ZoSan: The Flower

Chapter 66 - Sanji

Zoro had eventually come back to their makeshift bed and fallen asleep, because Sanji woke up in his favorite place: those warm, well-muscled arms. He didn't wanna move, either. He knew he'd get to wake up in those arms again and again, for the rest of his life, and there would be plenty of days that allowed for long lazy moments like this. But those weren't today.

Today, he wanted to snuggle in and ignore the world. And today was the day he couldn't. With a deep sigh, he wiggled out of the warm coziness and stood up, dropping a kiss on his lover's cheek. He wrote a note to Zoro, a simple, "I love you. See you this afternoon for the ceremony." They'd agreed, after all, that they would follow tradition in a few areas, including not seeing each other between sleep and ceremony.

Then, after a quick shower, he made his way down to the kitchen, unsurprised to find his adoptive father already up and working. Restaurant work always started early, and those habits die hard, after all. "Morning, geezer," he greeted the older blond. "What are you working on?"

"Thought I'd help you get a jump on your 'menu' for this afternoon, so I'm starting on the canapes. I almost started on the meat, but I remembered who your captain was. Figured cooking meat this early would be a bad idea."

Sanji laughed and started the coffee maker. "True. Although, he's been known to eat it raw, too, if he gets hungry enough. I'll probably lock the door in an hour or so so that he doesn't try to come in." Once the coffee was started, he came over to see what canapes Zeff was making. "Those are perfect! How'd you know which recipe I was going to use?"

Zeff shrugged. "Found your list. You weren't kidding about keeping it simple."

"Heh. Yeah. I do have other things I want to do today," Sanji chuckled lightly, getting out a pan and ingredients for breakfast. "Just, y'know, a few. Like getting married."

It was only a few minutes later that Sanji put breakfast out on the banquet table on the deck and called the crew out to eat it. Then he darted back into the kitchen. As if they'd agreed to it — as if Zeff had planned on it — Sanji and Zeff worked side-by side most of that morning, save for the ten minutes they took to scarf down some breakfast themselves. They worked with the efficiency that those who have worked in tandem for a long time develop. Everything was quick and precise. Dish after dish after dish came out, neatly covered so that all that would need to be done would be to heat up certain ones quickly. Because Zeff was helping, they finished in less time than Sanji had allotted for the prep.

"Looks like that's everything on the list, brat," Zeff announced. "And still have almost three hours before the wedding starts."

Sanji turned to the pile of dishes that needed to be washed. "Well, at least I have time to get these knocked out, then."

"You sure you don't need to go get ready?"

"My suit is white. If I get into it too soon, I'm just asking for something to be spilled on it." Sanji began washing the dishes.

"Uh-huh. But your shaking hands suggest another reason for delay," Zeff pointed out.

"Shut up, geezer. I know." Sanji wanted to reach for a cigarette, and probably no one would blame him for doing so, not today. But today he didn't want to smell like cigarette smoke. He wanted to smell like the daffodil boutonniere he'd be wearing and the cologne that Zoro had admitted to liking. And since he wasn't planning on showering again today, he'd decided on no cigarettes.

"Still anxious, brat? Need to make another souffle? We got the time."

"I'm not at souffle-therapy levels. Which is good, because there's never once been the need for two souffle-therapy days back to back and I do not want to break that streak now." The dishes were already almost finished. Sanji always did work faster when he was a little nervous.