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Zoro wasn’t nervous. He was the world’s greatest swordsman, one of the wings of Monkey D. Luffy the Pirate King, so no he wasn’t nervous. 

“Stop being nervous Stupid Marimo.”

Maybe he was a bit nervous but it wasn’t his fault. 

Everything started a month ago. 

A month ago, the restaurant “ The Romantic Curly ” opened its doors in the magical place that was the All Blue. After Luffy became the King of the Pirates, it took the Straw Hat a month to finally find the All Blue and accomplish Sanji’s dream. 

Zoro knew they had lost Sanji the moment they arrived at the All Blue. His blue eyes sparkled like never before. He remembered how much the love cook had cried when he finally saw his dream right in front of his eyes and Zoro couldn’t blame him. 

He had spent the night crying in the crow’s nest after he won his title from Mihawk. 

When Luffy, two weeks after they discovered the magical ocean announced they were leaving, Zoro knew Sanji couldn’t follow them even if he claimed he was fine leaving. 

The All Blue was his dream, his rightful place, he couldn’t leave.
 

Zoro knew it and Luffy too.

After a couple of heated arguments, they came to an agreement. Sanji stayed at the All Blue until his restaurant was open and had a team he trusted enough to leave the restaurant in their hands and then he could sail on the Sunny again. In exchange, the Sunny would dock at the restaurant often enough to keep contact and Sanji taught them how to cook. 

Sanji staying at the All Blue hadn’t been a surprise but Zoro staying had been but not to everyone. 

Except for the idiot cook, everyone knew Zoro would stay by Sanji’s side. 

He was the world’s greatest swordsman and yet Zoro knew he couldn’t sail without Sanji. He had done it before, two times, the first time had been when he left Kuraigana Island in the direction of the Sabaody Archipelago after being separated for two long years and the second had been when the stupid cook had sacrificed his life for them and his dad. 

Zoro remembers how much his skin hitched and how uncomfortable he felt until he saw Culy again in Wano. 

Zoro had sailed without Sanji two times and the two times had been a nightmare and he refused to live once again. 

Before leaving Franky, Usopp and the rest of the Straw Hat had helped Sanji build his dream restaurant but had left before the opening day leaving Sanji and Zoro alone to create the perfect teams. 

Slowly, after the restaurant opened and even a bit before it, a routine was installed. Sanji woke up early to prepare the kitchen, and Zoro went to sleep after a night watch. Even if they weren’t in a pirate ship anymore some habits were hard to stop. 

Then around lunchtime, Zoro woke up and ate the meal Sanji had prepared for him while the love cook was screaming orders to his teams. In the afternoon Zoro would either train, meditate, or fish while Sanji would go to an island’s market to buy products. Finally, they would eat dinner together after the second service and drink together an expensive wine bottle while watching the ocean. 

The restaurant was calmer than the Sunny and at first, it had felt weird to both Zoro and Sanji. No one was screaming or running or injured. Neither marines nor pirates attacked the restaurant. Sanji had taken the same spirit then at the Baratie, no matter who you were or if you could pay or not, if you’re hungry I’ll feed you. 

Speaking of the Baratie, Sanji had called his first home and talked to Zeff, his old man. Sanji had announced the wonderful news about finding the All Blue and opening his restaurant. Zeff had been curious of course and that’s why after Sanji sent him the map Nami meticulously made, Zeff announced he was coming. 

And that’s why Zoro was nervous. Because Zeff was coming and the swordsman knew the old man would disturb their peace. 

It took a month for Zeff to arrive. He had sailed alone, leaving the Baratie in Carne and Patty’s hands. Zeff stepped on the Romantic Curly’s deck and narrowed his eyes. 

Zoro was by Sanji’s side as always and he could see Curly’s hands shaking. Curly had spent the whole day in the kitchen preparing the perfect meal for Zeff. 

Sanji muttued. “Stop being nervous marimo.”

Zoro muttered back. “I’m not nervous Curls you’re nervous.”

Sanji hummed as he clearly didn’t believe his words. Zeff walked down the rail and looked at the floating restaurant and his watchful gaze ended on Zoro.

When Zeff arrived at their level, he put his hands on his hips and snorted. “Your restaurant looks pretty shitty Eggplant. And what a fucking swordsman is doing here?”

Of course, Sanji immediately picked up on the jab and attacked back. Zoro sighed. Zeff hadn’t said how long he would stay but he hoped for both of their sanity it won’t be long. 

———

It’s been two months since Zeff arrived and Zoro was now sure. 

Zeff hated him. 

“Old man doesn’t hate you.”

“You don’t understand.”

Zoro kept walking back and forth in Sanji’s room. Like Zoro thought, Zeff threw away their routine. Now when Zoro woke up at lunchtime, his plate wasn’t ready anymore because Sanji and Zeff had spent the whole morning arguing, and one of the cooks, most of the time Dai, Sanji’s sous-chef would prepare his plate. Then one day, Zoro brought a fish that Zekk didn’t like estimating he wasn’t good enough, the old chef would fish with Sanji so Zoro couldn’t bring fish to him anymore. The worst was now, they no longer ate dinner together. Now Sanji had either already eaten or did it later and forced Zoro to eat dinner alone. 

Tonight, finally Zoro had managed to spend more than three minutes alone with Sanji. They hadn’t eaten together but they were spending time together and Zoro wouldn’t spit on it. 

Sanji was sitting on his bed watching Zoro walking back and forth. “Old man doesn’t hate you, how many do I have to tell you stupid Marimo?”

“He glares at me.”

“He glares at everyone.”

“He insults me.”

“He insults everyone.”

Zoro stopped himself and frowned. He had another proof of Zeff’s hate toward him but he couldn’t say it and even less at Sanji because the idiot would make fun of him. Zoro was sure, Zeff was doing everything in his power to keep them apart. 

Every time Zoro walked in Sanji’s direction, Zeff would bark an order for Sanji to follow him and it worked every single time. 

Sanji softly smiled. “Jiji doesn’t hate you. Now it’s late and I have to wake up early. Are you still doing the night shift?”

