight between the swordsman and the enemy captain didn’t last long, ending with the captain dropping to the floor. The crew relaxed as the remaining pirates were quickly taken down.
Zoro tucked his swords back to their sheaths but then he felt a hand on the back of his calf.
He dropped to the floor and blacked out.
_______________________________
When Zoro woke up, he realized he’d been moved to Chopper’s infirmary bed. The faint smell of cigarette smoke lingered nearby.
A headache throbbed behind his eyes, pulling a groan from his throat as he rubbed his forehead.
“Zoro-kun! You’re awake! Are you ok?”
…what?
He turned his head. Sanji was leaning over the bed, watching him with open concern.
“The fuck is wrong with you, cook? Did you get hit in the head or something?”
“Huh? What do you mean?” Sanji leaned back slightly, and he looked… hurt.
“Are you feeling okay? Should I get Chopper?”
“No… I’m fine.” Zoro frowned. What the hell was up with him?
Maybe Zoro got seriously injured. But that doesn’t make sense either. He took care of that enemy captain with ease.
He remembers something about him having a devil fruit that knocks you out or something like that. Maybe he injured him while he was out? He looked down, but he didn’t see any bandages or cuts or anything. And he felt fine except for the mild headache.
Sanji pulled him out of his thoughts by shoving a plate in his face. “Here, you missed lunch so I saved you a plate.”
“Oh.. thanks” he took the plate from him.
The plate had heart shaped onigiri on it.
Zoro snapped “..Is this some kind of joke?!”
“You’re acting weird, are you sure you’re okay?” The cook just sounded concerned.
Zoro felt his eye twitch. Has the cook gone mad? Was he the one going crazy?
Chopper rushed into the room. “I heard yelling! Is something going on?”
“I think something happened to his head, he’s acting strange” Sanji explained to the little doctor.
“I see, I’ll examine him.” Chopper just nodded. “Sanji, could you leave the room please?”
“Sure, doc” Sanji got up, and right before he walked out he turned to look at Zoro “Let me know if you need anything, Zoro-kun!”
The door shut and Chopper just began his examination like Sanji just hasn’t called him that. Not only does the cook never call him by his name, but Zoro-kun?!
Yeah, it must be Zoro that’s gone mad.
_____________________________
After the examination, Chopper came to the conclusion that there’s nothing wrong with Zoro. He gave him some painkillers for the headache and let him walk out of the infirmary.
The swordsman made his way to the crow’s nest. On his way there, he saw some of his crewmates on the deck; Luffy and Usopp were fishing, Nami and Robin were sunbathing and Brook was playing some tunes on his violin. No unusual behavior from them. He didn’t see Franky or Jimbei but he can assume that they’re probably acting normal as well.
It must be just Sanji acting weird. Genuinely, what was wrong with him? Whatever, he doesn’t want to get stuck on this, so he just climbed up to the crow’s nest and began his workout.
A few hours passed, and he had to take his shirt off because the sweat from lifting was beginning to stick to the clothing. He just got on like normal until he heard someone coming up. Weird, no one usually bothered him up here.
“Zoro-kunnnnn~ I made you some refreshme-” The cook cut himself off right as blood shot out of his nose. He was also shamelessly staring at his chest.
“What’s wrong with you?!” Zoro yelled, suddenly feeling embarrassed and turned his chest away from the cook.
“Sorry, my dear, you can’t blame me for being distracted when you look like this.” he chuckled nervously, “Anyway, I made you a protein shake, gotta keep you strong~” He placed the tray on the bench.
And then it hit Zoro. The stupid twirly brow was treating him like he does with women.
“Oh, by the way, are you feeling any better? You were acting quite off earlier” He asked, his voice again laced with concern.
He was the one acting off?!
“Uh- yeah like I said I’m fine. You are the one acting weird.” he responded.
The cook just giggled “What do you mean? You know how I like to shower my dear Zoro-kun with affection” He blatantly blushed and twirled around as he spoke. Like he does when he talks to women. Except he wasn’t talking with women. He was talking to Zoro.
