ZoSan - Random one word one-shot series!
Zoro and Sanji found themselves out shopping together.
It was more of a routine task than anything extravagant.
They were simply getting their usual supplies, preparing to set sail again.
While Zoro wasn’t particularly fond of this specific task, he recognized its necessity. Sometimes he enjoyed the heavy lifting, feeling useful and helping Sanji in the process.
When they passed a certain shop, Sanji suddenly came to a halt, his eyes widening at something in the display window that had captured his attention.
Curiosity prompted Zoro to tilt his head, intrigued by the unusual expression on the cook’s face. Zoro had never seen him react in such a manner before; it resembled that of a child discovering candy for the first time—wide-eyed awe and a slightly open mouth.
Taking a few steps back, Zoro stood beside Sanji to see what had left him in such a mesmerized state.
What he saw was not what he expected, though.
A kitchen knife, to be precise.
It was sizable, but nothing out of the ordinary for Zoro.
“Are we short on kitchen supplies, too?”, he asked.
Sanji shook his head. “No, it’s just... it’s a really good knife.”
Zoro scoffed, taking another look. Even after squinting his eye, he couldn’t discern what made this particular cooking tool so special.
“So? Do you want to buy it?”
“Are you crazy?”, Sanji abruptly snapped. “It’s way too expensive! Besides, I already have a variety of well-functioning knives back at the ship.”
“It just seems like you really want it.”
“Don’t be stupid. I was just appreciating how it looks.”
Zoro wasn’t convinced, and the fact that Sanji had to snap at him only strengthened his suspicion. “You sure?”
Sanji started walking again, and Zoro followed suit.
It probably wasn’t worth dwelling on, but Zoro couldn’t shake the image from his mind—the way Sanji’s eyes had sparkled so brilliantly, like a star in the night sky.
They made their way through the shops and the marketplace, getting some high-quality yet relatively cheap products. All in all, it was a rather successful shopping trip.
On their way back, they passed the shop with the expensive kitchen knife again.
While Zoro busied himself arranging their bags to ensure nothing would fall out when lifted, Sanji stood at the display window, his eyes glued to the damn thing inside.
“He doesn’t want it. Sure. Totally believable”, Zoro muttered to himself as he watched him.
Although he couldn’t understand Sanji’s hesitation.
It was glaringly obvious that he wanted to buy it, so why didn’t he just go ahead and do it? Was the price a deterrent? Were there financial constraints preventing him from indulging in something luxurious for once?
Zoro couldn’t understand the reason behind Sanji’s reluctance. Being inherently humble, Zoro didn’t require much in the first place. He could easily adapt to different circumstances and surroundings, considering anything beyond necessity as a luxury. What he possessed in excess was merely that—a luxury that he wouldn’t mourn losing.
The cook, however, was an entirely different case, placing a high priority on material possessions. And yes, that could undoubtedly make life more comfortable. Sanji loved fancy stuff, be it clothes, shoes, perfumes, or even seemingly trivial things like skin lotion and cream, the aftermath of his bath smelling like entering into a boutique.
And precisely because Sanji loved to indulge in expensive things, Zoro had never seen him so uncertain about a purchase he desperately desired.
“Maybe you want to go in there?”, Zoro asked as he approached him. “Take a closer look, perhaps?”
But Sanji shook his head, pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
“No”, he said curtly. “The stove is waiting for me back at the ship. Gonna get dinner ready before everyone comes back. Let’s go.”
Zoro watched him as he started walking, taking a long puff of his cigarette, the smoke spiraling into the air. He, in turn, cast one last glance at the knife in the display window, its black steel glimmering like a hidden gem, secrets concealed beneath a sturdy-looking handle and a beautifully sharp blade.
For the first time, Zoro thought he understood Sanji’s fascination.
The day dragged on, they readied themselves to set sail the following morning. Everyone was busy with their respective tasks, working tirelessly to ensure everything was in order.
Zoro spotted the cook standing at the railing, his hair fluttering in the soft wind, a cigarette held between his fingers with light smoke wisping from it. He looked distracted, his gaze unfocused on the red horizon of the evening sky.
“Taking a break?”, Zoro asked as he joined him, leaning his upper body against the railing and watching the sunset.
“Mm”, the cook grunted, not bothering to spare the swordsman a glance. Zoro watched him from the side, contemplating whether now was a good time to show him why he had approached him in the first place. Concluding that any time was as good as the present, he pulled out an elongated red box, elegantly wrapped with a black band.
“Here”, Zoro said, placing the box beside Sanji’s arms, avoiding eye contact with the surprised cook. “What’s that?”, Sanji asked as he took the box, examining it cautiously.
Zoro remained silent, his gaze on the distant horizon, his emotionless expression unchanged. With great care, Sanji unwrapped the box, opening it with the most delicate touch, as if afraid of breaking something valuable inside.
“You haven’t!”, he exclaimed as his eyes fell upon the black kitchen knife neatly secured inside a red cushion, cradling the tool. Was it surprise on his face? Shock? Excitement? Zoro couldn’t tell because the cook looked far too stunned to speak. There was no ensuing shriek of happiness, no hug, or any expression of gratitude. Instead, he asked in a strained tone of voice, “Why?”
“I don’t know”, Zoro answered honestly. “It seemed like you really wanted it, so I bought it.”
“That’s your only reason? It was hella expensive.”
“Yeah, and so was the diamond whetstone I bought last week. Don’t know what the big deal is. I had the money.”
“That’s not the same”, Sanji objected. “It’s one thing buying stuff for yourself, but this is...”
“A present”, Zoro finished, maintaining an even flow of voice. “This is a present.”
“Yes”, Zoro said, furrowing his eyebrows in slight annoyance. “I thought that was obvious.”
“What do you mean, why? Am I not allowed to buy you gifts?”
Sanji took the kitchen knife out, handling it with utmost care. He ran his delicate fingers along the sides, tracing its form and feeling the sharpness of its edge. “It’s beautiful”, Sanji said in total awe, his eyes sparking with the same intensity Zoro had witnessed before when he stood before the display window.
“Yeah”, Zoro agreed, his gaze locked on Sanji’s face, feeling a warmth bubbling up in his stomach.
Sanji turned to him, his cheeks a rosy color. All suspicion had disappeared as a bright smile covered his face. “Want me to put it to the test right away? I can cook you up something really tasty.”
Zoro couldn’t help but let a smile grace his own lips as well. “Sure”, he said, straightening his back. “Why not?”
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