Zoro looked away. “No.”

“Okay. Do you want to sleep here or in your room?”

Zoro felt a blush growing on his cheeks. “You won’t kick me again?”

“If anyone is kicking, it’s not me. I still have bruises on my legs because you keep moving.”

Zoro felt his ears turning hot. “I don’t move and last time you kicked me out of the bed.”

Sanji snorted. “Because you wouldn’t let me leave. Now go change Marimo.”

Zoro nodded more for himself than to Sanji as the cook got under his covers. He left Sanji’s room and went on his own to change his clothes. His room was right in front of Sanji’s room and Zoro didn’t have much of a choice. Sanji had attributed the room and proclaimed that like that he could monitor him better. 

Zeff’s room was next to Sanji’s and in the corner of his eye, Zoro saw the door slightly open with a glimpse of light. Zeff's door was closed when Zoro left his room three minutes later.

Zoro entered back in Sanji’s room and saw the cook in bed with glasses on his nose reading a book. 

Fuck. Did Sanji even know how hot he was?

Since they left the Sunny another routine had started. Both Sanji and Zoro had their own room and at first, they enjoyed having intimacy again but it soon felt weird. They spent months, living together, sleeping in the same room and now they were suddenly apart. 

So one night, when Zoro didn’t do a night watch and spent three hours lying awake in the bed looking at his ceiling he left his room. He had softly knocked on the door and Sanji opened the door. Curly had messy blond curls thanks to his pillow and a sleepy smile on his lips. He only smiled, “Missed me Marimo?” and simply opened his door to him.

Since then when they felt the need they would sleep in the same bed. The more time passed the less Zoro slept in his own room.

At first, they slept back to back but slowly, their positions changed. Now, Zoro wakes up with Sanji’s sleeping on his naked chest. Sometimes, Sanji’s neck was the first thing he would see because somehow during the night, Sanji hugged him and Zoro buried his face in the crook of his neck. They would have lazy cuddles in the morning and neither spoke about it, keeping it a secret in the small dark room. Curls loved playing with his hair and one morning, still half asleep, Sanji asked if Zoro could consider letting his hair grow. Since then, Zoro hadn’t cut his hair. 

Sanji looked above his book and smiled at him. “Already? Did you brush your teeth? You know you don’t sleep here if you don’t brush your teeth right?

Zoro nodded. “My toothbrush is in your bathroom.”

“Oh.”

Sanji looked back at his book and Zoro could bet his swords the idiot cook was blushing. After brushing his teeth in the small bathroom, Zoro came back into the room. Sanji closed his book and Zoro put himself under the covers. 

Sanji imitated him and lay down on his back. Zoro turned on his side and took a minute to watch the blond cook. His hair was getting longer and his curls fell on this pillow. His blond eyebrow seemed curlier than before and Zoro thought he got a glimpse of grey hair but it was probably the moonlight hitting Curly’s hair creating a halo around him. 

Sanji turned his hair and fuck the blue of his eyes was so beautiful.

“You’re not tired.”

“Today’s fight was boring.”

Now that Zoro was the greatest and his localization known, sometimes, a swordsman would come to the floating restaurant to ask for a meal and fight. 

Sanji chuckled. Even his laugh was beautiful, how it was fair?

“Tomorrow we could train together. It will be definitely harder to beat me than some unknown swordsman.”

Zoro raised an eyebrow. “You’re sure Curls? It’s been so long since we trained together, you think you will be able to keep up?”

Sanji kicked in his tibia. “Fuck you, Moss.” He turned on his opposite side, showing his back to Zoro, and pulled the covers above his shoulder. “Night Marimo.”

Zoro snorted. “Night Curly.”

Zoro closed his eye and slowly started to fall asleep. Then the mattress moved and Zoro smiled even more when he felt Curls passing his arms around his waist and brushing his nose against his scar’s chest. Zoro curled his arms around Sanji’s back and buried his nose into Sanji’s curls. 

He fell asleep wrapped in Sanji’s warmth, feeling his heart beating against his. 

 ———

When Zoro woke up he felt two things. First was the cold of the bed and the second was someone watching him. It could have been Curly because Zoro knew even if he shouldn’t that Curly liked watching him sleep but Zoro didn’t smell the usual odor of tobacco or Curly’s cologne. 

His swords were in his room and Zoro knew thanks to his observation haki he was screwed. He wondered if he could still act like he was sleeping until the person left. 

“I know you’re awake.”

Well, apparently not. 

Zoro opened his gray eye and saw Zeff watching him. The old chef was arms crossed and from his face, Zoro knew Zeff was mad. 

“Zeff.”

Zeff narrowed his eyes even more. “Eggplant asked me to come get his cooking book in his room. Imagine my surprise when I saw you in my Eggplan’s bed half naked.”

Zoro felt his whole face burn. He wasn’t half naked. He just preferred to sleep with only a pair of sweatpants. Just like Sanji liked to sleep only wearing an oversized shirt and underwear. Zoro’s shirt precisely that one day Sanji had stolen and never gave it back. The shirt arrived at just the limit of his underwear leaving Zoro admiring his beautiful strong legs every night and every morning.

Zoro pulled up the covers above his chest. He took the book from Sanji’s nightstand and handed it to Zeff. “It’s his book. Or you prefer if I gave it to him?

Zeff’s face twisted and Zoro couldn’t stop himself from noticing that Sanji had the same face when he was angry. 

Zeff grabbed the book and turned on his heels. He walked in the direction of the door and barked. “If you’re not down in the next fucking minute idiot swordsman, you can kiss goodbye to your breakfast.” and left the room.

Zoro knew neither Zeff nor Sanji would leave someone without a meal but just in case, Zoro quickly left Sanji’s room to get dressed.

Once dressed, he went down the stairs and directly went into the kitchen. Zoro could hear the dining room already full. The Romantic Curly was getting a good reputation even though Sanji or Zoro beat some unpolite clients’ asses. 

Dai was already running everywhere making sure the cooks were working well and Haru the youngest cook was okay. Haru was young, only eleven and it was Zoro who found him first a month after the restaurant opened or more Haru found Zoro after the swordsman got lost in the village close to the floating restaurant. 