This was all too insane for Zoro, he felt his headache coming back. “Whatever- yeah, thanks” He just pinched the bridge of his nose and waved the cook off.
“I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me!” The blonde made his way out.
Zoro sat on the bench and took the sip of the shake. In all honesty the drink was delicious, he’ll give him that.
He then heard Chopper scream “Sanji! Your nose! I told you to not go up there when Zoro’s training!”
He sighed. What the hell was going on? When did this happen?
Although.. Zoro would be lying if he said he was too bothered by it. He can admit (to himself, not out loud) that the cook was attractive.
He recalls when he first met him at the baratie and thought to himself that he’s quite hot. Then, he saw the way he fought, and it just deepened the attraction. But then he saw the way he acted towards women, which was quite the turn off. He wasn’t about to pine for some straight guy so he just stuffed his feelings down.
Now, though, the cook was blatantly expressing his attraction for him. Albeit, in an annoying way.
Should he do something about it? How would he react? None of the women he ever hit on ever reciprocated, or Zoro wasn’t around if they ever did, at least.
He’d deal with it later. Right now, thinking too hard would just make his head split, so he grabbed the weights and forced his brain to shut up.
____________________________
“Zoro-kuuuuuuun~ dinner’s ready!” He heard Sanji sing-song from right outside the kitchen
Zoro exhaled, placed his lifts back and made his way down.
“Everyone, come eat now or you’ll get scraps.” he added afterwards, in his usual stern voice.
As everyone sat around the table, the cook handed them their plates like normal, except he wasn’t giving heart eyes and sweet words to the women of the crew as he handed them their plates. Instead Zoro was at the receiving end of the affection. Everyone was acting like it was normal, not even batting an eye to the cook’s antics.
The swordsman just ignored it. If everyone else will so will he, he supposes. He did roll his eyes when he saw his plate, again, had some heart shaped food on it. As everyone was finishing up, the cook turned to Nami and began a conversation. ‘Finally’ Zoro thought, ‘He’s going to go back to being normal now’
“Hey Nami, since we’re stopping by an island tomorrow, I need to restock on food. Our supplies are beginning to run a bit low.” He said casually.
“Alright, I’ll hand you about 40 thousand berri later” She replied without looking up from her plate.
“Oh come on, you know that’s not enough to feed the crew. Especially our captain with a black hole for a stomach!” Luffy didn’t even flinch at that jab, just continued to inhale his portion of food. And some of Usopp’s when he wasn’t looking.
“I’m cutting your funds, you waste too much on alcohol for Zoro! You know how expensive sake can get?!” She snapped back, now looking up at him.
“Oh forgive me, Tangerine-head, for wanting to treat my dear Zoro-kun!” his voice was beginning to get louder.
“WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME?!” The two now bumped their foreheads together in anger. The same way Zoro and the cook would.
“Those two have such short temper” Robin let out a small chuckle and she took a sip of her tea.
What the fuck, there was no way this was real. He groaned and rubbed his eyes.
He turned around and the two were now fighting.
The fight ended quickly though, with Nami electrocuting him with the help of her clima-tact.
“AA! HE NEEDS A DOCTOR!” Chopped screamed.
“THAT’S YOU!” Everyone else yelled.
_______________________________
Zoro had gone back up to the crow’s nest after dinner, planning on taking his usual after-meal nap. The ship had quieted down, most of the crew had already turned in for the night.
Sleep didn’t come. He clicked his tongue and rolled onto his side. From up there, he could see the faint glow of the kitchen lights still on below.
Of course the cook was still awake.
Zoro stared at the light for a long moment. If the idiot was going to keep acting like that… he needed to know if it was just mindless flirting. Or something else..
He pushed himself up and climbed down.
As soon as he entered the kitchen, the cook immediately took notice, “Oh Zoro-kun! Do you need anything, my dear?” He turned his head to look at him as he was finishing up with the dishes.
