toe-beans

• “You ready to watch a professional, cook?” Zoro taunts as he pulls on his leather finger guards and slides on his nose clip.

• Sanji cackles at his voice change due to the nose clip and replies, “We’ll see whether you’ve got any brains under that moss.”

• Usopp lets out a cough and hands them their rope baskets for collecting oysters and stone weights for bringing them to the sea bed.

• Then they both dive in and their competitive nature grows. Zoro’s advantage lies in his upper body strength, while Sanji’s toned legs make him glide quickly through the water.

• Despite the opportunity at stake, they aren’t stupid and regularly check that the other hasn't somehow drowned.

• On one of his trips to the surface, Sanji spots Usopp fishing on the port side. He’s about to offer to make Nami a refreshing drink when Luffy yells affectionately-

• “Sanji! Get back to work!”

• They take a couple of longer breaks, where they enjoy dates and coffee. Sanji smacks Zoro’s hand away from the Saké in the cooler.

• Zoro likes how the saltwater makes Sanji’s hair frizzy and curly.

• As the sun goes down, they both shuck their own oysters and let Nami count them. Zoro cuts the fish caught by Usopp for Sanji to cook. Luffy happily chatters.

• “Even! You got an equally small amount of pearls, but at least we can keep the meat to eat,” proclaims Nami.

• “Nami-Swan, how would you like a pearl necklace? I think-“

• “Luffy, you don’t want a pervert on your crew do you? You should just make your decision now.” Zoro fires out.

• “I am simply appreciating her beauty. You don’t get to insult me while you’re happily eating my cooking!” Sanji retorts.

• Over the next couple of days, they continue this routine. The crew becomes increasingly close and comfortable with each other.

• Sanji comments how Zoro’s body is exposed to stingrays and Zoro replies that he doesn’t need to worry about his body.

• When Luffy accidentally falls into the ocean, Sanji jumps in and saves him.

• At one point, they both spot the same oyster. Glancing over to one another, they make angry eye contact and immediately race towards it.

• Zoro reaches it first and swoops it up, only for Sanji to kick him and take it from his basket. The mosshead wraps his arms around his waist and drags him down. Sanji kicks free and swims to the surface, with Zoro’s hand on his oyster.

• They gasp for air as Nami reprimands them for their stupid antics. In the evening, they discover that the oyster was pearl-less anyway.

• When it’s finally time for Luffy to sign one of them on, both are on edge. This contract is a dream come true.

• “I won’t make you wait any longer. I’m signing you both on! Welcome to the Straw hat crew!”

• Zoro’s eyebrows rise and Sanji’s furrow.

• “We’re not actually calling ourselves that, are we?” says Nami.

• “Alright! I won’t ever actually have to go pearl diving then? Because I might have slightly lied when I was listing my skills.” Usopp scratches the back of his neck with a grin.

• “Guess you’re stuck with me, Marimo.” Sanji sings as he shakes Luffy’s hand.

• “I’ll pick up the slack whenever your little arms get tired, bastard.” Zoro gets an immediate kick to the face.

• A few months later, after they get together, they definitely try an underwater kiss and it is awful.