The boy had no family and was starving. His dream was to become a cook and even if he had brown hair and eyes, Zoro could only see a blond-haired boy with blue eyes. At first, Sanji had panicked but quickly grew fond of the boy. 

Haru glanced at him and grabbed a plate next to him. “Mister Zoro, I made your breakfast!” the boy smiled. “I made onigiri and an omelet.”

Zoro looked around and as he thought, Sanji was nowhere to be seen. 

He took the plate and sat at the counter close to Haru’s workplace. “Thanks, kiddo.” Zoro grabbed a fork and started eating. He pinched his lips trying to mask his reaction but unfortunately, it only took a quick look at Haru to see the boy looked sad. 

“I left eggshells in the omelet again didn’t I?”

“It’s fine.” It wasn’t fine. Zoro could feel every single eggshell in his mouth. Last time Haru had broken the egg directly in the pan and half of the eggshells were in it. Zoro grabbed an onigri and ate it. As for the omelet, he tried to mask his emotion but Haru was like Curly, they could read his face a little too well for his liking.

Haru’s face was crestfallen even more. “What did I do? The rice is undercooked?”

Zoro swallowed his bite. “No.” He closed his eye trying to swallow the rest of the eggshell but one of them was stuck between his teeth. 

“Overcooked?”

“No Haru, the rice is well cooked.”

“Then what did I do?” The boy looked back at his workplace and checked his ingredients. “If the rice is good then what is it? Mister Sanji said you don’t have allergies and you like classic onigiri but also when there is salmon and avocado so I put them in it then I took the salt- oh no.”

“It’s fine kid.”

“I put sugar in it isn’t?” Haru bit his bottom lip and Zoro saw his big brown eyes filling with tears. “I’m so sorry Mister Zoro. I tried so hard this morning and even asked Mister Sanji and Mister Dai if I could cook your breakfast and they trusted me and I did it so badly.”

“It’s fine.” Zoro gently moved the kid to bring him closer to him. He quickly brushed the tears before they could fall. “For a first try, it’s not bad. Also, it’s not the first time I've eaten an onigiri made of sugar.”

Haru frowned. “Mister Sanji made an onigiri with sugar?”

Zoro snorted. “No, the day I met Luffy, a little girl made an onigiri with sugar. It had fallen on the ground after an idiot stepped on it. I still eat it anyway. It was good, and yours is good too but be careful next time okay? Tomorrow I’ll want an onigiri made with salt.”

Haru beamed. “Really? You want to eat my food again?”

“Yep, kiddo.”

Haru's smile grew even wilder. Then Sanji appeared in the kitchen followed by Zeff. “Haru? Come here Bean. I want to show you something.”

Haru nodded and ran in the direction of Sanji. Zoro continued eating his omelet and smiled when he heard Sanji complain for the hundredth time and tell Haru one more time not to run into the kitchen and to be careful. 

Zoro was nearly done with his omelet when he saw Zeff in the corner of his eye. Zeff looked at the plate. “Dai made it?”

“Nope, Haru did.”

“It’s good?”

Zoro shrugged. “A little crunchy.” He looked at Zeff and developed as Zeff narrowed his eyes. “Haru left eggshells in the omelet and swapped the sugar and salt for the onigiri.” He took his final bite of the omelet and started finishing his onigiri. 

“And you eat it?”

Zoro nodded. “Food is food. Haru is learning it’s not like he did it on purpose. It’s fine, like I said to him, it’s not the first time I've eaten an onigiri made with sugar.”

Zoro finished his plate and stood up. He passed Zeff and started to wash his plate under Zeff’s gaze. 

Zeff crossed his arms. “I can make you something else if you want.”

“No need.” Zoro cracked his neck. He needed to go back upstairs and brush his teeth again to take out the eggshell still stuck. He finished washing and drying his plate and rested his left arm on his swords. He passed by Zeff again and shouted. “Thanks for the meal, Haru!”

He climbed the stairs and smirked when Haru blushed and Sanji ruffled his brown hair. 

 ———

The next day Zoro refused to believe his ears. 

“Can you say it one more time?”

Sanji sighed with a smile. “Old man wants to go to the village to buy products with you.”

“Why me? Why not you?”

Sanji chuckled. “Dai needs to go see his mom and I can’t leave the restaurant to anyone else besides Dai. Dash and Ai are worse than Patty and Carne, and the other cooks aren’t qualified or want to run the kitchen for a couple of hours. Not everyone can deal with the two idiots and watch over Haru and you.”

“And me?” Zoro raised an eyebrow, “what do you mean and me?”

Sanji started laughing even more. They were sat in Sanji’s bed and Zoro was brushing his hair. A couple of months ago, Sanji would have never trusted Zoro with his hair and Zoro would have never agreed but a couple of months ago they weren’t sleeping in the same bed or cuddling. 

“Well, I have to make sure you’re not lost in the restaurant, drink your weight with my expensive wine or sake bottles, or injure yourself during training.”

“I got lost one time in the restaurant one time.”

“Ten times just this month.”

“I got injured one time too and you are the one who gave me the expensive bottles.”

Snaji chuckled. He was sitting between the swordsman’s legs and Zoro felt a shiver going down his spine when Sanji started to trace with his fingertips his ankles scars.

“Jiji wants to go with you, he’s not going to kill you, you know.”

“No, I don’t know. I told you he hates me.”

Sanji curled his long fingers around his ankles just above his scars. “He doesn’t hate you. I’m sure you’re going to like it.”

Then before Zoro could speak, both Zoro and Sanji jolted hearing someone knocking loudly at the door.

“Eggplant? Do you know where the idiot swordsman is? The market is going to open soon, if we go too late, the best product will be already gone.”

Zoro looked at Sanji and whispered. “No.”

Sanji smiled and shouted. “He’s coming!”

They locked their gaze in each other’s eyes and Zoro felt himself drown one more time in the blue of Sanji’s eyes. 

Then Zeff growled. “He’s here isn’t he?”