Zoro didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stepped closer until they were standing almost chest to chest. Sanji inhaled sharply, a deep blush spreading across his face.
“You’re being quite annoying lately,” Zoro murmured.
The cook smiled softly despite the insult. “If I’m bothering you, Zoro-kun, you only have to say the word.”
Zoro’s hand came up, gripping lightly at the front of Sanji’s shirt before the other man could step away.
“I didn’t say stop.”
Sanji froze. His dramatic flair was gone. No twirl and no exaggerated heart eyes. The cook swallowed.
“You treat me like you treat them,” Zoro continued, voice low. “With that gentleness"
Sanji’s lashes fluttered. “You deserve to be treated gently.”
That wasn’t like that dramatic, exaggerated flirting. This felt actually real. Zoro’s fingers slid from Sanji’s collar to his shoulder, then slowly up the side of his neck. Sanji shuddered.
“Is this just flirting?” Zoro asked quietly. “Or do you actually want something?”
That seemed to elicit a small, nervous laugh out of the blonde, “I thought I made that clear”
Zoro didn’t need to be told twice, he leaned in and crashed their lips together. He slid his hand from the side of the blonde’s neck to the back, and and his other hand settled at his waist.
He began to feel like he jumped the gun a little, as the cook wasn’t moving, but Sanji quickly got over the initial shock and kissed back. Zoro felt relief and deepened their kiss. The blonde put his hands on the swordsman’s shoulders and tilted his head a little, giving him more access.
Before it got heated, the cook pulled back, and a quiet, involuntary whine slipped from Zoro at the loss of contact.
“Let’s not go that far yet, how about I take you on a date first..” Sanji whispered into Zoro’s lips.
In all honesty, Zoro didn’t really need all that sappy stuff, but he knew what a romantic the cook was, so he let him have this. “Sure, whatever you want.”
“Tomorrow, you can come with me to stock up on supplies, I’ll certainly need those big, strong muscles of yours,” He stroked a finger on Zoro’s biceps, before looking back at him “After that, we can find a nice bar with some good food, and have a lovely night out. Would you like that?”
“Yeah. that sounds good.” He gave the cook an honest smile. That did actually sound really nice, he was now starting to look forward to it.
Sanji leaned in to give him a short but sweet kiss. “Go get some sleep, my dear”
“What about you?”
“Oh my sweet, caring Zoro-kun, you don’t need to worry about me, I’ll be heading to sleep soon.” The cook was back to twirling around.
Zoro rolled his eyes, but his smile stayed as he made his way to bed.
______________________________
The next morning, after Sanji managed to pester Nami into handing over more beri, the two headed into town.
It seemed that after the actions of last night, the cook got even more comfortable with his over-the-top affection. As they walked, he wrapped his arms around one of Zoro’s. At the food vendor stalls he hand-fed him the food to test out, and bought it depending if he liked it or not.
“Taste this,” Sanji insisted, holding up a slice of fruit between his fingers.
“I’m not your-” The fruit was already pressed against his lips.
Zoro sighed and bit down, pointedly ignoring the vendor’s amused look.
Sanji leaned in slightly. “Well?”
“…It’s good.”
The cook beamed like he’d just won a war.
Zoro feels like it should bother him, but surprisingly he didn’t mind it. That much. It was a bit embarrassing to have him show his affections so publicly but it clearly made the cook happy.
Zoro tuned out the noise of the crowd and focused instead on the cook’s voice. Sanji was going on about the quality of the produce, gesturing animatedly as he inspected a bundle of herbs. Something about freshness, balance, and how the right acidity could change an entire dish. He haggled with one vendor, praised another, and lectured a third on how seafood should never smell even remotely “fishy.”
It was rare to see him this openly excited about something that wasn’t a woman or a dramatic declaration of love. And for some reason, watching him like this- focused, animated, completely in his element- made something in Zoro’s chest feel strangely warm.
