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The first time it happens, it’s in Cocoyashi village.
The villagers are more than thrilled about their recent liberation from Arlong, determined to throw a party for the Strawhats in thanks and celebration. It hadn’t taken much for their cheers to fill the night, for them to spill out on the streets with food covering every surface and booze flowing easily amongst the crowd. Music had started to play and dancing had broken out with barely any influence needed.
Sanji’s drunk off cheap liquor and the thrill of the night, the music hums in his veins and the sight of his new crew cheerfully joining in the chaos has his cheeks hurting from his broad smile. He hasn’t known them long, but he can already feel a growing warmth in his chest when he looks at them, when he thinks about what they will become.
And they’re happy and that makes him happy. Usopp has been dragged into some dance that he clearly doesn’t know, but his laugh is contagious as the villagers swing him around between them. Luffy is at a table consuming everything in sight and Sanji already knows he’s going to have a hard time keeping up with his new captain’s appetite, although the excitement at a new challenge zings through him. Beautiful Nami has disappeared, but Sanji can hear the groans of a nearby poker table and doesn’t doubt for even a moment that she’s the cause of them.
It’s the swordsman that’s missing, and it doesn’t surprise Sanji all that much. He and Usopp had listened to him getting stitched up by the doctor, the cries and swearing that had fallen down to them out the open window. Sanji thinks of the bisecting cut down Zoro’s front, the mark Mihawk left on him, how it had burst and bled during the fight with Arlong and Sanji isn’t sure anybody should be able to survive that which Zoro has.
But it makes sense that he’s disappeared. He doesn’t strike Sanji as a particularly social man, no doubt having sequestered himself somewhere out of the way, although Sanji still finds himself looking for flashes of green hair as he drifts his way through the crowd.
He finds him later, when the sky has darkened and bright lamps line the streets, when smoke is curling in the air from lit bonfires and the roar of celebration has somehow gotten louder. Sanji sways when he walks, loose and pliant as he stumbles away from the small group that had corralled him into a rather ferocious line dance, and it’s when he’s heading back towards where he last saw Usopp that he finally spots Zoro.
He’s huddled away in a side alley, empty wooden mugs of long drunk alcohol littered around where he sits cross-legged on a wooden box. He looks the same as he had when Sanji first met him, the only sign of any injury the bulk of hidden bandages beneath his white shirt, and Sanji immediately changes course towards him.
He slips into the alleyway as Zoro is drinking from his mug, head tilted back and eyes closed. Sanji’s grin widens, and he coughs slightly to announce his presence.
“Boy, am I stuffed,” he sighs, leaning against the white downpost in front of Zoro, and Zoro’s eyes snap open to watch him. “It’s nice not to have to cook for a change.” Sanji slides down the post, bending his legs to his chest and resting his arms on his knees, looking up at Zoro with that smile still on his face. “How are you feeling, Zoro?”
There’s a pause where Zoro just looks back at him, but then he returns Sanji’s smile with one of his own and a brief shrug of his shoulders. “I’ll be okay,” he says, and Sanji thinks of so much blood and wonders just who the hell this man really is. “I think all I need is a little bit of rest.”
Sanji shakes his head slowly, well aware that the swordsman probably genuinely means it and not entirely sure how he feels about this monster of a person. “That’s good,” he murmurs, and Zoro’s eyes linger on him for a moment longer before he glances out over the crowd, their roar dulled by the secluded quietness of the alleyway.
Sanji doesn’t look away though. Perhaps its because of the booze warm in his belly or the flush from a thrilling night, but he can’t help running his gaze over the man in front of him, over the shock of green hair, the rich darkness of his skin, the strength rippling in the muscles of his arms, and the sharp cut of his jaw. Zoro is something else, something strong and solid, and Sanji feels his mouth run dry as he watches the swordsman stretch his arms above his head, exposing just a peak of skin above his waistband.
No. He looks away sharply, reaching for his cigarettes as his heart skips a beat. He’s not stupid, he’s felt this want before for many a person, but this person… Sanji shakes himself.
This person is off limits.
Zoro is his crew, and he will be his nakama soon. Sanji can feel the rush through his body when he looks at him but he knows now, promises now that he won’t act on it. Not now, not ever. He won’t ruin something that hasn’t quite yet begun, not for the sake of a skipping heart and for fear of the consequences that will linger long after the rush is gone.
“Seriously,” Zoro says, shaking Sanji from his thoughts, and he glances up to see Zoro frowning out at the crowd. “How much longer can they keep this up?”
Sanji huffs a laugh and lights his cigarette, the fresh drag of smoke and nicotine into his veins like a douse of water over a fire. “Can you blame them?” he asks, flicking ash to the ground beside him. “Arlong really did a number on these people.”
And us, he thinks, eyes drawn to the bulging bandages under Zoro’s shirt. He won’t say that though. They won and they’re all alive, that’s all that matters.
