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"Dad–" Zoro heard a little voice cutting through his dreams to call out to him. "Hey, Dad!" Now a yell, followed by shaking, how could Zoro not blink his eye open and stare at the boy kneeling over him?
"What is it, Chopper?" he asked, unconcerned and knowing it couldn't be anything serious.
"Uhm…" Chopper scratched at the blue band-aid adorning his nose. He had taken a bad tumble during recess the day before, coming home covered in scratches and shallow cuts he insisted weren't all that bad – though the tears welling in his eyes told Zoro a different story.
Zoro sought out Chopper's gaze but the boy seemed adamant on avoiding it. As much as he seemed adamant about avoiding speaking up on the reason he had shaken Zoro awake at – Zoro glanced at the clock on his bedside table – four in the morning.
Fighting down a sigh, Zoro said, "Whatever it is, just tell me, Chopper. You know I won't be mad."
" Well… I need two dozen cupcakes for school. Today."
"Today?"
At least Chopper had the nerve to look apologetic, Zoro thought, as he watched the boy nod once slowly. A nod which was followed by a mumbled, but sincere, "Sorry."
And then Zoro did sigh.
He heaved himself out of bed and ran a hand through his hair – no doubt a tangled mess. "Hey, kid," he started, dragging himself to the kitchen and hearing his son's footsteps follow behind him as he tried to keep up, "how long have you known about this?"
Chopper hopped up and down, waving his arms all over the place as he explained that he had only found out about it the morning before. His class was having a Valentine's Day party. Rika was supposed to bring the cupcakes but her whole family had fallen sick. "And I said that I could bring it instead because I knew you wouldn't mind but then I fell at recess and got all hurt and forgot!" Chopper finished in one single rush of air, as if the story might get away from him if he paused for even a moment.
And Zoro couldn't exactly fault him his logic. He would have happily bought two dozen cupcakes for Chopper's class. But what the hell did he know about baking?
"Hm…" Zoro hummed, paging through his well-worn recipe book. "I could whip up some cupcakes but… these are 'sposed to be Valentine's Day cupcakes, right?"
"Right!" Chopper nodded vigorously.
"So they have to be all pretty. I can't make them pretty, Chopper, we'd be lucky if we get them half edible."
Chopper tugged at Zoro's pants leg – a sign for Zoro to lift him up onto one of the counter stools, which he did.
The boy gave the recipe a focused once-over, then turned his head to look up at Zoro with a determined nod. "It's just like science. We'll be fine," Chopper declared, hitting his fist into an open palm.
Sure, if they were sharing it between them and Zoro's friends, he'd give it a shot. Why not? But the last thing Zoro wanted was the parents of a bunch of eight-year-olds complaining about how he gave their children food poisoning.
Resolute, Zoro reached for his phone. "I'm calling your Uncle Sanji."
Chopper cheered.
His eyes were practically shining. Zoro chuckled, and tousled Chopper's hair as the phone rang in his ear. Once, twice, and then Sanji's voice came through loud and clear.
"Somebody better be dying, Mosshead!"
" Yeah, yeah ," Zoro muttered, unbothered, as he passed the phone off to Chopper and let his son talk Sanji into coming over and helping them out.
What could he say, very few people could say no to the kid. And Zoro couldn't blame them. He was an adorable kid.
And Sanji. Well. Sanji could hardly allow himself to let a culinary emergency pass when he could very well help.
"He said he'll be here in fifteen minutes," Chopper beamed up at Zoro and said, handing him back his phone.
And in fifteen minutes the doorbell did, indeed, ring. Much to Chopper's delight.
Oh, to be young , Zoro thought, watching the boy be as full of energy as ever even at this time of day.
The doorbell rang again, and Zoro opened the front door to find Sanji overladen with bags filled to bursting with kitchen appliances and ingredients.
"Jeez, Curly, it's just cupcakes for Chopper's class, do you really need all this?"
"It's not just cupcakes for Chopper's class," Sanji retorted, squeezing past and making his way to the kitchen. "It's cupcakes for Chopper's class to celebrate the most beautiful day of the year. Sigh . A day of love. How wonderful." His voice went from dreamy to cold as he turned a hard glare on Zoro and said, "Not like I'd understand a brute like you to understand."