He just wished that the cook would stop giving him heart eyes when he’d flex his muscles while lifting the bags.
As Zoro moved toward another stall, a hand caught his wrist.
“Not that one,” Sanji said, tugging him gently in the opposite direction. “Look- That vendor bruises his produce.”
Zoro looked down at their joined hands. Sanji didn’t seem to notice.
Or maybe he did.
Once they finished and were about to head back, He heard a voice coming from within the crowd.
“Look, over there, it’s Roronoa and Black-leg! After them!” a group of marines starting to push through the crowd.
The pair didn’t wait a second after that and made a run for it. They ended up outside of town, but the marines were still behind them so Zoro dropped the bags and was about to pull out a sword before he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Let me take care of them, dear”
Before he could respond, the first shot rang out, Sanji moved before the sound fully settled. He vanished from where he stood, reappearing in a blur of black suit and polished shoes. His foot connected with a Marine’s jaw with a sickening crack, sending him flying into the others.
Two more rushed him at once but Sanji pivoted smoothly, ducking under a blade before driving his heel into someone’s ribs. The man folded instantly. A second later, another body hit the dirt.
Zoro just stood there stunned. The cook had his back turned on him looking over the bodies, lighting a cigarette. Zoro had to admit, that was pretty fucking hot.
That thought quickly disappeared as the blonde twirled back to him, “Zoro-kuuuuuuuun~ Did you see that?” He said in that annoying high pitch.
“Tsk, I don’t need protection.” He grumbled.
“Of course not, my dear! I just want to take care of you, though” He smiled sweetly
Zoro just rolled his eyes and picked up the bags. He enjoyed fighting but it did kind of feel nice to be treated like he was special. Not that he’d voice that out loud.
______________________________
When they returned to the ship, Sanji wasted no time unpacking and organizing the groceries, moving through the kitchen with practiced efficiency. Zoro stayed out of the way but still stayed near, having perched at the counter with the snacks Sanji had made him.
It didn’t take long before the cook was done, brushing his hands off with quiet satisfaction. “Shall we?”
They headed back into town as the sun dipped lower, and it didn’t take long for the cook to pick out a bar that met his standards.
The bar Sanji chose sat a little ways off the main street, tucked between two narrow buildings. Warm light spilled from the windows, and the low hum of conversation drifted out as they stepped inside. It smelled like alcohol, salt air, and something fried.
The place wasn’t crowded, just a few locals scattered across the tables, thankfully no marines in sight. Sanji guided him toward a booth near the back, one hand briefly brushing against the small of Zoro’s back which he pretended not to notice.
They slid into the booth across from each other. For a moment, neither of them spoke. This time, Sanji wasn’t filling the silence. In fact, he seemed a bit nervous?
The blonde reached for two menus and passed one across the table. Zoro glanced over the options, words blurring together without meaning. He wasn’t here for the food.
“Just choose for me,” he said, sliding the menu back. “You know what I like.”
Sanji’s expression softened immediately. “Of course, my dear.”
A server approached a moment later, notepad in hand. “What can I get you two?”
Sanji straightened slightly, confidence slipping back into place like a well-tailored jacket.
“A bottle of your best sake,” he began smoothly. “And we’ll have the grilled skewers, beef, if it’s fresh. A plate of fried potatoes. And whatever seafood you recommend tonight.”
The server nodded and scribbled it down before disappearing toward the bar.
The sake arrived first, a small ceramic bottle beaded with condensation, two shallow cups set carefully on the table. The food followed soon after, the scent of grilled meat and fried potatoes filling the space between them. Sanji poured for Zoro first.
“Careful,” Sanji murmured lightly. “I think it’s strong.”
Zoro snorted and downed the first cup in one go.
That made the cook chuckle “You’re such an alcoholic” He said fondly.
The conversation drifted easily after that.
Sanji complained about the vendor who tried to pass off bruised tomatoes as fresh. Zoro grunted through a story about Luffy nearly eating half the supplies as soon as they reached the ship.