Zoro hums but doesn’t respond. Not that he would have a chance too as Luffy suddenly appears, the amount of meat in his arms and hanging from his mouth frankly alarming. Sanji feels as unimpressed as Zoro looks, taking another long drag of his cigarette as Luffy waffles on about some food Sanji had tried earlier. Zoro criticises him for his lack of manners but Luffy barely even blinks as he chokes on what Sanji is horrified to discover is an actual bone, before Sanji sends him packing in some random direction after the mysterious fruit he wants to try.
Sanji harrumphs, watching Luffy clamber through the crowd with all the grace of a rhinoceros, and Zoro turns back to him with a raised eyebrow. “Is he always like that?” Sanji asks, and Zoro lets out a laugh that twists something in Sanji’s chest.
“Unfortunately,” Zoro snorts, and it shouldn’t be as attractive as it is. “You’ll get used to it.”
Yes, Sanji thinks. He will. This is his crew now… all of them.
Sanji sighs as he stubs out his cigarette. “Well,” he claps his hands to his knees, “I believe our captain will be whisking us off on our next adventure soon, so we better get our fill of the party.” He pauses, glancing up at Zoro with a small frown. “Want to join me?”
Zoro shakes his head. “I’m fine.” He reaches for his mug of half-drunk beer, raising it in mock salute. “I’ve got plenty more to drink before I venture for a refill.”
Sanji rolls his eyes but the smile still stays spread over his lips. “Suit yourself,” he says as he staggers to his feet, stumbling badly as he feels the rush of alcohol his his head, his warm cheeks and wobbly legs enough to know he’s probably drunken too much himself already. He steadies himself on the post, holding tightly, before he takes a step forward.
But his foot snags on a lump of dirt, and he’s not quick enough to catch the post again as he starts to topple over. He thinks he’s going fall, expecting the rush of hard ground coming up to meet him, and he squeezes his eyes closed in anticipation of hitting the dirt.
Only he doesn’t. Sanji feels a strong arm under his back and his eyes blink back open to see Zoro standing over him, holding him up effortlessly with one hand. Sanji hangs in his grasp, as if he weighs nothing at all… and it makes his heart thump, his eyes widen, and his mouth drop.
“I…” he starts to say, a flush of embarrassment on his cheeks, and he reaches out to grip the front of Zoro’s shirt to try steady himself more as his other leg returns to the ground. His words fail him though when his movement pulls him into Zoro, their faces now barely inches apart, and Sanji feels a sharp shock shoot through him at their closeness.
Zoro doesn’t move, his hand large and warm on the small of Sanji’s back, and Sanji slowly meets Zoro’s eyes. They’re grey, he realises vaguely, grey and warm and there’s a hint of something in them that has Sanji swallowing thickly.
“Zoro,” he manages to say, and his eyes flicker down to Zoro’s lips. They’re slightly parted, a dusky pink curved into a cupids bow, and when he glances back up it’s to see Zoro is looking down at his own.
And oh. Oh. Sanji realises very suddenly that maybe he isn’t alone in feeling this instant attraction, isn’t the only one who is looking with a burning that they shouldn’t be feeling. His heart is thumping loud enough that surely Zoro can hear it, and his blood rushes in his ears as his breath hitches in the back of his throat when Zoro’s eyes slowly drag back up to meet his.
And then Zoro smirks.
“Almost,” he says, and he lets go of Sanji.
Sanji stumbles, eyes wide, and he barely stops himself from tripping over again. Zoro doesn’t move this time as Sanji catches himself, that smirk curled over his face and his eyes burn bright with a challenge in them that has Sanji’s blood starting to sing.
He pauses for a moment. Oh, oh okay.
Sanji straights his suit jacket with two sharp tugs on the lapels and slips on his own smirk as he holds his head high. “Almost, indeed,” he retorts cockily, well aware he’s probably overcompensating, and Zoro’s eyes narrow briefly as Sanji strides past him with wobbly grace.
It’s not until he’s around the corner, away from Zoro’s sight, that Sanji stops and leans against one of the houses dotting the streets, his heart beating so fast he’s sure it’s about to skip and stop.
He drops his head into his hands. Thinks of dusky pink lips.
“Fuck,” he swears.
…
Sanji doesn’t like dungeons.
He can’t stand them. They make his skin crawl, make his shoulders hunch to his ears. They’re suffocating and daunting and Sanji doesn’t think he’s ever going to be rid of the memories of an iron mask, the cold slipping past his thin clothes, protected only by a single raggedy blanket.
Yet here he is, on some shitty island in the middle of the shitty Grand Line, sitting against a damp wall on a damp floor, glaring at the flimsy bars in front of him with his teeth firmly clenched.
At least this time, he’s not alone.
“We could just break them, you know.”
Sanji lets out a long breath, trying to will himself into having patience for the shitty swordsman beside him. It’s not the first time Zoro has said this since the two of them were thrown in here hours ago by a group of grumpy and frankly vindictive marines. Sanji’s shins still smart from the blows from metal pipes and the bruise on Zoro’s jaw is steadily turning a deep ugly purple.
“And you know we can’t,” Sanji hisses, fingers itching for a cigarette. “Not until Luffy rescues the ladies.”