Zoro whispered. “He’s going to kill me.”

Sanji smiled even more. “He’s coming don’t worry Jiji.”

Zeff growled again. “He better hurry the fuck up.”

Sanji cupped Zoro’s face and traced with his thumb the scar on his eye. He whispered. “You should go before he eats you.”

Zoro muttered back “For the fucking hundredth time that joke is not funny.”

Sanji chucked while Zoro stood up. He opened the door and Zeff narrowed his eyes. “We’re leaving in five minutes.”

Zoro nodded and felt his face heat up as he passed bare chest for his room to dress up. Ten minutes later Zoro finally found Zeff waiting for him at the small boat docked at the floating restaurant’s deck. To Zoro’s surprise, Haru was also there waiting. The boy smiled. “Mister Sanji said I could come with you if it’s okay.”

Zoro looked at Haru, at Zeff, and back at Haru. At least if the boy was with them, Zeff wouldn’t eat him, right? 

Zoro nodded and Haru jumped in happiness. He climbed into the boat with Zeff’s help but when Zoro arrived Zeff narrowed his eyes. “You’re late.”

Haru tilted his head. “Did Mister Zoro get lost again?”

Zoro felt his face warm. “I don’t get lost in the restaurant.”

Haru nodded but Zoro decided not to call him out on the little smile he had on his lips. He couldn’t lose his only ally. Zoro took off the anchor and the boat started sailing away. He glanced back at the restaurant and saw Sanji looking at them on the deck. Sanji showed his thumbs up and Zoro only wished for Zeff not to kill him. 

He couldn’t die when Curly was waiting for him. 

They arrived at the village soon enough and thanks to Haru they arrived at the market quickly. Zeff started to look at the different products and Zoro found it cute how much Haru tried to imitate him. Zoro knew he had two missions, carrying the bags and making sure he didn’t lose Haru. 

The first time he, Curly, and Haru went to the market, an hour later both Zoro and Sanji were looking everywhere because Haru hadn’t seen they turned into an alley and thought he was abandoned again. They found the boy two hours later bawling his eyes out. Zoro didn’t know who had gotten the most afraid, Haru or them. Now when Haru accompanied them, he always held Zoro’s red sash. 

After a couple of stops, Zoro bought a special thing when he was sure neither Zeff nor Haru paid attention to him and attached it to his sash. When he looked back, Zeff handed him another bag. The old chef smirked. “Need a damn hand swordsman?”

Zoro was holding five bags in each hand and handed his left hand. “No, it’s fine.”

“I hoped so, it would be a fucking shame if, after all those hours of training, you couldn’t even handle a brush of bags.”

Zoro pinched his lips. He knew Sanji would be mad if he insulted Zeff and even more with Haru by his side.  “Just give me the bag old man.”

Zeff snorted and handed the bag. “We need more vegetables.”

Haru pointed to one of the sellers. “Azumane’s vegetables are really good.”

Zeff nodded and they walked in the seller’s direction. Zoro knew Azumane, everyone in the market knew Azumane. His vegetables were indeed good but Azumane was the biggest scammer in the market. More than once Sanji got scammed and even though his vegetables were good, Zoro knew it pissed him off so now Curly never went to Azumane’s shelf without Zoro. 

Zeff looked at the vegetables while Zoro stayed behind him keeping his gaze on Azumane. He had a sparkle of mischief in his back eyes that annoyed Zoro. 

Zeff pointed to the tomatoes. “I want ten of it,” then at the carrots, “five of that,” and finally at the onion, “and fifteen of this.”

Azumane nodded with a smile. “Of course Sir, thank you very much, Sir. You have really good taste don't you?” He took a bag and put the ten tomatoes in it. “My tomatoes have a beautiful red thankfully the season was great.” Then he took another bag and put the five carrots in it. “The carrots are so big this year, Mother’s nature was generous.” Finally, the onions were put in a bag. “So it’s going to be one hundred berry please sir.”

Zeff choked on his own saliva. “One hundred? What they’re made with fucking gold?”

Azumane shook his head with an apologetic smile. “No Sir I’m sorry, it’s just you know life is hard on us right now and my vegetables are good, the best in the villages, maybe I could put a discount on it since you’re such a good customer but I really need money for my sick mother and times are hard you know.”

Zeff growled. “You fucking vegetables are good but one hundred berry is still fucking expensive.”

“You know what, since you are a good understanding customer I’ll make a fifteen percent discount so it will only be seventy-five berry.”

Zeff looked at his wallet and sighed. “It’s a bit better but fuck it’s expensive-”

“It’s forty-five berry Azumane.”

Both Zeff and Azuname froze and looked at Zoro. Zoro smirked at Azumane’s smile falling from his face. “Roronoa.”

“Azumane.” He pointed to the different tags. “It’s two berry for one tomato so for ten it’s twenty berry. Then it’s two berry for one carrot so it’s ten berry for five and for the onions it’s one berry each so it’s fifteen berry. So in the end it’s forty-five berry. Not one hundredth.”

Azumane muttued. “Fucking Roronoa, I told you not to come to my shop again.”

“And I told you next time you scam someone I cut you in half.”

Azumane growled and handed the bags to Zeff. “Here it’s free as long as that animal leaves. It scares the customer,” he shouted in Zoro’s direction. “Have a fucking bad day Roronoa!”

“You too Azumane.” Zoro looked at Haru, “Come one kiddo, we’re done.”

Zeff followed them as Haru showed them the way back to the boat. After a couple of minutes of walking, Zeff broke the comfortable silence. “You know him.”

“Everyone knows him. He loves scam customers. Cruly got scammed more than he likes to think.”

“And you were going to let me be scammed?”

“No, I was waiting for him to do his special discount or if he was going to push his mother’s sickness strategy to see how much he wanted to scam you. His mother is fine by the way she sell boze.”

Zeff nodded. Zoro glanced at him and saw the three small bags in his hands. “I can carry them you know.”

The old chef nodded again. “I know.”

