More than a prostitute (Zosan)

Chapter 35

Sanji was left alone in the kitchen. Why now? Why did she come to tell him all that now? Was it true? Did he try to reach a dream using her, by the way? Did he love her? He was lost! He couldn't put his ideas in order, and he hated that. Sanji was someone who was a little maniac, who liked it when everything was clean and in order like in his kitchen. But now it's all messy in his head, and he hated that.

One point where he was sure that she was telling the truth was about his family. He was thankful to meet Jeff because his father and his siblings were total assholes. They had always been, but after his mother's death when he was 5, they started picking on him more, putting more anger in their talking or their punch. Jeff was his refuge. He came to be the cook of the house, but when he saw how he treated him, he decided to escape, taking an 8-year-old Sanji with him. Jeff was able to open soon after the Baratie, and like that, they live happily together. But they never had a typical father/son relationship. Jeff wasn't the type to show his feelings. So, they had their own relationship. That no one can have apart from them.

Sanjji liked kids. Of course, he imagined having some with Robin. The perfect family played in the background while he was preparing a barbecue, and Robin was reading a book and tanning in the sun. That was for him the perfect picture of the family. Something he never had, and he hoped he would. That was the most precious dream he had. To be able to give the kids something he was never able to have from his own biological father: love.

But he likes Robin. He cared about her. Was he really in love with her? He doesn't know now. He thought he did. He was glad when he saw her, but never felt his heartbeat faster. He never had his breath caught when he came to pick her up for their date. But on the other hand, she was the first thing he could think about when he woke up. But if he didn't like her, did that mean he'd been moping around for 2 months for nothing? He wouldn't have felt that way if he didn't love her, would he? What other explanation could be given for his behaviour?

"Sanji! Are you alright?" Zoro's deep voice called out, entering the room and seeing the man zone out. He saw the raven-haired woman leaving and thought that Sanji would maybe need some company. Sanji didn't respond at first. Zoro went toward him to face him. But Sanji's eyes didn't look at him. They were far, somewhere else. Zoro put his two big hands on Sanji's cheeks.

"Sanji." He whispered softly, trying to forget the feeling in his heart, by touching the blond like that. They saw each other more easily, sharing the more intimate moments. But even after that, Zoro never felt this close to Sanji. The touch wasn't the same. It wasn't the same intention.

And Sanji felt it, too. He felt the electric shock from Zoro's touch. He had never felt anything like it when Robin touched him. Did he ever love her? He never cared for her like he cared for Zoro. The eyes finally meet and lock with each other. The time stopped. Each other was lost in the other man's gaze. There was something else, more intense, that they neither felt with another person.

"Are you alright?" Zoro repeated, retreating his hands from Sanji's cheeks, a little blush on both their cheeks.

"It was an unexpected visit." Sanji sighed, avoiding the man's question.

"Who was she?" Zoro asked, even if he guessed the question.

"Robin, my ex-fiancée. We were a couple since our 20ties, and after 5 years together, I decided to ask for her hand. The marriages were planned for this Christmas, she wanted a winter wedding. But two months ago, she told me she was leaving. She had fallen in love with someone else, someone whom I had trusted. My best friend, Franky. I presented them. We spend a lot of time the three together. Seems like they spend time with the two together without me, too. I was heartbroken, and that's when I came to you for the first time. I was mad, angry at everyone, and I took it on you, I'm sorry." Sanji apologized.