Zoro grumbles something bitter under his breath, and Sanji glances over to see him glaring down into his crossed arms. The cell they’re in is obnoxiously small, most likely picked on purpose, and it allows hardly any room for the two of them. They sit side by side, their shoulders nearly brushing with each movement, but where Zoro is lounged out as if he’s barely bothered, Sanji’s knees are pulled to his chest and his shaking hands are clasped tightly together around them.
He just can’t stop thinking about that fucking iron mask.
“They should be able to rescue themselves,” Zoro mutters, and Sanji throws him a reproachful look that Zoro doesn’t even have the decency to see. “How many times have we been in this kind of a situation-”
“Quit it, shithead.” Sanji extends his leg briefly just to kick at Zoro’s knee.
Zoro swears and reaches out to hit Sanji’s side, although the blow has less power in it than usual. Sanji doesn’t know if he appreciates the swordsman pulling his punches like that, as he has each time they’ve squabbled so far in this shit hole. He knows it’s pretty obvious he’s falling apart here, but even though Zoro has had the good sense to not bring it up, Sanji doesn’t exactly appreciate being treated with kiddie gloves.
Even if it does make something in his chest squeeze in a funny way he tries not to think too much about.
“I’m just saying,” Zoro continues despite Sanji’s very clear instructions to shut up, “we would’ve been out of here and back on the Merry if they could just figure it out themselves.”
“Fuck,” Sanji groans, dropping his forehead to rest on the tops of his knees, “I fucking hate you.”
Zoro snorts loudly but he falls pleasantly silent. Sanji doesn’t raise his head from where it’s bent, closing his eyes instead and taking deep breaths through his nose. A part of him wants Zoro to keep talking, to distract him, but the other part of him is just busy focusing on getting air in his lungs and stopping himself from destroying the bars himself.
The fact is, they do have to wait. They hadn’t expected the ambush when they’d arrived on whatever shitty island this was, and they certainly hadn’t expected whatever Admiral it was leading this particular group of marines to hold a very large and very sharp dagger to Nami’s throat the moment their boots had hit the dirt. There had been a bloodlust in the mans eyes mixing with a sickening challenge, and Luffy’s orders had been sharp and clear. They were to surrender and not put up a fight, although Sanji hadn’t expected both himself and Zoro to be dragged away from the others into the marine compound and shoved into the deepest darkest fucking dungeon they could find.
It’s so cold down here. Sanji can remember the feeling of a threadbare blanket under his fingers and it fills his throat with bile.
“You know-”
“If you say one more fucking thing about this shitty situation,” Sanji growls, his hands tightening into fists as he tries extremely hard not to shove his shoe down Zoro’s throat, “I will knock your fucking jaw off.”
Silence for a second, and then Zoro lets out a sigh. “Fine. Guess I won’t.”
“Hallelujah,” Sanji grumbles.
They lapse back into silence. It’s tense but not uncomfortable. Months of sailing together has created a camaraderie between them despite their constant bickering and fighting that has gone from worrying the crew to just simply annoying them. Sanji might want to slaughter the swordsman on a regular basis and he definitely takes a certain joy out of their fights both verbal and physical, but there is also no one else he trusts more on their crew to have his back.
They’re friends, in a sense, even if Sanji’s heart beats for more some days. He’s always been good at repressing his feelings though, something he’s not entirely sure he should be proud of.
“That’s a fucking massive cockroach.”
Zoro’s words sends a bone chilling fear down Sanji’s back, rocking him from his thoughts, and his head snaps up with wild eyes to see what the hell he’s talking about. It barely takes a moment for Sanji to notice the giant bug as it creeps towards them from the other side of the bars, and he can’t help the sudden wave of indescribable panic as it flares through him.
“Fuck this,” he nearly screeches, his throat hurting from the high pitched sound, and Zoro doesn’t even have time to question Sanji’s reaction before he’s on his feet and hurling his heel into the bars.
“What happened to waiting?” Zoro roars as the sharp sounds of bending metal fills the room, and Sanji very suddenly doesn’t give a shit as he keeps laying into the confining bars. The cockroach has disappeared, scuttling away as quickly as it arrived, but Sanji can’t help the white hot fear from taking over at the thought of it still being nearby.
“I’ve changed my mind.” Sanji throws another kick that continues to bend the bars, the vibrations against solid metal jarring up his leg painfully. “We’re getting the fuck out of here.”
Zoro doesn’t say anything else as Sanji lunges into the bars one more time, the metal finally giving way with a groan and leaving behind a large enough space for the two of them to slip out. Sanji doesn’t waste any time, hurtling out of their cage and rushing towards the stairs leading back up into the marine base. Zoro is quick behind him, detouring briefly to pick up his abandoned swords where they’ve been discarded disrespectfully on a wooden desk clearly meant for the warden of the cells. He lets out a pleased noise as he settles them back at his hip, but Sanji pays him no mind as he scrambles up the steps and bursts out the door at the top into the corridor above.
The bright lights and halls of carpet make something in his chest unknot. Sanji is thankful the corridor he steps into is completely deserted as he glances around erratically until he spots a nearby window, his breathing coming easier once he sees the sight of bright blue sky.
