Epiphany

Chapter Two

TW: Implied self-harm

It was early morning; the sun was just barely visible behind the horizon. Zoro yawned while stretching his arms above his head. He could smell the strong scent of coffee in the air as he walked over to the kitchen. The bright ceiling lights made Zoro squint when he opened the door. He stepped inside and looked around, spotted the blonde behind the counter, then made his way over to the table. Sanji turned towards him and gave him a small frown. "What're you doing in here this early, Moss-head??"

Zoro leaned back as he folded his arms behind his head. "I'm hungry, and I didn't want to wait for you to come get everyone. Now shut up so I can rest my eye some more." He mumbled and closed his eye. Sanji watched him for a few more seconds before shrugging and turning back around to start cooking breakfast. After a minute of pretending to sleep, Zoro slowly opened his eye. Sanji was humming as he cooked, smiling like he always does. Zoro shook his head, thinking, 'He looks like an idiot, smiling like that.' Though, as he kept watching the cook, he felt this warm feeling rise in his chest.

Zoro flinched when he suddenly heard Nami clear her throat. She was smirking at him when his eyes landed on hers. 'How the hell did she sneak up on me like that?' Sanji grinned and walked over to Nami, handing her a warm cup of coffee. "Here you go, Nami-san~" She nodded and thanked him. Zoro sighed as Nami sat down next to him.

"...What is it?"

Nami smiled, "Nothing." Zoro scoffed, "Why are you looking at me like that then??" Nami looked away, humming, "No reason."

After a long pause, Nami turned to face him again. "Why are you here so early?" Zoro groaned. "Is there a problem with me being here at this time or something?? It's not a big deal, I just wanted breakfast earlier." She gave him a skeptical look, then sipped on her coffee. "Yeah, sure." Zoro was about to respond, but the kitchen door swung open again.

Zoro watched as Sanji's entire face lit up as Robin walked inside. She gave them all a small wave and smiled. "Good morning." "Good morning, Robin-chwaan! Breakfast is almost ready!"

Robin sat beside Nami. She gave Zoro a curious look, and he knew what was coming.

"Zoro? You're never here this early."

He decided not to respond this time, so he just closed his eye again and waited. Two minutes go by and he opens his eye again. The cook is carrying three plates towards the table. He gently places them down in front of each of them. "Hope you like it," He says with a smile. Zoro rolls his eye at that. "You know we will," he says without thinking.

"..."
"..."
"..."

"..What? What did I do this time??"

Sanji shook his head, the corner of his mouth slightly pointing upwards, "Nothing. It's just that you.. Kind of just admitted that you like my cooking."

Zoro's eyes widened at that, and a soft blush appeared on his cheeks. "I just didn't want to hurt your feelings, shit cook. Don't think anything of it." He quickly defended himself. Sanji's expression shifted slightly, and he nodded slowly. "Yeah. Ok. Um, I'll go wake up everyone else." As the door shut behind him, Nami barked out a laugh. "Wow." Zoro glared at her and grunted, "I can't say anything without someone giving me shit. When did you all get so annoying??" Nami shrugged, "When did you get so..nice? 'YoU kNow wE wiLL.'" She continued to laugh as she mocked him.

.

Everyone had finished their breakfast, and it was just Zoro, Robin, and Sanji left in the kitchen. Robin stayed silent as she read a book, Sanji was washing the dishes as always, and Zoro was 'sleeping'. Suddenly, Robin stood. She smiled and looked over at Sanji. "Thank you for breakfast." Sanji grinned and replied, "Of course!" Robin glanced at Zoro for a moment, then walked out the door.

Almost immediately after the door shut, Zoro got up and walked towards the sink. Without asking, he started to help the cook wash and dry the dishes. Sanji tried to shove him away, "I don't need your help. You probably don't even know how to clean anything." Zoro pushed him back, "I'll just dry them then! It's pathetic watching you clean ALL this by yourself."

Sanji rolled his eyes and got back to cleaning.

Zoro wasn't paying too much attention until Sanji had to pull up his sleeves to reach the dishes at the bottom of the sink. He inhaled sharply when he saw Sanji's forearms. His eye traced the burn scars that covered most of his skin.

Sanji paused when he realized Zoro stopped moving. He looked over at him. "What is it, M-" The blonde realized what Zoro was staring at and a panicked expression flashed across his face. He pulled his sleeves back up as fast as he possibly could.
After a long, awkward silence, Zoro tried to speak. "Uh.. Wha- Why-"

"Just get out." Sanji interrupts him. "I told you that I didn't need your help, okay?"

He stayed still for a little while longer until Sanji shoved him backwards with both hands. "I got this. Go back and sleep like you always do, fucking Moss-head."

Before Zoro could argue, Sanji pushed him all the way out of the kitchen, and slammed the door in his face.

Robin—who was sitting on the bench outside—looked over at him with a concerned expression. "Is everything okay?"

Zoro stood at the doorway, stunned. He didn't know how to react to what he just saw.