The Words I Love You

Waiting For Zoro

Since he was close by he just decided to head to the Baratie to work. 

Zeff and the other's were shocked. Usually when Sanji doesn't get called in he's out, and does things. Was he dumped already?

Is what they thought but one look at the boy as he looked at his phone they saw that they are wrong? He made that goofy loving face he's been making when he's texting or thinking. It must be her. 

"Why are you here?" Zeff asks. "We aren't that desperate for your help."

"I'm just trying to pass the time old man." Sanji says putting his phone away before getting back to work.

"We're not that swamped with customers." Zeff huffs.

"Just a little time."

"Oh, how long you want to waste?" Zeff asks.

"Almost three hours." Sanji answers. Zeff stares at his son. Yeah, he's waiting for her, for what he has no idea. Maybe she's busy. Club is a good guess. He loves the little eggplant but...

"To bad. Don't need you here." Zeff answers turning away. Sanji frowned and listened, leaving the kitchen to the restaurant. 

As he headed to his room he stopped. Since when has he really listened to Zeff anyways? 

He worked for at least an hour and thirty minutes. He helped with the small amount of customer and went to his room to do some work, he couldn't handle Zeff smacking the back of his head anymore. If that continued he'd lose his brain cells and be as stupid as Luffy. 

With that thought he thought about the others. It had been awhile since they asked, he doesn't know if they gave up since they haven't asked again but maybe because he got his point across. But should he really be like that with them? He wasn't any better than they were, he also hurt Zoro but he tried, he said sorry he helped him and the others were trying to do the same and he got in the way of that. He thought of them as being hypocrites but he's being one right now, right? And Sanji knows how he reacts to school, would he react the same to them? Will he act the same as he did with Sanji? Not answering the door, ignoring him, and just trying to stay away.

Maybe he should just let them meet. It's shouldn't be his choice if they should see Zoro or not. If they want to then they want to. How Zoro reacts has nothing to do with him.

Ok. That's settled. If they ask and when, he'll show them but that it. If they ask him to help he'll decline. He was able to get Zoro to accept his apology, they should be able too. There's seven of them. They can figure it out.

Now to do some work, by that he means study. For only another hour before he gave up. Time just seem to go so slow. Is this how's it going to be from now on?  He wonders. When he waits for Zoro. 

Right Zoro. He still needs to help him with his assignments. He starts looking through his notes to find the ones that he'll need to help Zoro.

Looks like the cook found something to occupy himself with for the remaining time.

The alarm went off and Sanji turned it off. He got so into planning things that he decided to set an alarm for him to pick up Zoro. He turned it off. He rushes to the front door, grabs his shoes, quickly puts them on and rushed out the front through the kitchen. "I'm heading out!!" Sanji shouts as he rushes through the table full of customers. The other chefs look at him then at each other, lastly at Zeff. 

He was in a rush. They've never seen him like that before, unless they ask him to get some more things for the kitchen, he's never run out like his ass is on fire. "He's going to see her." Zeff guesses. He doesn't really know but that seems to be it, what else is there? Oh, he hasn't seen his friends, not that he knows of. He hasn't talked about seeing them, or what trouble they got in that day, whose ass they kicked.

Sanji was so glad that it was time to pick up Zoro, that means he could see the marimo again. That means he'll get to see the man twice in a day instead of one. Since the store Zoro worked at wasn't far he didn't need to run but he did, he wanted to see the marimo as fast and soon as possible. He needed to see him, they don't see each other enough or for long periods of time. 

Just the thought of seeing Zoro again after so long makes his heart flutter, makes it pound so hard it feels like his heart will break through his ribs and out of his chest. 

He reached the store in record breaking time and runs in like a mad man out of breath. He looks up a little blurred (not enough oxygen getting circulated through his brain) to see Zoro at the cash register. He was smiling, not a big smile, at a customer. He handed him some change and said with the smile still on his face, "come again and have a nice day." Zoro follows with his eyes the customer out and sees Sanji hunched over looking at him while taking deep breaths. He looks surprised, "cook?"

"I-" he takes a deep breath in then out, "-came to pick you-" another deep breath in and out "-up." He finishes as he walk up to the counter where Zoro stood behind.

"But I still have ten more minutes. Did you run here?" He asks looking at the cooks flushed face.

"No." Sanji says shaking his head and trying to calm his deep breathing, trying to play it cool. Zoro gives him a look over then raises his eyebrow. "Ok I did. I just wanted to see you again. I rarely see you." He declares, making Zoro blush.

"You can come over whenever you want. No one is stopping you." Zoro says, looking away from Sanji, to embarrassed to look him in the eye.

"O-okay. I'll remember that next time." Sanji says blushing himself. They stood in silence, looking away from each other and blushing.

Elliot leans on the mod handle, looking at the love birds. He cocked a grin, "you both are adorable. You'll give me cavities. You're like a star crossed lovers, you're not going to elope soon are you?" He teases. Both of their faces got more red than before. Elliot couldn't contain it anymore, he let out his laughter. Zoro just stared at him, embarrassed and uncomfortable. This has never happened to him before. Elliot noticed the look and calmed himself down. "Go get dressed."

"But-" Elliot lifts his hand up to stop Zoro.

"But nothing. Just go. It's pretty empty and Julie should be here soon to take over. Just let your knight in shining armor take you home." The blush came back. Zoro just nods, excepting the kind gesture.

Sanji got a free water bottle from Elliot to get hydrated from his run. Zoro came out in his casual clothes. "I'll see you tomorrow." He says.

"See you tomorrow, and don't forget to bring my dvds back." Elliot adds just remembering.

"I will. And why did you give me such a sad anime to watch?" Zoro asks.

"What? You didn't like Clannad?" He asks innocently.

"No, it was good but it was so sad. I cried more watching that than reading and watching Fruits Basket combined." Zoro says.

"Sad stories like those make you really think about life. It's good to watch sometimes."

Zoro gave him a look but didn't say anything. He just waved and he walked out with Sanji by him.