He’s out. He’s not stuck there anymore. Thank fuck.
“Well,” Zoro drawls beside him, and Sanji glances over to see he’s watching Sanji with a raised eyebrow, resting an arm on his swords as he looks for all the world completely unfazed, “that’s a reaction you’ll have to explain one day.”
Sanji just gives the swordsman a grim smile in return. “Sure,” he mumbles, knowing that will never fucking happen. “Lets get to the others first.”
Zoro just nods back and starts off down the the left corridor. Sanji snags his sleeve and pulls him back to the right, not entirely sure which way is the best but positive that it always should be the opposite of whatever direction the swordsman heads in. Zoro mutters but doesn’t protest, and the two of them quickly hurry down the corridor in hopes of finding some sign of their crew.
It’s agreed that stealth is their only option, knowing that if they start fighting whatever marines they come across then its likely word will get back to that bloodthirsty admiral. Zoro doesn’t particularly care, but Sanji can’t get the image of Nami’s terrified face with that knife to her throat out of his mind as they slip through the twisting and turning hallways, and he doesn’t want to deal with the consequences if they fuck it up.
Thankfully, it seems most of the marines have disappeared, no doubt to wherever the rest of their crew is, especially Luffy. Sanji thinks they seriously underestimated them if they didn’t actually leave anyone nearby to monitor him and Zoro, but then he also recognises that were it not for that hideous fucking bug then they probably would still be down there.
Not that it matters now.
They hit the third floor up before they finally do come across a pack of marines. They hear them before they see them, what sounds like quite a large group as the loud stomping of military boots comes from around the corner in front of them. Zoro’s hands immediately fall to his swords, and Sanji swears under his breath at the swordsman’s stupidity before he hooks a hand in Zoro’s shirt and hauls him into a small alcove nearby.
“What the hell, Cook-”
“Shut it, Marimo,” Sanji snaps as they squish themselves into the alcove, the sounds of the marines getting closer by the second. “Just be quiet.”
Zoro looks murderous but he does as he’s told, falling into a sullen silence. Sanji knows he’s brimming for a fight, knows he’s always ready to throw those bloody swords around with that stupid bandana wrapped around his head, but this is a situation requiring a delicacy Zoro hasn’t quite mastered yet.
Luckily, they fall silent just in time as the thudding boots come around the corner and the sounds of marines talking to one another trails into the alcove. They’re covered by a thin red curtain, maybe only their shoes on show at the bottom, and Sanji hopes that one of the marines doesn’t grow a brain in the next few minutes and decide to look down.
Unfortunately, the marines come to a direct stop outside of the alcove. Sanji doesn’t know what they’re doing, can only make out some hushed mutterings from them and what sounds like the clicking of den den mushi’s, but he finds himself suddenly completely distracted as he realises just how close he is to Zoro.
The alcove is too small for them both as they stand chest to chest, their noses nearly brushing, and their knees have slotted together neatly. Sanji’s fingers are still twisted up in the front of Zoro’s shirt, keeping him close, and Sanji can feel Zoro’s breath ghosting over his lips along with the heaving of his chest under his hand.
Zoro’s gaze meets his, and Sanji’s breath hitches in the back of his throat when he sees the heat pooling in those grey eyes. There’s a charge in the air, a crackling electricity, and Sanji swallows thickly as his eyes unhelpfully trail down to Zoro’s lips.
Still a soft pink and curved into that sweet cupids bow. Sanji thinks of Cocoyashi, thinks of the heat that pools in his belly every time he’s around Zoro and how it’s never quite gone away, and he finds himself starting to lean in, their noses just gracing against each other…
“What do you mean they escaped?”
The cry of one of the marines on the other side of the curtain has reality crashing down on them, and Sanji’s eyes widen as he pulls away from Zoro, his hand dropping from the swordsman’s shirt as his head nearly cracks into the concrete wall behind him. Zoro is staring back at him with a flustered look, and Sanji is relieved to see his own cheeks aren’t the only ones burning even as he quickly glances away.
Something sits heavy in his stomach, his heart flutters in his chest, and when he manages to look back at Zoro it’s to see he’s looking anywhere but at him.
“Heh,” Zoro murmurs, and Sanji frowns when Zoro glances just briefly at him before his hand falls to his swords as he starts to draw them. “Almost again, huh, Cook?”
Sanji’s mouth drops open but he doesn’t have time to reply as Zoro lets out a battle cry and lunges from the alcove.
…
It drives Sanji mad.
If he’s completely honest with himself, he nearly forgot about Cocoyashi. It had happened in a drunk haze in the middle of a vigorous party, practically a fluke moment that Sanji had forgotten about the moment he pushed off that wall and rejoined the festivities, and very soon after their lives had been thrown into a nonstop whirlwind of formidable foes and new crew mates.
But now? Sanji thinks it wasn’t a fluke at all.
They’d managed to escape the marines and the batshit crazy island they’ve been on in a flurry of wild fights and Luffy’s laughter. Sanji didn’t really have time to think about anything except running and fighting, about gathering the others as best they could and hurtling down to where the Merry was waiting for them.