"Hey, Uncle Sanji," Chopper greeted, wrapping his arms around Sanji's legs in a hug, wanting attention.
"Ah, but you understand love, don't you, Chopper?" Sanji said.
Chopper, cute little suck-up he was, nodded vigorously.
A smile tugged at the corner of Zoro's mouth, even as he rolled his eyes.
It hit him, suddenly – as he watched the boy jump up and down around the kitchen, talking Sanji's ear off about some experiment Dr Kureha was letting him help on – how fast time passed. It felt like just the other day he had been cheering (and fighting back tears) as Chopper took his first waddling steps, falling into Zoro's outstretched arms under the weight of his own body.
And soon… Soon he'd be all grown up and moments like this would be but a memory…
"Man, I'm getting old," Zoro muttered under his breath.
"Hm? What was that?" Sanji asked, looking up from the mixing bowl.
Zoro shook his head. "Nothing," he said. He ducked his head in the fridge and pulled out a bottle of beer.
"Really? At this time?"
Zoro ignored Sanji's remark. He took a swig. That hit the spot.
Chopper's chirpy, "Doctorine says Dad's a 'functioning alcoholic,'" said as nonchalantly as he might say he likes toasted sandwiches, almost had Zoro spluttering out his mouthful all over the kitchen.
Sanji shrugged. "Eh. Well. She's not wrong."
"Everybody has their vices, kid."
Not that his drinking was a problem.
Zoro scowled.
But it didn't last for long. It couldn't, not with how sappy this moment was making him feel.
He took another swig of his beer, then set the bottle down on the counter. "What can I do?" he asked.
Sanji raised a questioning brow at him. "You really wanna help?"
"Sure, why not? It can't be that hard to play kitchen assistant for a little bit."
Sanji hid a chuckle behind a huff, and an eye roll, but slid a bowl to Zoro nonetheless. "Just mix these ingredients together," he said, pointing out which part of the recipe he wanted Zoro to follow. "It's easy. You can't mess it up. Or you shouldn't be able to mess it up."
The last part was a murmur, but Zoro heard it still.
"What was that, Curly?" he provoked, no real heat behind his words and just for the sake of provoking.
But Chopper had climbed up on the stool and nestled his way under Zoro's arm. His excited, "I'll help, Dad," cutting short whatever argument he and Sanji would have managed to pick.
Zoro smiled down at the boy. A wide smile, he reserved for very few people and that grew only wider when Chopper tilted his head and smiled back – all teeth and deep, deep dimples.
"Okay, Captain," Zoro started, in a stiff, formal, voice, "Hand me two eggs."
"Aye, aye, First mate," Chopper replied, just as stiffly and formally, lowering his voice as much as he could.
Chopper handed Zoro the eggs as he had asked. They laughed as Chopper cracked one on his father's forehead and let Zoro crack the other on his head in turn.
And that's how they worked, the three of them baking together until two hours later when they had the most perfectly decorated and packaged cupcakes.
Well, not perfect perfect, Zoro thought with a smile, finding the few that he and Chopper had tried to decorate.
"Yours came out better than mine," Zoro pointed out to Chopper, proudly. "You're really good at this, buddy."
But, of course, he had a little genius on his hands. What wasn't he good at?
"Hm hm," Sanji agreed. "He's a natural."
Chopper squirmed happily, a bright blush burning his cheeks as he pretended not to like being showered by their compliments and attention. "That doesn't make me happy at all," he said, finally, basically bursting with happiness.
Zoro huffed a laugh. Looking away from Chopper, his eyes met Sanji's across the kitchen. Zoro stilled for a moment. Who knows where they would be without him?
Thanks , Zoro mouthed.
Sanji shrugged like it was nothing, but, when he turned to finish washing the dishes, Zoro noticed bright red colouring the back of his neck all the way to the tips of his ears.
He smiled to himself. Maybe they could have another cooking emergency, he thought, absently, before he was caught up in more urgent things – like getting Chopper ready for school.