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The restaurant is bristling with people. All enjoying a nice made meal after waiting months for an open reservation; their mouths watering in anticipation as they find out the wait was worth it. People were lucky if they even could make a reservation without waiting years, and the smells sifting through the air only proved its rightful prestige.
Zoro sits with his ‘crew’, or really strangers now shifting into acquaintances. A group of people bound together through unattainable dreams. Usopp; a lying coward, wishing to be a brave warrior of the sea, the newest member of the band of misfits, talks enthusiastically with Luffy; a rubber man with enough tenacity to potentially achieve greatness. Probably not the Pirate King, as he boastfully claims. Who, now carnivorously shoves bread into his mouth as they speak about finding a cook. Zoro smiles to himself as he watches the witch sneer in disgust at the display. The witch, Nami, has kept to herself. Never giving any information about her dreams or ambitions; and Zoro is perfectly content with that.
At least they share one commonality; seeing how far this group of stragglers go. The company is fine, at least for a good drink, and a small adventure that’s sure to fizzle out after a couple of weeks. Yet, as Luffy shoves his face Zoro can’t help but find the man intriguing. Not even two days ago did this man save him from the brink of death. In return Zoro made a deal to be his first mate, a deal with the devil really.
Zoro has met hundreds of people, especially the pirate variety. Each of them screamed about something as they pleaded for their freedom; and Zoro never cared for any of it. Yet, this feels different. Something about Luffy makes everything feel tangible.
He watches as Usopp and Luffy throw bread at each other's mouths. The table is scattered with pieces of bread as they one up each other by doing random tricks. They’re children Zoro groans as Usopp launches a piece high into the air. Luffy causes it, causing his knee to ram into the table. He yelps in pain as he clutches his leg, going red in the face. Nami laughs loudly, slamming her palm onto the table as she clutches her stomach. Zoro smirks with them, holding the small kernel of a chuckle in his chest.
Another plate of bread is pushed onto the table as a disgruntled waiter sighs loudly, placing his hands into his suit pants. Zoro notices a bright red shoe mark on his left hand as the waiter shifts onto one leg. A wave of exasperation is pooled into the restaurant as the waiter stands and looks at them with clear annoyance. Luffy immediately grabs the plate not noticing the tense atmosphere.
“Hi and welcome to our shitty restaurant. Where the only thing worse than the ambiance is the food. My name is Sanji, what can I get for you?” The waiter smiles with a sneer etched into his lips.
Zoro looks behind him, a lone waiter brushes broken glass into a bin. Spilled soup is splattered on the floor as a pink haired man cries out, holding his nose in pain. What kind of restaurant is this?
“One of everything, please” Luffy says with glee, crumbs spilling out his mouth.
The waiter rolls his eyes, “What would you like to drink? Perhaps you would like a cocktail to scarf down your shitty meal with?”
“Giving us the hard sell, aren’t you?” Nami says beside him. She looks at the waiter with a raised brow. Studying the man while making small glances to the scene behind him. Seems like she’s noticed the same thing Zoro did.
The waiter pauses, taking a moment to look at Nami. His shoulders drop as a small dopey smile rises to his eyes. “Sorry madam, I didn’t see you there. Would you care for some of our quality wines? Or our wine exclusive vintage wines. We have everything your tastebuds may desire. Perhaps some Château d'Yquem? Something sweet for… something sweet”. He winked.
Nami furrowed her brow, “is something wrong with your eye?”
“Just blinded by your beauty” the waiter smiled sweetly.
The furrow in Nami’s brow deepens, “I’ll take water”.
“Stilled, sparkling, mineral; with ice or without, cubed or crushed?”
“Regular water in a regular glass. Thank you…”.
“Right away” the waiter says fondly.
“I’ll take a beer” “one milk please” Usopp and Luffy say simultaneously. The waiter nods.
“I’ll take a glass of Sake” Zoro says, sparing a glance at the menu as he pursues the different brands. Zoro looks back at the waiter, meeting bright blue eyes, catching a whiff of lingering smoke.
The waiter pauses once again, looking at Zoro as his eyes slowly travel up and down his body. Zoro squirms in his seat as the waiter gives him a crooked smile. “Neat, chilled, rocks, or warm?”
“Neat”
“Very well. Something strong for…” the blond looks up and down at him. Stalling his eyes on Zoro’s biceps for just a second before traveling back up to his face. “…someone strong”.
The waiter winks at him before giving a small bow as he smoothly walks away.
The table is silent as Zoro and Nami glance at each other. Pure confusion plastered on each of their faces.