However, once they’re out at sea, all Sanji has is time to think.
It’s overwhelming. He locks himself in the kitchen and just cooks, hoping that the familiar movements of kneading bread and peeling potatoes with be enough for him to not think about what had happened in that alcove. Not that it works, the menial tasks doing nothing for his busy brain except relaxing it enough for him to relive it over and over.
To think of Zoro’s nose brushing his, to think of Zoro’s breath on his lips, to think of charged grey eyes staring into his own, of the rise and fall of Zoro’s chest under his hand, of the way he too had started to lean in…
Sanji nearly peels his thumb, the close call making him jump and drop the potato to the chopping board.
“This is ridiculous,” he tells himself, reaching up to scrub his hands over his face furiously. “Utterly fucking ridiculous.”
It’s what he tells himself again when Zoro appears for dinner, looking sweaty and pleased with himself as he slumps onto the bench seat beside their captain, a clear sign of a good workout. Luffy is yabbering in his ear straight away, swinging off Zoro’s shoulders as he recounts their barely just escaped adventure with a drama he’s clearly gotten from Usopp, and Sanji has to physically force himself to turn away when Zoro’s eyes close and a brilliant smile curves over his lips as Luffy babbles out praise over his swordsman’s three-sword style.
The thing is, Sanji knows that he’s attracted to Zoro. He has been since the beginning and he’s never denied that. The man is gorgeous, all dark skin and thick muscle, and Sanji can appreciate a fine form when he sees it and appreciate him he does. He tries to be subtle but he knows when he slips up each time Zoro catches his eye and gives him a smug smirk that makes Sanji’s blood boil.
But he also knows that nothing will ever happen.
It’s too risky. Sure, they could work out the tension between them in a way that doesn’t always damage the Merry irreparably, but Sanji is well aware that could lead down a very slippery slope neither will be able to come back from. After all, they’re not here to fuck around with one another. They’re there for their crew and to help Luffy become King of the Pirates.
Even so, Sanji chews through too many cigarettes and kicks the shit out of Zoro at every opportunity after they leave that island in a desperate bid to rid himself of the reminder of that alcove, and by the time they’re leaving Water 7… Sanji finally thinks that it was all something in the past.
Then Thriller Bark happens.
Bartholomew Kuma happens.
And now Sanji sits staring at Zoro’s unmoving body wondering where the fuck it all went wrong.
The party carries on around him. Sanji had joined in briefly, but the thought of Zoro lying unconscious nearby had dulled what joy he could find in the celebrations thrown by the people of Thriller Bark. He’s happy for them, without a doubt, and he cooks so much food that not a single person goes by without a full belly and cheerful smile.
But despite it all, he finds himself sitting at Zoro’s side, his third cigarette burning down between his fingers, completely unable to look away from the steady rise and fall of Zoro’s chest.
He can’t help but think of Kuma, of Zoro’s resilience in the face of certain defeat, the way he bowed his head and willingly accepted death for the sake of their captain. It drives Sanji crazy and he ignores the voice in the back of his head that calls him a hypocrite, that reminds him of his own attempt to take that which Zoro was so determined to shoulder alone.
His bruised side and broken ribs sting painfully with each movement, a healthy reminder that Zoro wouldn’t let him.
He’s so mad and yet feels such a strong overpowering relief, and Sanji can’t figure those out in his head without it throbbing. Instead, he just sits at Zoro’s side, staring at the swordsman, wanting desperately for him to wake up and hating the wait.
Of all the people to join his vigil at Zoro’s side, he really shouldn’t be surprised its Robin.
She’s quiet as she approaches him, demure and elegant as ever. Sanji wishes he had the energy to shower her with the compliments and praise she deserves, but he finds his tongue is too heavy and his heart sits too low to even muster up a polite greeting.
It’s obvious she notices as she folds herself down beside him. Her hand comes to rest on Sanji’s elbow gently, and where Sanji would normally nearly faint at the light familiar touch, he instead just turns his gaze back to the still unconscious swordsman.
“How is he?”
Sanji shrugs, the movement jarring Robin’s hold on him. “No change,” he says, trying not to let the bitterness into his voice.
Robin sighs, and when Sanji glances back at her its to see a marred look of admiration on her face. “He was very brave.” Robin’s voice is filled with something that sounds akin to wonder. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen such devotion before, especially not in the face of near certain death.”
Sanji frowns. “You know.”
“I’m sorry, Sanji.” Robin gives him a grim smile that somehow still looks astonishingly beautiful on her. “Old habits die hard. I’m still learning to let them go.”
Sanji forgives her instantly. He could never hold a grudge against her, and frankly it’s nice to know that there’s someone else he can confide in. “I hate him for this,” he can’t help but say, and Robin’s eyebrows go up in surprise. “It should have been me. It should have been me. He’s too… he’s too important for this crew to lose.”
Robin watches him with those all knowing eyes, and Sanji wonders what she sees. “Does he know?” she asks, and when Sanji just frowns, she tilts her head to the side with amusement. “How you feel about him?”
