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It had been nearly two days since then, since Sanji found Zoro. They had just beaten Moria and gotten their shadows back. This should be a time of celebration, and it sure was for most everyone. Just not Sanji.
Sanji kept to the makeshift kitchen they had set up on Thriller Bark, mostly. He poured all he had into the cooking. People were happy and fed, and he needed the distraction. Zoro had been out cold since Sanji found him and Sanji was worried sick. Chopper had assured everyone that Zoro would wake up, which calmed Sanji slightly, but the fear of Zoro not being okay lingered.
Someone had asked specifically for ramen, so Sanji was making a big batch for everyone. He had to stop often. This was Zoro’s favourite. Knowing he would be the only one not eating it was more difficult than Sanji thought it would have been. Even when the dish was done, and everyone enjoyed and praised it, Sanji was left with a longing for Zoro’s praise of his ramen.
Night came, Zoro was still unconscious. They had all moved to the Sunny, Zoro as well. Sanji was tired enough to fall asleep despite the lump in his chest and shaking hands.
~
“Zoro’s up!”
Sanji shot awake. Usopp had opened the door to the boys’ sleeping area and shouted, clearly not minding how early it was. Sanji didn’t mind, either, and thought a silent “thank you” to Usopp for waking them all up immediately. Sanji jumped down from his hammock and pulled a shirt on, not bothering with putting pants on over his underwear. He followed Luffy and was followed by everyone else over to Chopper's room, where Zoro was groggily looking at all of them. Nami and Robin were already there; Usopp must have woken them up first. Sanji looked around. Everyone was visibly tired. Two days straight of partying must have taken its toll, and dawn had not yet come around.
“Are you sure?” Nami looked at Zoro, gesturing to his bandages.
“I’m fine,” Zoro said, but his facial expression, and the fact he wasn't sitting up, said otherwise. “It’s not that bad.”
Sanji bit his lip. He wanted to talk to Zoro, to ask how he was. He wanted to make up for the lost time, but everyone was here. Zoro wouldn’t want everyone knowing what happened, especially if he didn’t get to say it himself. Therefore, Sanji kept quiet. He stood, leaned against the doorframe, and just observed. His chest hurt. He needed to say something, but everything he wanted to say was… private. He and Zoro had been getting closer before this, at least Sanji felt that way, and he didn’t want to say too much with the whole crew able to hear.
“Everyone,” Robin suddenly said. “Let’s go and let Sanji come talk, too. He can’t even get close because you’re all surrounding Zoro.”
Sanji looked at Robin, who gave him a smile. He got the feeling she knew. He nodded his head at her, a silent “Oh gods thank you so much Robin.”
The rest of the straw hats had poured out of the room, and Sanji and Zoro were left alone, with the door closed. Sanji still stood, though a bit closer to Zoro, now. The silence was deafening, but Sanji had no idea how to start saying everything he had been wanting to say over the past couple of days. The silence was deafening, and fucking unbearable. Sanji had to say something.
“How… are you?”
“It hurts,” Zoro said. Sanji nodded.
“Yeah. It looks like it does.” Sanji eyed Zoro’s injuries. Zoro furrowed his brow.
“Come. Sit down,” Zoro said. Sanji looked at the pillow next to where Zoro laid, and sat down on it. Zoro looked at him, and Sanji silently looked back. They didn’t break eye contact for quite a while.
“I was so worried,” Sanji admitted. Zoro exhaled a sharp breath.
“I wouldn’t just leave you.”
Sanji blinked.
“Me specifically, or all of us?”
“Both.”
Sanji nodded. He didn’t need to answer. He just felt the warmth come back into his chest for the first time in a long time.
Zoro shifted where he was laying. Before Sanji knew what was happening, Zoro was trying to sit up.
“Don’t! You’re still so hurt!” Sanji waved his hands in front of Zoro, who didn’t care nor stop. He sat up, legs crossing in front of him. Sanji was about to open his mouth to complain when Zoro, seemingly painfully, extended a hand towards Sanji. Sanji looked at him, and Zoro caressed Sanji’s cheek. Rough, calloused fingers against Sanji’s slightly stubbly face. Sanji gasped softly. He was suddenly tearing up. Zoro touching him like this was rare, but had started getting more common before they came to Thriller Bark. He’d missed it more than he thought, apparently. Soon teary eyes turned into full on crying. Zoro kept his hand there, rubbing Sanji’s face with his thumb.
“Sanji?” Zoro’s voice was low and raspy.
“Yeah?” Sanji dried his eyes with his sleeve, looking at Zoro.
“I’m hungry.”
Sanji felt the tug at the corners of his mouth and the foggy look of tears in his eyes. He smiled, and cried.
“I’ll make you ramen!”