ZoSan: The Flower

Chapter 34 - Sanji

"That's the second time you've mentioned wanting to learn to cook." Damn, Zoro had him going through the subject changes today. How was he turning everything Sanji said into something embarrassing?

Zoro shrugged, all five bags rising and falling with the motion. "I can do enough to survive, but no harm in getting better. And it's one of your favorite things, so why shouldn't it be something to try together?"

Sanji turned to him with a smug smile. "You're trying to hide your sappiness behind pragmatism, now, moss?"

"It's not moss!" Zoro shifted the bags until he had a free hand, and grabbed one of the bags from Sanji only to set it down. Then he grabbed Sanji's newly free hand and pulled it to his own head. "See? Regular, normal hair, regardless of the color!"

And it was; soft and thick and straight, but normal hair. It felt good between Sanji's fingers, and he found himself playing with it for a few seconds before his mind caught up.

Zoro's mind seemed to catch up at the same time, and both men turned away from each other, a little red, as Sanji pulled his hand away to reach for the bag Zoro had made him drop.

"Of course it's real hair. If I thought otherwise, I'd be teasing you about wearing a wig or something. Why does it bother you so much?" They were just a few more feet between them and the Sunny.

Zoro was quiet again for a long minute. "You never say anything about any of the other odd hair colors we come across. Nami's is such a bright orange, Franky's is freaking blue, so is Vivi's. That snow-devil on Punk Hazard had green hair, too. We've seen red and pink and probably every hair color imaginable. But it's only mine you seem to hate."

They reached the side of the ship and began to scale the rope ladder. Well, Zoro did, anyways, once he'd tied the bags in his hand to another rope. Sanji just stepped up with skywalk. Once Zoro had maneuvered over the side onto the deck, Sanji was there waiting.

"Of course you're the one I pick on, idiot. I'm not about to pick on the ladies, and I don't have quite the same friendship with Franky or any of the other guys with unusual hair colors. I can't make fun of them or fight them like I can with you. But I don't hate it. Why would I give so much attention to something I hate?" Sanji hauled the other bags up and handed them to a stunned Zoro.

"So you make fun of my hair because you... like it?"

Sanji just turned towards the galley. "I said nothing of the sort," he declared, fully aware that Zoro would hear the smile in his voice. "C'mon, help me put all of this away."

When they'd unloaded all the bags, they sat under the shade on the grassy deck. Brook had volunteered for watch while everyone was shopping and resupplying, which meant that pleasant musical strains floated down from the crows nest. Sanji wordlessly settled himself against the other, interlocking their fingers and placing his head on the muscular shoulder, practically holding Zoro's arm. They didn't talk, not this time. They just sat together, enjoying the music, the sun, the sea breeze, and each other's presence. It was the most peaceful Sanji thought he'd ever been, and he was mostly asleep when the light tapping of feet sounded from their left and a long shadow fell over them.

Sanji didn't open his eyes, his haki telling him that Zoro, for once, was not asleep. There was no tension in the other man's frame, either, so whoever it was was known and trusted.

Sure enough, a familiar baritone spoke. "Zoro-ya. You two look more comfortable than I'd expected."

So, kind of trusted.

"Don't wake him up," Zoro whispered above his ear. "Luffy and the others are in town. You got here early."

"Favorable currents," Law explained, lowering his voice a little. "Will Blackleg-ya mind us joining you for dinner?"