Sanji opens his mouth for his usual retort, but the words don’t come out. He knows what she’s saying, knows what she’s implying, and his jaw clicks as his mouth snaps back shut. He glances back to Zoro, to the shock of green hair, the white bandages covering his dark skin, the relaxed jaw that’s usually wound so tight.
“No,” Sanji murmurs, and he grits his teeth hard enough he’s worried they’ll break. “He doesn’t.”
Robin hums but says nothing more, just lapses into a comfortable silence. Sanji’s heart skips a beat when she rests her head on his shoulder, but his thoughts are too wildly wrapped up over the man in front of him as the two of them fall silent in their vigil, the raging party nothing but a dull roar behind them.
Typically though, Sanji isn’t actually there for when Zoro wakes.
He’s still the cook of the crew at the end of the day, and he still has responsibilities he has to attend despite wanting nothing more than to stay with Zoro. He knows the others are there, taking turns to keep Zoro company in that decrepit ruin, but Sanji still wishes it would be him at Zoro’s side when he finally regains consciousness.
Instead, he’s on the Sunny, categorising his pantry stores and writing a frankly alarmingly long list of what groceries they’ll need before they set sail. His head is so far into the cupboard that he doesn’t hear the galley door open, nor the clomping of heavy boots as they make their way towards him, and its only when someone clears their throat behind him that Sanji nearly smashes his head on a shelf in his haste to turn around.
It’s Zoro, of course it is, and Sanji’s mouth drops open as the swordsman leans back against the kitchen bench, crossing his arms over his chest as he smirks down at Sanji.
“Cook,” he greets.
Sanji doesn’t know what comes over him as a sudden wave of emotion has him surging to his feet and stumbling forwards. He sees a flash of worry over Zoro’s face as Sanji steps towards him, a momentary wonder at what Sanji might be doing, but it slips away into one of absolute shock as Sanji throws his arms around him.
“Shit, Marimo,” Sanji swears, arms curling around Zoro’s neck as he hauls him into a tight embrace, pressing Zoro’s face into the curve of his neck and shoulder, “you fucking scared me.”
Zoro is stone still for a single moment, long enough for Sanji to think he’s maybe crossed a line and fucked this up, but then Zoro’s arms are moving and they snake around Sanji’s hips as the swordsman returns the embrace.
“You shouldn’t worry, Twirls,” Zoro grumbles, his lips moving against Sanji’s shoulder, and Sanji grips him tighter as he feels the warmth of Zoro’s breath through the fabric of his shirt. “Takes more than that to kill me.”
“No it doesn’t,” Sanji growls, but Zoro just lets out an amused huff and Sanji shakes his head. Fucking idiot. What a fucking idiot. “Don’t you ever do that again.”
He pulls back just slightly, keeping his arms locked around Zoro and his fingers twist into the hair at the nape of his neck. Zoro feels warm and alive under his hands, and when Sanji catches a glimpse of his face its to see a small smile on the swordsman’s lips as he meets Sanji’s gaze.
And Sanji pauses, caught by those grey eyes, and he can’t help himself as he leans forward to press his forehead to Zoro’s. His heart is thumping, a mixture of relief and nervousness pounding away in his chest, and he shudders as he feels Zoro’s breath graze over his cheeks.
“Marimo,” he murmurs quietly, and Zoro lets out a shaky breath, his arms tightening around Sanji’s waist.
“Curls-”
The galley door smashes open.
They spring apart as if burnt, Sanji’s cheeks flaring a searing red as he glances over to see Luffy bursting into the room, the rest of the crew hot on his heels as they tumble into the galley with a whole lot of ruckus. Sanji wonders if they were caught for a brief moment, although Zoro quickly puts space between them as he all but hurtles around the side of the counter to head towards their captain, already yelling at him about calming down.
“But Zoooro!” Luffy whines as Zoro reaches him and drags him into a headlock.
Sanji’s stomach feels like lead, and he turns his back on his crew as they swarm around their swordsman, cheers of celebration over his waking filling the room. He tries to gather himself, tries to will away the burning in his cheeks and the pounding of his heart, and it’s not until he thinks he’s finally got a grasp over his unsteady breathing that he can finally face them.
Only to meet Zoro’s eyes where he stands with Luffy wound around him, Usopp slapping him on the back, and Nami tugging on his ear as she reams him out for worrying them.
Sanji swallows, unable to look away, and then that familiar smirk curls over Zoro’s face.
“Almost,” he mouths.
…
Reuniting after two years is something that Sanji is, surprisingly, nervous about.
He’s missed his crew, something chronic. They weren’t together for very long before their two years apart, but in that short time Sanji has grown used to them all, accepted them as an extension of himself.
To be without them? It brought more pain than he ever expected.
Returning to Sabaody brings its own joy, puts a bounce into his step when his shoes meet green grass and the sound of popping bubbles fills his ears. He won’t admit it, but part of him will miss the okama, even if it brings him great joy to flip them off as he departs the small group that have escorted him back.
“Take care, Sanji!” they call after him, waving sweetly and blowing kisses his way. He tries not to shudder and hurries quickly towards the shopping district in hopes that picking up new supplies for his crew will shed some of the horror that those kisses fill him with.