Zeff made no move to hand the bags and Zoro nodded to himself. They arrived at the boat and soon enough at the floating restaurant. Sanji was waiting for them on the deck and ruffled Haru’s hair when he jumped off the boat first. “So Bean, how was it? You had fun?”

Haru smiled. “It was so great and Miss Lily asked when you were going to come back and Mister Zoro made a funny face and growled never.” 

Sanji glanced at Zoro with a smile. “Did he?”

Haru hummed. “And we bought meat and fish and fruits and went to see Azumane and Mister Zoro said he didn’t say the right price again so he gave us the vegetables freely.”

“That’s great.” Sanji smiled at Zeff who was coming off the boat. “You almost got scammed old man?”

“Shut the fuck up Eggplant.”

Sanji chuckled as he looked back at Haru. “You go wash your hands and I will show you a new technique for grilling meat.”

Haru nodded and started running in the kitchen’s way. Sanji looked at Zoro and raised his curly eyebrow. “So, I’ll never go back to the market?”

Zoro growled as he felt a blush growing on his cheeks. 

“Too bad, Miss Lily has the most beautiful flowers in the market, it would be a shame if I didn’t buy them anymore.”

Zoro growled even more and put the bag on the deck’s floor. He took off a small bag he had attached to his sash and handed it to Sanji while looking away. 

“Oh, Marimo.” Sanji took the bag and pulled out flowers. “Delphiniums, my favorites.” He smelled the flowers and smiled. “Thank you, Moss.”

Zoro growled again and took back the bags in his hands. They walked side by side in the direction of the kitchen and even though Zoro felt Zeff’s gaze on him, he didn’t care, Sanji was smiling.

———

Today was horrible. Zoro knew from the very start when he found his Curly curled up in the small bathroom trying to cover his sobs. 

Today was horrible, today was shit and Zoro only wanted one thing to this day to be over.

Today was an important day, it was one village’s celebration day for one of their divinity and Zoro knew it would be the busiest of the month but it was also the anniversary of Curly’s mom's death. 

Back at the Sunny Curly would have been sad and spent the whole day locked in the kitchen baking and cooking. The first time it happened they were sailing on the Merry and Zoro had found Sanji at two a.m. baking his ninth cake. 

Curly tried more than once to hide his sadness but his grief was too important and Zoro couldn’t shame him. 

On Kuina’s death anniversary, the Straw Hat knew they had to avoid the stairs and on the Romantic Curly, Curls knew he and Haru couldn’t be close to any stairs or Zoro would have a panic attack.

Zoro wiped Curly’s tears from his face and helped him to dress. Unfortunately, Sanji couldn’t miss working. He loved his dream job too much and today was important for the restaurant. 

“You’re sure you’re going to be okay?”

“I have to. I can’t let the cooks alone not when it’s the busiest day of the month.”

Zoro brushed Sanji’s hair and put a lock behind his ear. “You’re sure? Maybe you could let Dai or Zeff take care of everything.”

Sanji nodded and wiped his tears quickly. “I’m sure,” he smiled through the tears, “don’t worry about me Marimo!”

Zoro pinched his lips. He wanted to tell Curly he would always worry because Curls was too busy worrying about everyone but himself. He wanted to say he was the shoulder he could cry on and would always be there for him. But he didn’t because words were hard for him and he hoped Curly could see it in his eye. 

Zoro thought Curly was okay, he really did. He watched over him in the kitchen, cooking, giving orders, and making sure no one was behind, especially Haru. Zoro left the kitchen to do his daily meditation thinking he was okay and Dai and Zeff had his back but he had been wrong. So wrong. 

Almost an hour later, Zoro’s meditation was troubled by Haru storming on the deck and burying his face against Zoro’s chest. At first, the swordsman didn’t understand but Zoro still hugged back and petted the boy’s hair. 

Haru didn’t say anything and Zoro patiently waited. 

“I’m so dumb.”

“You’re not dumb.”

Haru sobbed and that’s when Zoro realized Haru had been crying against his chest. “I screw up again and Mister Sanji is mad at me.”

“He’s not mad and it’s okay to screw up. I’m sure Curly screwed up a lot at the beginning.”

“He yelled at me. He was so mad.”

“It’s a complicated day for him but I’m sure he’s sorry. Maybe you could try again what you were cooking later when half the village isn’t in the dining room.”

Haru nodded, “You will eat it?”

“Sure.”

Haru curled up against Zoro’s chest and the swordsman continued petting his hair. “I’m tired.”

“It’s okay you can nap.”

Haru closed his eyes and Zoro let out a sigh when the boy’s breathing got slower. He knew that Sanji hated yelling at kids and was probably beating himself up somewhere in the restaurant. He wondered when the idiot cook appeared to look for his little bean.

Ten minutes later it’s Sanji who stormed on the deck panicking. 

“Marimo? I can’t find Bean. I couldn’t find him, I yelled at him and he ran away and I couldn’t find him. I can’t find Bean, I don’t know where is he-”

“He’s sleeping.”

Sanji stopped entirely. He stopped moving and probably breathing too. He looked at the small boy hidden in Zoro’s coat sleeping against his chest. 

Curly walked toward them so discreetly and graciously Zoro wondered if wasn’t using skywalk. Sanji curled at Zoro’s side and rested his head on his shoulder. He softly petted Haru’s hair. 

Curls whispered “He undercooked a cake. I screamed at him because he undercooked a cake. He was so proud of himself and wanted me to try it.”

“You will apologize when he wakes up.”

“I know.” Sanji rested his forehead against Zoro’s shoulder and closed his eyes trying to keep his tears to himself. “Today is just so hard.”

“I know. Tonight, you only do the first service and let Dai and Zeff take care of the rest. Then you will rest.”

Sanji nodded. “Okay. I can do that. I can leave them the second service.”

Zoro didn't know how long they stayed in this position but neither he nor Sanji cared. After what felt like an hour, Haru slowly woke up. He blinked the sleep away and when he saw Sanji buried his face into Zoro’s chest. 

“Hello Bean. I’m sorry for yelling at you. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“I forgive you if you don't yell again.”