“Well now I feel like shit” Usopp laughs, picking up a piece of bread. Just before it touches his lips he smirks, side eyeing the both of them “y’all just got yourselves a boyfrieeeenndd”.
They sneer at him.
Luffy laughs again before leaning forward, loudly exclaiming. “I’m gonna ask him to join the crew. He’s a good fighter right?”
Nami and Zoro immediately sit up straight, responding with resounding ‘no’s’ before both of them realize what they were doing and lean back into their seats.
“We’re not a crew anyway. I’m just sailing with y’all till we get to the next village and I’m stealing another boat” Nami says. Crossing her arms over her chest. Avoiding eye contact with Luffy’s big pleading eyes.
“We don’t need a shit waiter in the crew either” Zoro barks, thumbing the handle of Wado. He looks over the restaurant, before looking back at the pink haired man and his terrified date. The man screams at the wait staff as his date grips onto his arm, clearly embarrassed. Zoro had to admit, if the red mark on the waiter’s hand had anything to do with this scene. He stood as a damn good fighter. Too bad he had a shit personality.
Their time at the Baratie lasted longer than expected. After not being able to pay for their meal, his captain managed to become the newest chore boy of the Baratie. Zoro laughed to himself, picturing how Luffy would only manage to ruin the restaurant then be of any help. He couldn’t envision Luffy having a regular job.
He spent the rest of the night with Nami and Usopp, enjoying a cool night with a strong drink in his hand. Then he meets his mortal enemy, Dracule Mihawk. The man that is single handedly between himself and his dream. He demands a duel, betting his life for a hand at the swordsman's title; and he loses, terribly, almost costing his life.
Now he stands on the waiter’s boat, body wrapped in bandages. Smelling like fish guts as the waiter gives a tearful goodbye to his old man. Since when did the waiter decide to join?
The waiter turns, cupping his hand over his mouth as tears brim the edges of his eyes. His eyes briefly meet Zoro's, he notes the familiar notes of sorrow and grief. Just as quickly the waiter walks away, shuffling past him as he heads to help man the ship.
Maybe he won’t be so bad to have on board.
Immediately he’s proved wrong by the cooks over abundant personality. His idealistic love for Nami flares fiercely as they head closer to her island. It’s only because of Luffy that he decides to go along; and unlike everyone else on this fucking ship, he sees Nami for what she truly is. A lying thief with the tiniest hint of compassion. He doesn’t see why everyone wants Nami to come back. She left by her own choice, it’s nonsensical to go and get her back.
“That’s what you don’t get mosshead. She’s a mystery to be unraveled” the cook says sharply with a burning cigarette between his fingers. Looking out into the ocean with ‘deep thought’.
Seas, he’s fucking annoying.
Not to mention the waiter is confusing the hell out of him. One moment he’s singing praises about Nami and the next he’s trailing his eyes down his arms and chest with an obvious smirk. It’s maddening.
Even now as Zoro sleeps against the railing of the ship; the heat of the sun grazing his cheeks. He can smell the smoke as the cook leans against the wall. Looking at the open sea with the smallest sparkle in his eyes. A hand in his pocket as one of his long legs crosses over the other. The cook catches him staring, sending a small knowing wink his way as a smirk graces his lips. Zoro glares back at him with a disgruntled snarl.
“You’re easy to read, you know that right?” The cook says with laughter in his throat.
“The hell is that supposed to me” Zoro grunts.
The blonde looks at him with his chin raised in the air, fiddling with the cigarette between his fingers. “Nothing, I just like looking at you”, he says with that shit eating grin he always seems to show.
Zoro blushes, hiding his astonishment by clenching his teeth. “How about you mind your damn business?”
“How could I not? You look so cute when you’re grumpy.” the shitty cook smiles as he takes another inhale of tobacco.
The cook steps away with a pep in his step before Zoro could respond. The hell is his problem anyway? Damn pervert. How could he say such things when he sprouts his undying love for Nami. Zoro rolls his eyes, like she would care for it anyway.
When they arrive on the island, they meet Nami’s sister Najiko with a gun in their face. Zoro almost puked at the waiter’s charming act. Yet he is able convinces her to share her story over a meal. She tells them of Nami’s past, how she sacrificed herself for the betterment of her village. It’s like Zoro said, a thief with a hint of compassion. Meanwhile the waiter hangs on to every syllable with a kind of sympathy. Zoro can’t help but wonder where that look came from, who might he be envisioning.
Later, Zoro accidentally stumbles into the fisherman’s home base; nearly dying in order to prove Nami’s loyalty to Luffy. Maybe she’s not that much of a bitch after all.