It doesn’t take long for him to find out most of his crew have already arrived, as Shakuyaku tells him when he stumbles into her bar. Finding out Zoro was here first fills him with a flurry of emotions that he chalks up to anger, even if the swooping feeling in his stomach says otherwise.
It’s not unfamiliar now though. Sanji will admit that his thoughts turned to the swordsman too often to be counted as just friendly over the last two years, although he has tried very hard to maintain their rival status in the eyes of a very inquisitive Ivan. Not that he thinks he convinced him, but at the least Sanji gave Ivan something else to talk about outside of frills and dresses whenever they weren’t in a kitchen.
In saying that, swooning and daydreaming over a certain swordsman was a hell in and of itself. Sanji still shudders when he thinks of Ivan’s fluttering eyelashes and silky words.
It doesn’t matter now though, and Sanji isn’t overly surprised that the first of his crew that he stumbles across is in fact Zoro. The Straw Hats have never been known for their subtlety and Zoro has always rivalled Luffy for that top position, the directionally challenged bastard.
He’s standing on the waterfront waiting for Zoro to emerge, finding it sweet really that a fisherman is concerned for Zoro getting on some random pirateship, but Sanji knows the swordsman better than that. The moment the mosshead comes flying out of the water with the galleon split in two behind him, Sanji can only let out a long puff of smoke and laugh at the expression on the fisherman’s face.
“See,” he says with a cocky grin, enjoying how pale the fisherman looks, “totally fine.”
Zoro straightens up from where he’s landed, sheathing his sword with a swift flourish, and Sanji feels his back straighten when the swordsman turns his way.
“Oi, cook,” Zoro calls across the distance to him, “your face is scaring away all the fish.”
Sanji’s mouth drops open, his cigarette dropping to the ground, and it’s only the deep familiar laugh that Zoro lets out that stops him from all out kicking the man straight back into the sea he just crawled out of.
Unbelievable. Two years apart and that’s how the bastard greets him?
Not that Sanji has a response as Zoro gets closer, too busy running his eyes over the man. Two years has done some damage, Sanji notes as his eyes trail over the large scar bisecting Zoro’s missing left eye. It makes something flip unpleasantly seeing the swordsman scarred like that, although it doesn’t seem to bother him if the wide smile splitting out over Zoro’s lips is anything to go by, and Sanji can’t help his own in return as Zoro comes to a halt in front of him.
He’s larger now, nearly double the size he was, and Sanji thinks about what that deeply muscular chest and those strong bulky arms would feel like against him now, and he’s very thankful that his cheeks don’t flush a brilliant red at the thought.
“Oh Marimo,” Sanji sighs, leaning back on his leg and dropping a hand to his hip, raising an eyebrow at the swordsman who watches his movements with interested. “Two years hasn’t changed that pig-headed mentality then.”
Zoro raises an eyebrow. “Hasn’t changed your bitchiness either.”
Sanji snorts and rolls his eyes, unable to help the spark of joy that thrills through him at the opportunity to banter with the swordsman again. “Asshole,” he retorts, reaching out to swipe a kick at Zoro’s ankles, “at least I’ve managed to keep both my eyes.”
Zoro drops back, easily avoiding Sanji’s kick, and he gives Sanji a sharp toothy grin. “Still scrawny though.” Zoro’s hand lands on his swords. “I could snap you in two.”
Sanji feels a flare of anger and narrows his eyes. “I fucking dare you to try.”
That’s all it takes for Zoro to let out another laugh before he lunges, and Sanji is quick to bring his leg up to meet the first blow of Zoro’s sheathed swords. The crack of heel and wood splinters through the air, and Sanji hears the fisherman from before let out a yell as he scrambles away from them.
Not that Sanji cares as he meets Zoro’s eye, sees the same excitement he feels reflected back, and Sanji pushes Zoro back with a hard yell before he takes chase. Zoro falls away easily, and he draws a second sword as Sanji brings down his leg in a sweeping arc.
It feels good to spar again, for the two of them to trade blows back and forth at break neck speed. They’re different now, both with new techniques and new moves, and Sanji’s blood sings as he finds that for once he doesn’t know what to expect when Zoro lunges with his swords. He relies on his own abilities more now than following the pattern they used to fall into, and he delights in the returning grin from Zoro each time one of them manages to land a blow.
“I’m impressed, mosshead,” Sanji calls to Zoro, barely dodging the sword that swings for his head, the wooden sheath ruffling his hair as it whistles over him. “It looks like you’ve maybe finally learnt to fight!”
Zoro growls and Sanji pushes off the ground to avoid another swing before he dives forward to throw a powerful kick to Zoro’s chest. Zoro blocks it with his arm, and Sanji feels his mouth run dry at seeing the sheer strength Zoro has to hold back such a blow with only his forearm.
Zoro meets his gaze, grin turning nearly feral. “Careful, ero-cook,” he goads, “you’re dangerously close to giving me a compliment.”
