Fourteen

Sanji woke up to the gentle rocking of the Sunny. There was light shining in through the window in the room, the sound of waves breaking on her bow, and the familiar feel of the bed in Chopper's infirmary under his back. A stiff pain laced up his side when he sat up, and on some level Sanji was pleased. It was the most real he'd felt in weeks.

Sanji slipped out of bed, and was pleased to find a pair of shoes laid out for him. His own shoes, even. He'd almost forgotten what shoes felt like. Not only that, but he was dressed in his own clothes. It was nice to feel normal again. After a stretch, he crossed to Chopper's desk and took a look at the calendar. The fourteenth.

Two weeks. He'd been out of it for almost two weeks.

He could only imagine the state of the kitchen after so long. How had they even stayed alive without him there to cook for them?

There was a brand new pack of cigarettes on the bed side table, as well as a golden lighter. It was a nice lighter. In fact, he'd been looking at exactly that lighter in the display case on board the Sea Market. Right before Zoro had told him it was time to leave. Right before Zoro had dithered behind.

There was a small note card next to the pack that just said, "Glad you're home but don't smoke in the infirmary, asshole." Sanji smiled. That was not Chopper's writing at all. Idiot Marimo. Did he think Sanji wouldn't notice?

It might not have been the epic or poetic valentines he'd gotten the two years before, but it made him just as happy. More than happy, even. It made him feel normal. Zoro was right; it felt like home. Carefully, Sanji folded the note and slipped it into his pants pocket. He didn't know why he wanted to keep such a stupid little thing, but he did. And the safest place for anything he wanted to keep was in his pocket.

Sanji popped a cigarette into his mouth and made his way to the galley.

He was shocked to find it decorated in all of the red and pink decorations he'd bought for Valentine's Day. Who would even know to do that? A part of him wondered if Luffy called Iva in to cook for him while Sanji was missing.

The crew were all sitting around the table, chatting and laughing, and being themselves. They didn't notice Sanji when he came in, and the cook was content to let that slide. He leaned on the door frame watching them. Zoro of all people was standing behind the stove making pancakes.

"Hey," he said softly before anyone else realised he was there. "Sorry about your decorations… They were the only ones we could find."

Sanji couldn't help but smiling. Especially for the way Zoro was wearing his 'Gentlecook' apron, and had a smudge of batter on his face. The swordsman was almost adorable. A far better looking valentine than any from Kamabakka Kingdom.

Zoro walked quietly to Sanji's side and placed a coffee into his hands, looking supremely proud of himself.

Sanji looked down at the coffee and choked a little laugh. Hushed, so as not to distract anyone else. "Did you draw a heart in my coffee?"

"What? It's a leaf! It's clearly a leaf!"

"That's a heart." Zoro had an insulted look on his face, but it was clear to Sanji that he was more embarrassed to have been called out than actually insulted. Sanji smiled wryly back. "Are you such an idiot that you don't know the difference between a heart and a leaf?" He asked softly.

"Just shutup and drink it," Zoro huffed.

Sanji was amused by how indignant Zoro was. He lifted the rim of the cup to his lips and gave it a try. "Oh. Oh, that's awful," he said, lowering his arms quickly and setting it on the counter next to the stove.

Zoro huffed and pulled off the apron. He turned it around and put it forcefully over Sanji's head, not bothering to make sure Sanji still had his arms free. "Cook's back," he declared and tightened the back of the apron so Sanji had to struggle free to get a pallet cleansing drink. Zoro was lingering longer than he needed to.

That was something Zoro had always done, and Sanji didn't know how he missed it before. Everyone had turned and was laughing and cheering and asking questions, but Sanji wasn't paying attention to anyone else. Instead he was looking at Zoro like he was seeing him for the first time.

Instinct drove Sanji's hand forward to snatch the front of Zoro's shirt. "Oi, Zoro," he said, dragging him back. It was an action he'd done a thousand times before, but this time there were no threats or arguments ready on his tongue.

"What?" Zoro snapped back, looking like he had more to say. He was prepared for a fight.

He was not prepared for Sanji to shut him up with a crush of lips in an unexpected kiss, and Sanji delighted in his surprise. It wasn't the first time he'd kissed a man. Kamabakka wasn't even the first time he'd kissed a man. But it was the first time he really genuinely believed that both parties were enjoying it.

There had been plans.

Plans for him, and Nami, and Valentine's Day. The valentine note, of course. But more than just that.

He'd planned presents. Some special things he knew she wanted or liked but wouldn't necessarily spend her own money on. He'd planned to let her sleep in late. To bring her an artistic drink. To do her room up in beautiful Valentine's Day decorations. He would make her breakfast, and it would be the best breakfast he'd ever made.

He was going to make her feel special and loved, and—according to his plan—that was when Nami would realise what was right in front of her all along. She would kiss him, and they would be in love forever.

There were plans.

And then Zoro…

Zoro had plans too. And Sanji hadn't noticed it until just then. He didn't even know if Zoro had noticed it until just then or if Zoro realised that he'd materialised Sanji's idea of the perfect Valentine's Day.

Sanji didn't know about all of that 'forever' stuff anymore. He just knew that Zoro had gone out of his way to make him feel happy and loved and safe. Something he'd done quietly over and over, around all of their fighting and bickering. Sanji thought that maybe, even just once a year, he could let Zoro know he appreciated it.

"About time," someone muttered, and Sanji thought it might have been Robin or Nami.

Zoro pushed him back sharply against the counter. He studied Sanji's face like he was looking for the punchline, and Sanji felt his cheeks go red. Seeming to make a decision, Zoro leaned in to rumble in his ear, "Idiot cook. You look hungry. Go eat... We'll continue this conversation later."