By the time the bottle was empty, the sharp edges of the evening had softened. The noise of the bar faded into a low hum, warm and distant.
Sanji had loosened his tie, the top button of his shirt undone. For some reason he found that quite alluring. Zoro had shifted closer without really meaning to, one arm stretched along the back of the booth.
Their knees pressed together under the table, neither of them pretended it was accidental.
Sanji reached for the bottle again and very carefully poured sake into Zoro’s cup. And missed. A thin stream splashed onto the table instead. Sanji blinked down at the spreading puddle like it had personally betrayed him.
“…The table moved,” he said with complete seriousness.
Zoro raised a brow. “The table moved.”
“Yes.” Sanji nodded once, very dignified. “Hostile furniture.”
Zoro snorted despite himself and grabbed the bottle from his hand. “You’re cut off, you lightweight.”
The cook gasped like he’d just been stabbed. “You wound me.”
“You’re drunk.”
Sanji straightened immediately, scoffing. “I most certainly am not. I am perfectly-” He paused, swayed slightly, and grabbed the edge of the table for balance. “-balanced.”
Zoro stared at him, clearly disagreeing .
Sanji leaned forward suddenly, squinting at his face. “You have very nice eyelashes.”
“…What?”
“They’re very manly. But elegant. Like… swords.” He nodded to himself, pleased with that comparison.
Zoro felt heat creep up the back of his neck. “You’re just drunk," he repeated.
Sanji’s expression softened abruptly, the dramatic energy flickering into something warmer.
“Well,” he murmured, reaching across the table and poking Zoro’s cheek with one finger, “if I am… it’s your fault.”
“How is that my fault?”
“You keep looking at me like that.”
Zoro froze. “Like what?”
Sanji blinked slowly. “Like you like me.”
Zoro’s brain short-circuited.
Then Sanji smiled lazily, resting his chin in his palm. “It’s very distracting.”
Sanji blinked slowly, like he’d just revealed a state secret.
Zoro cleared his throat. “Alright. We’re leaving.”
“What? Why?” Sanji protested, attempting to sit up straighter and failing spectacularly. “I’m having a wonderful time.”
“You’re swaying.”
“I am not.”
Sanji stood.
He immediately tilted sideways.
Zoro caught him by the waist before he could topple into the table. The contact was firm, automatic. Sanji froze. Then very slowly looked down at the arm around him.
“…Oh.”
Zoro did not remove the arm at his waist. “God you're wasted,” Zoro muttered.
Sanji leaned into him slightly, far too pleased. “And you’re very strong.”
“I know.”
“You’re so hot...” he sighed comfortably and stroked a finger on his chest.
Zoro pretended that didn’t make him feel insanely flustered and rolled his eyes but kept his hand there as they made their way toward the exit.
The moment they stepped outside, Sanji slid closer, not at all subtly and looped an arm around Zoro’s.
Zoro looked down at it. Sanji looked back up at him with complete innocence.
“It’s dark,” Sanji muttered.
“It’s barely night.”
“And I’m delicate.”
“You kicked five Marines into the ground.”
“Different situation.”
Zoro huffed a laugh despite himself. Sanji’s grip tightened slightly as they walked. His thumb absently traced along Zoro’s forearm.
“You’re very kind,” Sanji mumbled after a moment.
Zoro nearly tripped.
“That’s the alcohol talking.”
“No,” Sanji insisted softly. “You always are.”
Zoro was not built for this.
He could handle swords. Fights. Near-death experiences. He could not handle a clingy, affectionate, drunken cook who kept mumbling soft things into his shoulder.
Sanji rested his head briefly against Zoro’s arm as they walked.
Zoro’s entire brain shut down. This was unfair. He was supposed to be the stoic one, the composed one. Not the one hyper-aware of every inch of contact.
“You’re so warm,” Sanji murmured.
“That’s because you’re leaning on me.”
“…Don’t move.”
Zoro didn’t. And that was the problem.