Sanji smiled. “I promise and thank you. You want to go back with me in the kitchen and help me to prepare the food for tonight or you prefer to stay with Marimo?”

Haru hummed and after a minute he nodded. “I want to go back to the kitchen.”

Sanji smiled and the two of them left the deck under Zoro’s watchful gaze.

Four hours and zero new incidents later, Zoro was in Sanji’s room waiting for him to arrive. The first service was done and Zoro gave Sanji five more minutes before going down and dragging him himself. 

Then when Zoro was about to leave the bed, Sanji opened the door and collapsed on the top of Zoro. 

“I’m so tired. I think I let my soul somewhere in the kitchen.”

Zoro snorted. He adjusted Sanji’s position and the stupid cook had now his nose buried in the crook of his neck. Sanji let out a sigh of contentment.

After a couple of minutes, Zoro broke the comfortable silence. “Give me one of your hands.”

He felt Sanji frowning against his sensible skin. During his fight against Mihawk, his mentor had left him a massive scar on his throat. 

“Why?”

“Because I want to massage your hands.”

Sanji smiled. “Such a good moss.”

“Fuck you Curly and give me your hand.”

Sanji chuckled and showed his left hand. Zoro started massaging it and he was nearly done when suddenly he felt with his haki, someone climbing the stairs. The person started walking in their direction and now Zoro could clearly hear the footsteps. When Sanji had entered the room, he had let the door open and after that, both of them were too lazy to get up and close it.  

Zoro finished massaging Curly’s left hand as the footsteps stopped nearly at the door. He couldn’t see who the person was but it definitely wasn’t Haru. The boy loved demanding cuddles and wouldn’t hesitate before entering. 

When Zoro was done with his massage he kissed every single knuckle before starting to massage Curly’s right hand. 

Sanji smirked. “Are you going to massage my feet too?”

“Yep.”

Sanji smiled more softly and put a kiss on Zoro’s chest scar. “Thank you for being there Marimo.”

Zoro bit his inside cheek. “You’re stuck with me, stupid cook. Dealt with it.”

Sanji chuckled again. He was so pretty when he smiled. “Gladly. Oh, I have to tell you, Haruka, you remember Haruka? I saw him talking to Akari, do you think he’s going to ask her on a date?”

“The one who broke one of the restaurant's windows with his ball? Of course, I remember him what, did he finally find the courage to ask her?”

“Yes and also I saw Ayame talking to Chie about her husband, you will never guess.”

“What?”

“He’s cheating.”

“Fucking shit.”

“I know right? Like the audacity!”

Zoro nodded and kept listening to Sanji updating him on the last village’s gossip and how he and Dai started beating on Dash and Ai on if they would either strangle each other or kiss before the end of the month. At some point, the footsteps could be heard again but instead, they were fading away in the hallway. 

———

Zoro frowned. “What do you mean you’re leaving for half the day?”

Sanji brushed his hair and started braiding them. “I told you, Haru and I are going to the village for his school.”

Zoro frowned deeper. “His school?”

Sanji sighed. “Yes his school, I told you. Bean can’t just stay here all day, he needs to go to school but he couldn’t enroll since the school year was nearly finished. So today, I’m meeting his future teacher and the principal.”

“I don’t understand why Haru has to go to school. He’s fine staying here, we can teach him the basics.”

Sanji put his hands on his hips. “And you will teach him how to write? Marimo besides the numbers you barely know how to read. I grew up at the Baratie with the cooks taking turns to give me class and believe me, I don’t want that for Bean.”

Zoro growled. “What if the school is bad for him? What if his teacher is a Marine?”

Sanji closed his eyes and reopened them with a smile. “His teacher is not a Marine.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I checked.” Sanji sighed under Zoro’s narrowed eyes. “Robin-chan checked and Sabo too. Miss Nana is a good teacher and is appreciated by the other parents. I talked with some at the market.” 

“Why can’t I go with you?”

“Because I already have to deal with a stressed boy, I don’t need a nervous man too.”

Zoro growled again. “I’m not nervous.”

“Right,” Sanji smiled, “and you shouldn’t be nervous because everything is going to be fine. Now I have to go stupid Marimo or we will be late.”

They left the room and found Haru waiting for them in the kitchen. He was sitting on a high chair wiggling his legs. “We’re leaving Mister Sanji?”

Sanji nodded with a smile. “Come on Bean, everything is going to be fine.” 

Zoro accompanied them to the deck and helped Haru to climb in the boat. “You remember the rules Haru, you stay with Curls, you don’t talk to strangers. When you will be back I will teach you a move with a sword.”

Haru nodded. “Really?”

Sanji covered Haru’s ears. “Don’t listen to that animal, your hands are a treasure and don’t let him approach you with a sword. And you,” he pointed to Zoro, “stay away from my sous chef!”

Both Haru and Zoro started laughing at Sanji’s words. Zoro watched the boat sail away with Haru waving at him. He turned his heels and walked in the direction of the kitchen. He had woke up late and still hadn’t had breakfast. In the back of his mind, Zoro wondered if he could steal Dai’s fluffy pancake. Those pancakes were his specialty and they rivaled Sanji’s one. 

Zoro liked to eat Dai’s pancakes while directly looking at Sanji just to piss him off. 

The swordsman entered the kitchen and spotted Dai working on his pancakes. Perfect. As Zoro advanced, in the corner of his eye he saw Zeff also cooking breakfast despite Sanji telling him to rest. 

Since he knew more about Zeff, Zoro knew now where Sanji got his stubbornness. 

Zoro arrived at Dai's level and smiled. 

Dai sighed. “You’re plate is already ready Mister Zoro.”

Zoro smiled even wider. In the cacophony of the kitchen, Zoro can hear someone calling for a zucchini. He didn’t what it looked like but Zoro was pretty sure it was a vegetable. Weird. Zoro knew the menu like the back of his hands and he knew there weren’t zucchini on the breakfast menu. Maybe someone was trying a new recipe. 

“Can I have onigiri too?”

Dai sighed again. “Already done Mister Zoro. Today’s onigiri is with tuna and mayo. And I added a bowl of warm sake.”

