Chapter Text
Sanji knows he belongs on the crew. They would fucking die without him, the idiots!
But sometimes..he can’t help but feel he’s left out of some things.
Honestly, the feeling started around thriller bark. Sanji—like the rest of the crew—pitched in to help Zoro heal.
He felt guilty for the swordsman’s state. If only the idiot didn’t knock him out, he wouldn’t have been so injured. Sanji channeled most of this guilt into the making of onigiri. (A LOT of onigiri).
Still, he felt like he was just..missing something.
Multiple times a day, Zoro would disappear with Luffy or Usopp—or, eventually, Franky of all people. Nami, Robin, and Chopper all seemed to silently agree to leave them alone.
It was like everyone knew something Sanji didn’t.
He hated that feeling. It reminded him of always being on the outside with his brothers or with the older cooks at the Baratie.
Still, he never asked. He wasn’t going to beg to be a part of their little club. Besides, if it was really important, they would tell him. Wouldn’t they..?
Sanji sighs and shakes his head. He can’t think like that. He has to trust his nakama.
Looking in the mirror, he adjusts his hair. The early morning is the only time he can get any peace. The bathroom is his sanctuary at this time.
Adjusting his hair again, he looks around for his hairspray. The guys are always moving his stuff without—he stops.
His eyes are locked onto the cabinet. Zoro’s cabinet. The cabinet that is not locked right now.
Why is it not locked? Zoro always locks it.
Idiot must have forgotten this time. All that moss is going to his brain or something.
Sanji should lock it. He should mind his own business. If Zoro wanted to show him, he would have. Is Sanji really the type of person to go snooping through his crewmate’s belongings?
Yes. Yes he is.
For Zoro, the bathroom is probably his least favorite place.
He’s spent too much of his life in bathrooms, usually dealing with very embarrassing situations. So, he tries to get in and out as quickly as possible.
Unlocking his cabinet, he stops.
A quick count shows he’s not missing anything. But..something is off. As if, someone went through his stuff.
Zoro shakes his head. It must’ve been Nami—the only person with a copy of the key. She sometimes goes through to see if he’s low so she can budget. He’s obviously being paranoid.
He slips on a new diaper, locks his cabinet, and heads to breakfast.
Usopp meets him at the table, giving him a sweet smile. Zoro fights against the blush creeping up his face.
Sanji silently starts serving everyone. His eyebrows are scrunched into a serious expression.
Zoro is shocked when he gets served right after the girls. Usually, he's one of the last ones to eat.
That, coupled with the cook's expression, makes him nervous.
"The hell's with you, cook? You constipated or something?" He asks harshly.
Sanji doesn't rise to the bait. He just tells him to fuck off and returns to the kitchen.
"What's his problem?" Zoro asks.
Usopp shrugs. "Maybe he's just having an off day?"
Luffy chimes in with his mouth full, "Sanji will be okay! He always is!"
"If you say so, captain.."
After his second workout of the day, Zoro heads back to the kitchen.
He's all but forgotten about Sanji and his diapers. All that's on his mind right now is booze.
"Cook! Sake!"
He's confused when he doesn't get a response, but doesn't push. Silently, he hopes Luffy is right and Sanji is okay.
Not that he cares! Not at all..
Right as he's leaving, bottle in hand, Sanji stops him.
"Marimo?" Sanji asks too softly. It sets Zoro on edge.
"What now, cook?"
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Zoro's blood runs cold. "W-What are you talking ahout?"
He knows exactly what Sanji's talking about. He knew something was off this morning. But, like an idiot, he pushed it off.
Zoro isn't ready for this.
"Don't play dumb, Zoro!" Sanji yells.
Zoro freezes. To his horror, he begins to shake.
"You didn't trust me? After everything we've been through? You think it's fine that I'm just left out of everything!?"
"Don't!" Zoro yells back. "Don't act like you know anything! I knew you would pull some shit if I told you!"
Sanji's entire face crumples. "You..you thought I would make fun of you?"
"Just fucking get it over with," Zoro spits. He hates the tears that spring into his eye. "I-I'm fuckin' twenty-one and I still need diapers."
"Zoro—" Sanji is cut off.
"I know everything you're going to say already! You don't think I've heard it before!? It's gross and pathetic and-and I'm not r-real man and—"
"ZORO! I don't know who the hell said all that to you, but that's not what I'm thinking!" Sanji screams over him.
"I'm a jerk sometimes, but I'm not cruel! You're just as much my nakama as the others!" He yells, "I want to help you!"
"What?" Zoro asks, blinking the tears from his eyelashes.
"Everyone else knows. They all help with it, don't they? Why won't you let me help?"
"I...I thought..." Zoro trails off. "I didn't know how you'd react.."
"Letting your fear dictate what you do isn't like you," Sanji says, crossing his arms.
The swordsman flinches. He tries not to think about Mihawk saying the same thing.
"I couldn't take it.." Zoro admits quietly. "If you judged me...you're my nakama."
Sanji's own eye goes glassy. It's not often they have heart to hearts like this. Sometimes, it's easy to forget they're family, too.
"Exactly. That's why I want to help."
Zoro chews his lip, glancing away. "Mihawk had, like, a special diet for me."
"Fiber and magnesium rich foods, I know. I already have some ideas," Sanji says.
Zoro finds himself smiling. "You..are such a nerd."
"Hah!? Say that to my face!"
Zoro does, in fact, get in Sanji's face.
It's not long before Franky is crying because they've destroyed a section of the ship.
Luffy pulls him aside before Nami can get on them.
"Sanji knows," He doesn't ask, but simply states.
"Yes, Captain."
Luffy stares into his eyes, looking too serious for a moment. Then, his face splits into a wide grin.
"I told Zoro it would be fine."
Zoro smiles, huffing. "Yeah. You were right, Captain."
"Besides, how is Zoro's name supposed to reach the heavens if he hides?" Luffy asks. He doesn't wait for an answer before he bounces away.
Curse his stupid, perceptive, and poetic captain.
Zoro's eyes rove over his crew, spread out on the deck. They land on Brook, the very last person to know.
Before he can overthink, he strides over to the skeleton.
"Brook? Can I talk to you in private?"