It was another hectic day aboard the Thousand Sunny, and you were in the kitchen, effortlessly whipping up a delicious meal. Sanji, as usual, was struggling with his cooking, muttering curses as his attempts resulted in a mess. The smell of your cooking filled the air, drawing the attention of everyone, including Zoro, who was lounging nearby but now seemed oddly fixated on you. His eyes followed your every move as you worked.

Sanji noticed this, glaring at Zoro. “What are you staring at, marimo? You never pay attention when I’m cooking!” Zoro shrugged, not breaking his gaze. “Just admiring the chef,” He said, his voice low and teasing as he leaned against the counter. The usual gruff swordsman was now watching you like a silent protector, standing just behind you, close but not quite intruding. His presence, though unspoken, made the air feel charged with an unspoken tension.

The room felt unusually quiet, save for the clattering of pots and pans. Even Sanji seemed to focus more on his attempts at cooking than on the banter with Zoro. Sandi’s cooking isn’t terrible.. but it’s not something bad nor good. You couldn’t help but notice Zoro’s intense gaze, though you tried to brush it off as nothing. Yet, the way he lingered made you feel oddly aware of his proximity. It was almost as though he was silently waiting for something, though you couldn’t tell exactly what. Probably for you to give him some tasty food for lunch.

Sanji was upset with his messed up dish. He threw a glare at Zoro, who simply chuckled in response, never breaking his watchful gaze from you. Sanji was upset at the platter, not Zoro- but he wanted to be mad at someone. It was clear that, while Sanji was fixated on the food, Zoro was more interested in you and the cooking you do.