Zoro felt his mouth watering. “You’re my favorite.”  

Dai smiled. “I won’t tell the boss if in exchange you don’t nap in the kitchen. Again.”

Before Zoro could respond he was hit in the head with a rolling pin. Both Zoro and Dai looked at each other and slowly turned their head in the direction of the attacker. 

Zeff narrowed his eyes and shouted. “For the fucking five times Zucchini move your ass and carry the boxes!”

Zoro frowned. “The fuck you called me?”

“Zucchini!” Zeff pointed the boxes next to him, his face redned with anger. “I said move the boxes Zucchini!”

Zoro felt a vein pop on his forehead and grabbed the boxes. They were big and heavy and there was no way Zeff could carry them by himself. Sanji would kick him in the head if Zoro didn’t help and Zeff hurt his back. Zeff walked and pointed to the empty space. 

“Here Zucchini, put them here.”

Zoro nodded and put the boxes down hoping Zeff wouldn’t yell at him again. 

“Thanks Zucchini now go eat breakfast.”

Zoro nodded again already thinking about his favorite onigiri and pancakes waiting for him. Dai smiled at him. 

“Since when Mister Zeff call you a zucchini?”

“No idea.” He muttered. “Maybe Curls is right and old man is senile.”

Zoro had made sure to lower his voice and yet Zeff perfectly heard him as he got it by another rolling pin. “Who the fuck is senile stupid Zucchini?”

Zoro, not wanting to see his food being stolen or damaged, left the kitchen under Zeff’s shouting and Dai’s laugh. 

For a moment Zoro thought he would never hear it again and Zeff had just forgotten his name but he was wrong. So terribly wrong. 

Zeff hadn’t stopped and called him Zucchini the entire day. 

The second time it happened Zoro was training on the deck and Zeff brought him a plate filled with snacks. “Take a break Zucchini.” and promptly left after it. 

The third time was around lunch. Curls had told him, he and Haru would probably eat at the village and not wait for them. In the kitchen, Zoro looked around to see if someone, maybe Dai, Dash, or Ai was free to cook him something when Zeff called him. 

“Zucchini!” Zeff put the plate on next to him. “Better hurry the fuck up before it turns cold.”

Zoro approached the old chef and looked at the plate. The rice and omelet looked so good, not as good as Curly but still.

Zoro started to eat under Zeff’s gaze. Zeff smirked. “It’s good right?”

“Not bad but,” Zoro smirked, “Curly is better.”  

Zeff snorted. He pointed at Zoro’s scar on his throat. “Last time I saw you didn’t have this.” and at the scar on his eye. “Neither that. The guy is still alive?”

Zoro nodded. “Yeah, but we’re fine. He comes here from time to time to eat with us and drink wine.”

Zeff nodded and looked back at his workplace. He continued cooking while Zoro ate the plate. “If you want a second service just say so Zucchini.”

“My name is Zoro.”

“I know Zucchini. Now finish your fucking plate.”

The rest of the day passed and Zeff didn’t stop a single time, not even when Curls and Haru came back. Every time Zeff talked to Zoro, the old chef called him Zucchini . 

In the evening Sanji was already upstairs leaving only Zeff and Zoro alone in the kitchen. Zoro was trying for the fifth time to open the padlock blocking him from his grail, his beloved sake and wine bottles. 

Zeff finished washing his hands and dried them. Zoro could feel his gaze on him but he didn’t care. He deserved his bottle and will get it. 

Zeff sighed. “It’s your birthday date Zucchini.”

Zoro blinked. He put his birthday date and miraculously the padlock opened. Zoro quickly opened the door and grabbed a bottle. 

“Don’t drink too much Zucchini.” and Zeff left the room. 

It was too much for Zoro. He left the bottle and climbed the stairs. He directly went into Sanji’s room and stormed into it. 

“Your dad fucking hate me.”

Sanji sighed. “I told you, my dad doesn’t hate you.”

“Yes, he does!”

“He glares and insults everyone.”

“He wouldn’t call me by fucking name!”

Sanji frowned. “What?”

“Yeah. Since this morning, he’s been calling me Zucchini. Like the whole fucking day. Zucchini carry this, Zucchini eat that, Zucchini don’t drink too much, Zucchini take a break! The entire day! He fucking hate me!”

Sanji blinked and to Zoro’s surprise burst into laughter. 

Zoro was pissed. He doesn’t know what to do anymore. He knows how much Sanji cares about Zeff and his opinion. He tried so hard. He did everything to make Zeff like him, bringing fish, not insulting him, and going to the market with him and he still hates him.

Zoro clenched his fists. Since he arrived Zeff called him an idiot, an asshole and now he’s fucking calling him a zucchini like the damn vegetable. 

He knew okay? He knew . He knew he wasn’t good enough for Sanji and one day the stupid beautiful cook would realize it and leave him. 

How could he deserve someone like Sanji? Someone good, kind, smart and so beautiful. 

Zoro loved waking up because he knew Curly would be the first person he saw. He loved the day because he knew he would spend it by Curly’s side. He loved the evening when they could eat together in peace. He loved the night when he fell asleep holding his treasure safe in his arms.  

Zoro bit his bottom lip. “Since it makes you laugh so hard I’m going to sleep in my room.” And walked in the direction of the door. 

“Wait.” Sanji caught his forearm and wiped the tears at the corner of his eyes. “Please wait.”

And Zoro waited because he would wait a lifetime to have Sanji’s attention on him even for one second. 

Zoro sat on the bed next to Sanji and fuck he was so pretty. His long blond curls were falling on his shoulders, and the blue of his eyes was prettier than the blue of the sky or the ocean. His smile was brighter than the sun and the beginning of the beard made him even more hotter. 

“Marimo, what does Jiji call you?”

“I told you. He calls me Zucchini like the damn vegetable.” Zoro clenched his fists and Sanji covered his hands with his. 

“What’s the nickname I give to Haru?”

“Bean.”

“Bean like the vegetable. And what nickname did Jiji give me?”