Because somewhere between the third drink and the way Sanji’s fingers were still loosely hooked into his sleeve, Zoro realized something. He liked this soft, romantic shit. A lot.
As they kept walking, Sanji promptly caught his toe on uneven cobblestone and he fell forward.
Zoro reacted on instinct, one hand shot to Sanji’s waist, the other catching his shoulder, pulling him flush against his chest before he could fall. Sanji froze. They stayed like that for a second too long. Zoro could feel the warmth of him through his shirt. The steady rise and fall of his breathing. The faint scent of smoke and alcohol.
Sanji blinked up at him slowly. “…You caught me.”
“Obviously.”
He didn’t step away and neither did Zoro.
They’d stopped directly beneath a lone streetlamp. Golden light spilled down over them, catching in Sanji’s hair, softening his expression. For once, there was no crowd or any noise. Just the distant crash of waves against the shore.
Sanji’s hands were still resting lightly against Zoro’s chest where he’d steadied himself. Zoro became painfully aware of that.
“You’re staring again,” Sanji murmured.
“Shut up, lightweight.”
“That’s not a denial.”
Zoro’s jaw tightened slightly. Sanji tilted his head slightly, studying him like he was trying to solve something complicated.
“You do like me,” he said quietly. Not teasing this time, just certain.
Zoro’s breath hitched. Sanji’s fingers curled slightly into the fabric of his shirt.
“Can I…?”
He didn’t even finish the question. He leaned in.
Sanji’s lips brushed his first, soft and hesitant. For half a second, it was just that.
Then Zoro’s hand tightened at his waist, pulling him closer as he kissed him properly. Sanji made a small, pleased sound against his mouth, warm and breathless.
But then he swayed. Zoro pulled back just enough to keep him upright.
“Come on, you’re too drunk for this.”
Sanji smiled lazily, resting his forehead against Zoro’s chest.
“Maybe I am..”
They made their way back to the ship, Zoro still supporting some of Sanji’s weight. Once inside the men’s quarters, he lowered the hazy cook carefully into his bunk.
Sanji looked up at him, eyes heavy but focused. “Thank you for tonight, I had a lot of fun. Thanks for choosing me,” he murmured.
Zoro’s breath stalled at that. Sanji smiled faintly.
“I hope you keep doing that..” He whispered before letting sleep take him.
Zoro stood still over him for a moment. The cook looked different like this, relaxed and unguarded. Soft in a way he rarely allowed himself to be.
Pretty.
Zoro exhaled slowly and turned away, climbing into his own bunk.
Sleep didn’t come easily, though. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw blond hair caught in lamplight. Felt fingers gripping his shirt. Heard that quiet voice.
“Thanks for choosing me.”
The same question that had been gnawing at him for the past day and a half resurfaced. Where did all of this sudden affection come from?
Then his mind flashed back to the pirates from yesterday.
“Oh, you guys are in trouble now! Our captain’s got the What-If Fruit! Once he takes off his gloves and touches one of you, you’re done for! knocked out and trapped in your dream world- an alternate universe or whatever! And you won’t wake up until you choose to! Haha-”
He felt his heart sting. This isn’t his universe.
This isn’t his Sanji.
Fuck, of course. His cook would never look at him like that. Never like him like that.
The warmth from earlier curdled into something sharp and hollow. He’d let himself get carried away.
Zoro stared up at the ceiling, jaw tight. He had to get back to his own universe.
________________________________
He woke with a sharp inhale.
The first thing he registered was the smell of antiseptic and herbs, clean in a way that immediately put him on edge. The second was the stiffness in his body, every muscle heavy, like he’d been sleeping wrong for far too long.
Zoro opened his eyes. White curtains, medical cabinets, sunlight filtering through the infirmary windows. Chopper’s infirmary.
His chest tightened.
The door creaked open. “Oh! Zoro!” Chopper gasped, hurrying over. “You’re awake! You were unconscious for a whole day and a half! don’t try to move too much, okay?”
