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It's the way his eyes crinkle in the corners when Chopper sits on his lap. How he tenderly pets the top of the ship doctor's head while he feeds him cotton candy or a slice of cake Sanji made for afternoon tea. Chopper lies on his chest sometimes. He suspects the cuddle sessions are the little doctor's way of sneaking in a check up. He prods at the swordsmans, his little hoofs deceptively resting on the man's chest and ribs and abdomen.
Lafer, he scrubs his back in their communal bath.
The fondness with which he yells "damn Sea Witch" at Nami is subtle. The fondness with which he looks at her and Robin during meal times is almost negligible. He complains when she buys his new clothes. He swears he is fine with his current wardrobe everytime she swears the debt is now trippled. He yells she doesn't know his style.
Yet, the next day, he always shows up for breakfast in whatever new clothing item she's bought.
He sits in the library sometimes. In silence. In the same couch. Pretending to snore while Robin reads her books. If he feels one of Robin's magic hands run their fingers through his green hair, he doesn't acknowledge it. He reads her fantasy novels too. Tales of magic and gods seem to fascinate him the most. He thinks the crew is oblivious of his hobby.
Robin chuckles to herself every so often.
He laughs so heartily at Ussop's tall tales. On numerous occasions he hears the Sniper retell his battles. Battles he is pretty certain Ussop did not see. He doesn't correct him when he exaggerates his swordsmanship.
Sanji snickers every time. Nami rolls her eyes. Luffy and Chopper get awestruck everytime. Never mind that their own battles are always just as legendary.
Jinbei's hearty laugh rings loud in the aquarium bar. Zoro has just told him of how they met Gambon. He joins the Sharkman in laughter. The sake Zoro always miraculously finds in the kitchen 'well hidden' is almost over. They sit like this quite often. Sometimes every evening. Jinbei seems content with the choice to join the Straw hats.
The Moss seems to enjoy the former Warlord's company.
Being the only two swordsmans in the crew, he and Brook spar every morning. The King of Hell and the King of Soul dancing to the rhythm their swords play. Brook is awed by the fluidity of his opponent's moves. A dangerous glint shines in his one eye everytime they spar.
Brook rarely dwells on the years of solitude and loneliness now. When Enma brushes his bones almost running through his ribs, Brooks yoohoo is loud. What raw power this kid is, Brook thinks to himself. He wonders how much better time will make him. Brooks smiles to himself as he dodges yet another fatal swing from Kitetu now. He can't wait to witness it all.
On the deck, Luffy coils himself on the swordsman. His rubber limbs hanging in various angles, his head on the man's giant chest. A huge hand lies in the captain's tangled hair. They're both snoring.
Nami sighs deeply saying she wishes she could turn them in for their hefty bounties.
Asleep like this, they looks pliant. They look almost adorable. If anyone who had never met or heard of them saw their snoring drooling faces right now, they'd never think them gods and Kings.
Sanji doesn't know when he starts to notice these things.
How when they land on any new Island, the Moss grabs his recycled bags from the pantry and waits for him like an obedient guard dog.
He stays up to help with clean up after every meal. Nami's chores chart ignored, he helps scrub every last grimey pot till late.
On the days he has second watch, Sanji always finds a fresh pot of coffee bubbling by the counter.
When they scrub down the kitchen and the pantry every end of the week, he takes pride in his handiwork yelling at the crew should they walk into the kitchen with their shoes on.
He laughs at Sanji's jokes when they sit in the aquarium bar watching the fish float away.
He smiles fondly when they talk about their dreams and their drive.
One day, after the whole fiasco with the Vinsmokes, Sanji tells him about the cause of the nightmares. His eye shining a bright red, he swears to one day bring Judge's head on a platter.
Sanji says no. The man says it wasn't a question. It was a promise he intends to keep.
The steely glare in his eye leaves a shiver in Sanji's spine.
They never speak of it again.
However, Sanji never sleeps alone from that night onwards. Every night, after his watch, the Moss slips into Sanji's bed to envelop him in a spoon.
Much later, when he whispers under to Sanji's ear that his bed in the first mate's cabin is bigger and better suited for sharing, Sanji does not argue. He follows him to the rarely used room.
No one in the crew seems fazed by this development.
They don't talk about the death promise. But the Moss holds him tighter when they sleep. He runs his fingers into the blond's hair when Sanji lies on his chest.
There's a storm tonight. Lightening strikes lighting up the room. He is pulled into the man's chest when thunder gets a little too loud.
Suddenly, the urge to understand the man overwhelms Sanji so he raises his head.
The man peers at him eyebrows srched in question.
Like he can read his mind, the Moss chuckles softly. He cups Sanji's face and pulls him closer. Sanji's breath hitches.
Tucking a blonde lock behind his ear, he smiles at Sanji. Sanji blushes, smiles back and let's the man kiss him.
Sanji never stops paying attention. He is forever awed by this man. He falls for him a little more everyday.