ZoSan: The Flower

Chapter 32 - Sanji

Two days later, Sanji hummed contentedly as he cooked, trying not to be hyper-aware of the swordsman who sat at the counter, quietly nursing a bottle of sake. The swordsman's presence in Sanji's kitchen was both foreign and strangely comforting. Not comforting enough to soothe the nicotine withdrawal the cook was going through after two days without a single cigarette, of course. But pleasant enough to stave off the worst of the irritability. Fortunately, cooking also helped to ground and focus him.

"ISLAND AHEAD!" Came the shout from the deck, and Sanji breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he'd be able to refill his various stashes. Well, as long as it was populated and had a store.

"Is that the island where we're meeting the Heart pirates?" Sanji asked Zoro, just to make conversation.

"Should be." Zoro answered, almost sullenly.

Sanji chuckled at his behavior. "Wow, Marimo. Don't be so excited to be free of a flower you thought was going to kill you a week ago...."

Zoro rubbed his face. "I know, I know. I'll be glad to have it out of the way. Luffy trusts Law, so I should, too. Theoretically. But I don't fully trust him for whatever reason, even though I know he's a skilled doctor. And he's going to be traveling with us for the first week of my recovery, but neither he nor Chopper expect that to be less than two weeks, even for me. And as First Mate, it's my job to protect you all and a lot can happen in two weeks."

Sanji came around the bar and sat next to him, a hand on his shoulder. "I know you're nervous. But you'll be fine. We'll be fine. And really, Torao's not that bad. He's a little stiff, but he knows what he's doing. Both in a surgery and in a fight, which is why they're joining us while you're down. Which you know, because you agreed to it. And I'll be there when you come out of the anesthesia."

Sanji had been flattered when Zoro had asked him to be included in the "meeting" where the doctors went over the procedure and what to expect afterward. Granted, Law had only been 'there' via transponder snail, but Sanji being included had meant that he could help with moments like this.

Zoro lifted Sanji's hand from his shoulder and kissed his palm before holding it, making Sanji blush. He still wasn't used to such gentle contact from the swordsman, but he enjoyed it, nevertheless.

"How about you help me with the shopping when we land? It might be a good distraction for you."

"Aw, that's no fun though. Your hands are busy when you shop, so I can't hold them," Zoro said with a slight smirk.

Sanji pulled his hand loose to smack the green head playfully. "You're incorrigible. Besides, isn't the pleasure of my company enough?"

Sanji had discovered, during these talks of theirs, that there was a particular face Zoro made when he wanted to say something that he didn't feel he should. Zoro made that face now.

"Say it." It was less of a demand than a request, as Sanji reconnected their fingers. "Whatever answer was on your mind just then. Tell me?" Sanji hadn't asked to hear those withdrawn thoughts before. Hadn't dared, but had wanted to.

Zoro looked at him, just a touch of bewilderment in that gray eye, and hesitated for a long minute before answering. "My answer was 'Always'."

"Huh. I thought only trees gave sap, but I just got some from a moss. Who knew?" Sanji teased as Zoro glared. "Does that mean you'll join me?"

Once Zoro nodded, Sanji pulled his hand back and went to finish cooking lunch.

An hour later, they were docking in a fairly small port town. They split into groups, each group with a limited allowance from the ship's "budget" and a list of necessities. Nami had been more than happy to put Zoro and Sanji together on groceries... like entirely too happy. Sanji liked Nami, usually, but sometimes the look in her eye scared him. Especially the look she got when the subject was his and Zoro's relationship. Thankfully, she and the others had been trying really hard to give them the space needed to 'figure it out'. There were plenty of curious, watchful gazes, but they hadn't started the teasing yet.

Sanji was pretty sure he had figured out nearly everything that needed to be figured out. There was just one thing left in his mind causing doubt. And that had been elevated almost to a panic with the agitated state that withdrawal was putting him in. He needed to stock up on cigarettes. Like, now. But Chopper's continuous warnings about cigarettes liked to float in and out of his mind. He knew it was a bad habit, for sure. Especially days like this. And the New World seemed to have them less readily available, so quitting may be better for his attitude towards the crew long-term, too.

"Whatcha got swirling around that head of yours, dartboard brow?" Zoro asked, amusedly. They had decided not to hold hands in town. They had big enough targets on them for being pirates, and somewhat notorious ones at that. They didn't want to add to that for any reason. But Zoro stuck close, his hand casually draped over his swords as if he carried them just for the sake of having an arm rest.

Sanji gave a half-smile. "Would you believe me if I said 'quitting smoking'?"

Zoro began laughing, then stopped when he realized Sanji was serious. "Wow. That... um, that would be a big change. What's got you considering it? Chopper's lectures finally getting to you?"

"Yeah, partially. And money and availability here... There's a few factors." Sanji looked to the other. "What do you think?"

"I... I don't know that I should get a say."

"It's not like it's a vote. I'll make the decision, obviously. Just curious about your thoughts on the matter."

Zoro sighed. "Ok. On the one hand, you make smoking look sexy as hell. And it's just always been something I associated with you, so never seeing you with a cigarette, not having you do your little dramatic light-up moment in battle, it would be... weird."

Sanji hit him lightly for the flirtation, minor as it had been. Zoro ignored it in favor of continuing thoughtfully. "On the other hand, if you can get past it, it might actually increase your lung capacity and fighting stamina, which could be helpful for our little voyage. Give us that much more of an edge. And anything that means you live even a day longer, I'm generally for."

Sanji gave the swordsman a surprised look.

"What? I listen to Chopper's rants to you sometimes, and can at least make connections between the facts he spews and physical ability. I've been telling you I'm not a complete idiot."

"I know you aren't actually an idiot." Sanji said offhandedly as he considered the swordsman's words. "Maybe I should get some and just start working on cutting them out slowly, then. Try to avoid complete withdrawal, but aim towards eventually cutting off. It should work as long as SOMEONE doesn't try to sneak off to die alone again."

Zoro had the dignity to look mildly embarrassed. "Sorry that my trying to save our crew from a similar fate stressed you out so much." The tone was sarcastic, but Sanji knew that the words were genuine.

"You should be. I burned through a supply that should've lasted me over a month in a week."

Zoro smirked. "Why should I be blamed for your lack of self-control, dartboard?"

"Because I managed to control myself pretty well before I started worrying about you. I bought the same number of monthly cigarettes for years and never needed more. And then you disappear on me and suddenly I'm stress-smoking and can't think straight." The words were out before Sanji even knew what he was saying, and suddenly he wasn't joking anymore.

It was Zoro's turn to blink and his footsteps froze somewhere behind Sanji. "Damn it. There you go again," he finally said quietly, catching up in a few quick paces. "... You're hard on my self-control, too, y'know. Especially when you say cute things like that."

Sanji stopped in front of a storefront. "We're here." Only the blush on his face gave any acknowledgement of the other's words.

When they left the store fifteen minutes later, Zoro was carrying a big bag of food while Sanji opened the box he carried and put one of the many packs of cigarettes in his pocket, pulling one out for the moment. Once the cigarette was lit and the box closed, they continued on to the next store, Sanji's mood lightening within a few minutes as he breathed in lungful after lungful of smoke.