“Eggplant.” Zoro raised an eyebrow, “What’s your point Curls, you give shitty nicknames from father to son?”

Sanji chuckled. “No. I call Haru Bean like a vegetable. Jiji calls me Eggplant like a vegetable. And now he calls you Zucchini like the vegetable.”

Zoro blinked. “Oh shit. Your dad likes me?”

“He’s not the only one that likes you, Moss.” Sanji gently cupped his face. “If I kiss you, are we going to blame the tiredness or something else again?”

Zoro remembered each kiss he and Sanji shared. The first one was at Thriller Bark after Zoro woke up from his coma. They blamed the fear and tiredness. The second and third were at the party at the castle and blamed the alcohol. The fourth and fifth were shared under the stars during a night watch before they arrived at Sabaody and blamed the tiredness again. 

The sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth were shared when they first had sex after they were reunited after two years of separation. Zoro remembered every touch,  every caress, and every kiss. They blamed the distance and desperation. The twelfth and thirteenth were made after Zoro got jealous of all the attention Sanji gave to the mermaids and blamed it on the jealousy. 

The fourteenth and fifteenth were shared after Punk Hazard, Curls had been disturbed after finding the labs full of children. The sixteenth to twenty-first kisses were shared during the second time they had sex after Sanji came back from his suicide mission and they were finally reunited on Wano. They had sex after their fight against Kaido and both blamed it on the mix of adrenaline, tiredness, and alcohol. 

The twenty-second and twenty-third kisses were after Egghead and both of them were drunk, mostly Curls. The twenty-fourth to twenty-seventh were shared on Elbaf after the victory party and had sex for the third time. They both blamed the alcohol. 

The rest of the journey is quick and the twenty-seventh kiss is shared after Zoro wakes up from his coma after he won his title of the greatest swordsman. The twenty-eighth to thirty-fifth kiss are after they found Laugh Tale and crowned Luffy King of the Pirates. They had sex for the fourth time and fifth and sixth times during that week. Then they found The All Blue and shared the thirty-sixth to fortieth kiss in the intimacy of the crow’s nest. Both times they blamed the euphoria. 

Since the Sunny left, they shared four more kisses. One after Sanji realized Zoro was staying, the second after they opened the restaurant, the third one was made after Zoro brought Haru into their lives and the fourth one was shared after Haru got horribly sick and neither of them knew what to do. 

Each time, they had an excuse. Each time they blamed something for the kisses, something that wasn’t their feelings. 

“Moss?”

“No, I won’t blame the tiredness or alcohol or anything else this time.”

“Me neither.”

Zoro closed his eye and left out a sight when he felt Curly’s lips against his. Their forty-fifth kisses felt to Zoro like coming home after a long journey. Or drinking water after walking for hours in the desert. Or drinking sake after winning a fight. Their forty-fifth felt right. Good. 

They parted to breathe and Sanji rested his forehead against Zoro’s. “I love you Marimo.”

“Same Curls.”

Sanji smiled and Zoro thought his smile was brighter and precious than the One Piece. 

———

The next morning, Zoro woke up early. It was hard to leave the bed when Sanji was still asleep and looked so pretty but he had to. 

He pulled a shirt on and walked down the stairs. He looked in the kitchen and the dining room but both were empty. He went back into the kitchen and grabbed the bottle he had forgotten the previous night.

He walked to the deck and smirked. Zeff was sat on a chair watching the ocean just like Sanji used to when they were sailing. 

Zoro walked toward him and sat on the deck. Without looking at him Zeff spoke.

“Zucchini.”

“Jiji.”

Zoro knew Zeff tried to mask his reaction but he didn’t miss the red growing on his cheek nor the smile. 

“Break my Eggplant’s heart and I’ll eat you. I already did it once and will do it again.”

Zoro nodded and handed the wine bottle. “Want to share?”

Zeff narrowed his eyes. “Eggplant forbade me.”

“He can’t be mad if he doesn’t know it.”

Zeff smirked. “I may have been wrong about you Zucchini.”

Zoro smirked and opened the bottle. “Yeah, same.”

Zeff grabbed the bottle and started drinking. He handed back the bottle to Zoro and spoke. “We need to find a way to stop Eggplant from smoking. It’s bad for his health.”

“Agreed.”

Maybe Zoro was wrong and that having Zeff at the restaurant was good, especially if he helped him to make Curly quit smoking. Zoro started drinking when he heard someone shouting at them. 

“What the fuck are you two doing! Seriously? Drinking? It’s like seven a.m.!” Sanji walked fast and both Zoro and Zeff gluped. Sanji was fuming like the cigarette he was smoking, still in his night clothes. He grabbed the bottle and read it before looking back at them. “Seriously? That’s my finest wine and you two are drinking it? Which one of you took it!”

Zeff and Zoro quickly glanced at each other before looking back at Sanji. 

“The bottle was already on the deck Eggplant. Not my fault if you don’t know how to put away your alcohol.”

“Yeah and since when do you smoke right after getting up?”

Sanji blushed. “It’s my morning cigarette and we’re not talking about me but about the two of you stealing my damn bottles.”

Zoro crossed his arms, “Did you tell Jiji that Chopper was concerned about your lungs?”

Sanji muttered, “Fucking Marimo I’m going to kill you.”

Zeff stood up, “Your lungs? Something is wrong with your lungs?”

“Nothing is wrong with my lungs Jiji!”

“Well, apparently it is! Give me your cigarettes and we’re calling your little doctor Eggplant.”

“We’re not calling Chop! And I’m not leaving until you tell me which of you stole the damn bottle!”

“Eggplant come back right here!”

“Fucking Marimo I swear on the All Blue if I see you drinking again I’ll kick the life out of you!”

“Eggplant! Don’t you dare talk to my Zucchini like that!”

“I knew it was a bad idea for you to come!”

Zoro smiled watching Sanji and Zeff bickering. Even if the two blonde chefs were yelling at each other, Zoro could see their smiles and how happy they were. He looked at the bottle and drank again. Zoro had been right, Zeff disturbed their peace but in the end, a little action was always good. Especially if he could gain an ally against Curly.