Of course, they inevitably fight the Arlong pirates together. Luffy fights Arlong, Usopp fights Chew, and Zoro and the cook fight Kuroobi and Hatchan together. Zoro can’t help but glance at the waiter as he fights with skilled precision. The cook is strong, sending enemies flying with a single kick with his long legs. Annoyingly, he considers that they may match each other's strength and a swell of pride rises in his chest. He can’t let the lame womanizer cook beat him, so he fights with all he has. Slicing and dicing fishmen till his eyes edge with darkness from the pain. He nearly screams when the shit cook kicks a fishman into the water beside him.
“I had him” Zoro seethes. All for the shit cook to wink at him with a smug smile and say “if you had him, I wouldn’t have gotten him”.
Smug bastard.
The crew defeats the Arlong pirates, reclaiming Cocyasi Village back for them. The town celebrates with a week full of dancing, drinking, and the waiter’s food. It’s a hell of a celebration, and he had to even admit the food was damn good. Good enough he’s willing to put away his pride and wait in line for seconds, knowing the shit waiter will call him out.
“Oooo back for seconds. Must of liked it” the same smug smile plastered across his face.
“It was alright” Zoro shrugs.
The idiot cook snickers, “that’s not what that plate says”.
Zoro’s chest burns with pride as he sneers, “I’ve had better”.
Dartbrow pauses, his grip on the handle of the spatula tightens. He looks at Zoro with strife, “Oh yeah? Who? My skills are the best in the East Blue”.
“Doubt it. You know the ambiance is what makes the food. Too bad your personality is so dogshit to truly enjoy a good meal”. Zoro smirks.
“Ambiance you say?” He pops his tongue against his teeth.
Zoro watches as the cook purses his lips in thought. A wave of regret washes through him. Did he go too far? He just wanted to rattle him a little, make some blood rush to his cheeks. See the way his nose scrunches in frustration. He should apologize, tell him his food was the best meal he ever had, and he appreciated the effort of making such a large meal for an entire village. He saw how his body moved slower, he needed a break. “Cook-“
“What’s the hold up? I’m fucking starving”
Everyone immediately turns their head to yell at the man, but Zoro is too busy watching the way the cook snapped into attention and quickly put food on his plate. “Sorry for the wait! It’ll be right up!” He yells to the crowd.
Zoro stills, he needed to tell him sorry. “Cook, I-“
“Go eat your food. Then take a shower, you smell like shit”. The cook says; looking down, stirring the food.
With a grunt Zoro leaves.
On the last night of the celebration Zoro found a secluded spot in an alleyway. Perfectly in view to watch Usopp yell out chants and Luffy devouring plates of food. With a beer in hand he watches the smiles on people’s faces, the sparkle that disappeared from their eyes now shined with a vengeance. They were free, and a small part of him wished he could indulge as well. He had too much to work on, too much to achieve. He couldn’t just sit and relax like everyone. He had a permanent mark on his chest to remind how much he still had to learn; an oath to never lose again. He would train everyday to prove he’s not a burden to his crew. He had to become the best; for his dream, for her.
“How you feeling?” The cook sat down against the light post, lighting a cigarette. The night sky made the light from the flames show small shadows across his cheek, highlighting his long eyelashes. Even in the night time his eyes shined bright. Zoro peaks at the small freckles that graces his cheeks. His cheeks burned as he caught himself, maybe three days of drinking is finally getting to him.
“I’ll be okay” he groans into his beer. He looks back out watching the village. “It’s been three days, aren’t these people tired?”
“It’s their first three days of freedom. I would want to party too” The cook laughed.
Maybe now would be a good time to apologize. Or would it be too late?… Hell why does he even care?
“Zoro”
“Hmm”
“You’re an honest guy; you think I’ll do well out there?” The waiter sighed, fidgeting with his hair. Zoro watched as the smoke from his cigarette melded with the wind.
“I’ll kick your ass if you’re not”.
The hand in his blonde hair stopped as he laughed. “Yeah, I guess you would”.
The cook inhaled another drag before rising, stubbing out the light against the brick wall. He put his hand in his pocket as he leaned back and sensed the cool breeze across his face. Zoro’s chest clenched at the sight. He hoped he would stay, and share more beers and laughs with him. He craved to learn why he looked so somber at Najiko’s story. Then watch his eyes shine as they share their dreams.
“Well, I gotta talk to some of the ladies before we’re stuck on board”. He turned his head and winked, “I’ll see you around, shitty swordsman”.
Zoro watched him go, the knot in his chest worsening with every step. He was right, they didn’t need a shitty waiter on board, but he wanted him there now.