Zoro barely heard him. His eyes drifted past Chopper, toward the open doorway. A familiar voice yelled from the hall.
“Oi, watch where you’re walking! If you spill that soup, I’m not making more.”
Sanji.
Zoro’s heart gave a traitorous little jump.
A moment later, the cook appeared in the doorway, tray in hand. He paused when he saw Zoro sitting up.
“…Huh. You’re finally awake,” Sanji said, unimpressed. “Took you long enough, mosshead.”
There it was. The nickname. The edge. The distance.
Something inside Zoro settled and sank at the same time.
“Don’t call me that,” he muttered, leaning back against the pillows.
Sanji scoffed. “You get knocked out by some third-rate pirates and suddenly you’re sensitive?” The cook walked closer to the bedside.
“You scared the hell out of everyone,” Sanji continued, setting the tray down with a clink. “Idiot gets knocked out for a day and a half and doesn’t even have the decency to die dramatically.”
Zoro snorted. “You sound disappointed.”
“Don’t push it.”
Normal. Completely, painfully normal.
Zoro sat up again, slower this time. His chest felt hollow in a way he hadn’t expected. He hadn’t realized how much he’d been bracing himself for disappointment or how much it still stung anyway.
Sanji turned away, busying himself with the tray. “Chopper said you’re not allowed to train today. Or drink. Or pick fights.”
Zoro didn’t feel like saying anything so he just grunted in response.
Sanji sighed. “Eat.” he added, already turning away.
Zoro stared at the tray. It wasn’t the usual bland recovery food. It was thick, rich, heavily seasoned, the way he liked it. Extra spice. No unnecessary garnish.
“You were hovering,” Zoro said suddenly.
Sanji stiffened.
“The hell are you talking about?”
“When I woke up. You were already outside.”
A pause.
“Coincidence.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Zoro took another bite, slower this time.
“…You always yell that loud?”
Sanji finally turned, glare sharp. “You complaining about my voice now?”
“No.”
Their eyes met. For just a second, there it was again. Not softness or pen affection but something quieter. Relief. It vanished almost immediately, replaced with irritation.
“Finish eating,” Sanji muttered. “You look like hell.”
Zoro huffed faintly. “You were worried.”
Sanji’s eye twitched. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
“But you were.”
“I said don’t push it, mosshead.”
Zoro leaned back slightly, studying him.
A day and a half. Sanji had been here that whole time. Close enough to hear him wake up. Close enough to bring the food himself instead of sending someone else. Close enough to hover.
Slowly, something eased in Zoro’s chest.
“…Thanks,” Zoro said quietly.
The word seemed to catch Sanji off guard more than any insult would have.
“For what?”
“For the food.”
They stared at each other for a second. Sanji looked away first.
“…Idiot,” he muttered, but there was less bite in it now. “Next time try not to get yourself killed. I don’t have the patience to sit around waiting like that again.”
Zoro’s breath stalled.
Waiting. Not if, not when someone found him, waiting.
“For me?” Zoro asked.
Sanji shot him a glare so sharp it could’ve cut steel. “For the doctor, obviously. Who else?” But there was color creeping up his neck.
Zoro couldn’t help it, a slow, crooked smirk tugged at his mouth.
This wasn’t the version of Sanji who fawned over him, or had heart eyes for him. But this one had stayed. This one had cooked just for him. This one had waited a day and a half.
Maybe he didn’t need another universe. Maybe he just needed to stop being blind in this one.
He took another bite, watching Sanji from beneath his lashes.
“…It’s good,” he said.
Sanji scoffed, already reaching for the door. “Of course it is.”
He hesitated just before stepping out. “…Don’t make me worry like that again.”
It was quiet, almost lost in the hallway noise. Then he was gone.
Zoro stared at the doorway for a long moment before looking down at the tray again.
His chest didn’t feel hollow anymore. It was still complicated, still sharp around the edges but not hopeless.
He smirked faintly to himself.
Yeah, he had a chance.