Sanji snorts and quickly drops his leg to slam it into Zoro’s side with satisfaction. “Never,” he snaps as Zoro grunts, absorbing the hit with gritted teeth. “You wish you were that lucky.”
He pulls back as Zoro surges forward again, and Sanji can’t help but let out a yelp as Zoro just barrels straight into him, sending them both crashing to the ground in an ungainly heap of limbs and swords.
“Oi!” Sanji bellows from under Zoro, wriggling uselessly against the new heavy bulk of the other man. He tries to twist his legs around in an attempt to kick up, but Zoro covers them with his own as he presses down on Sanji’s chest, leaning up to grin down at him.
“Now what, cook?” he jeers, and Sanji glares at him, annoyed at the self-satisfied look on the swordsman’s face. “I thought you might have trained more than your legs over the last couple of years.”
In response, Sanji reaches up and flicks Zoro’s nose.
“Shithead,” Sanji mutters, and Zoro looks shocked for a moment before he lets out a deep belly laugh, his body shaking with the force of it. Sanji can’t help his own laughter as he joins in, moving his hand to settle it on Zoro’s shoulder, feeling the coarse fabric of his new green coat beneath his fingers as the two of them dissolve into incredibly unmanly giggles.
Eventually they petter off, and Sanji is very aware that Zoro is much too comfortable where he’s still resting on top of Sanji, his grin slipping into something softer and lazier as he settles against Sanji, pressing him back into the grass. Their bodies fit together well, Zoro’s warm and solid, and Sanji feels heat starting to pool in his cheeks in response, Zoro’s gaze trailing down to watch them flush a brilliant red.
Zoro smirks. “Something you wanna say, cook?” he murmurs, and Sanji glares at him, his hand tightening around Zoro’s coat at the neckline.
“Shut up,” he snaps, well aware how petulant he sounds, and Zoro just looks amused. “You know the affect you have on me, asshole.”
Zoro grins, his hand coming up to gently brush aside Sanji’s fringe, revealing both his eyes. “Even now?”
Sanji glances away, too embarrassed to meet Zoro’s gaze, too stunned that they’re actually having this conversation. He guesses more things have changed over the two years than just their fighting styles and strength.
“Yeah,” he admits a bit breathlessly, and he chances a glimpse back at Zoro only to see that the swordsman’s expression has softened into something he’s certainly never seen before. “Even now.”
There’s a long pause where they just look at one another, and Sanji takes the moment to really see the new Zoro. The scar draws his gaze but it’s not all that’s changed. Gone is the soft traces of boyish charm. His jaw is wider and sharper bringing a heavier set to the shape of his face, and his hair has grown much shaggier than it was before. There’s a few more smaller scars dotting his cheeks that look like they’re from the knick of a blade, and Sanji wonders just what happened to Zoro over that long stretch of time away.
But then Zoro’s hand rests on Sanji’s jaw, thumb curving over his cheekbone, and Sanji’s breath hitches in his throat at the touch.
“Good.” Zoro looks pleased, and Sanji is stunned to see the slight darkening of Zoro’s cheeks. “That’s good.”
Sanji doesn’t know who moves first, but very suddenly he can feel the whisper of Zoro’s breath tickling his lips, and he starts to close his eyes in sweet anticipation because finally, finally…
Boom!
An explosion nearby has Sanji’s eyes snapping back open, and he meets Zoro’s own wide stare as the earth rocks violently beneath them. They stay still for a long moment, sharing the air between them, before Sanji sighs.
“Luffy?” he asks, and Zoro hangs his head.
“Luffy,” he agrees.
Without preamble, Zoro quickly pulls himself to his feet and Sanji scrambles up after him. There’s a dust cloud in the air nearby, coming from a large courtyard that Sanji had passed through on his way to the waterfront. If he listens closely, Sanji is almost positive he can hear their captains cackle in the air.
He doesn’t linger, starting to walk towards the loud commotion that is no doubt connected to their crew, but Sanji is only a handful of steps away before a large hand catches his wrist.
Sanji raises an eyebrow as Zoro pulls him around, and he already knows what’s coming when he sees the shit-eating grin on the swordsman’s face.
“Don’t say it,” Sanji mutters, but Zoro doesn’t listen as he lets go to start putting space between the two of them. Sanji watches with dread as the swordsman begins to jog towards the waiting courtyard, his face turned over his shoulder with that stupid fucking grin as he calls back.
“Almost again, huh, Curls?”
Sanji lets out a plethora of vicious insults before he takes chase.
…
Unfortunately for Sanji, there’s no real time to address what happened with Zoro after that.
Between the fake Straw Hats and Fish-Man Island? Sanji barely even gets a moment to breath. It’s exciting though to be back with his crew and to be fighting alongside them once again. Everyone has grown so much, older and more powerful, and Sanji is overjoyed to see how far they’ve all come in such a short amount of time.
Especially Luffy. Sanji’s heart still aches for the pain his captain went through without them… but watching his insane conquerors haki simply decimate the fish-man forces around them is something that has even Zoro grinning with excitement.
So it’s unsurprising when they win against Hody Jones and his crew, as cocky at that sounds. Sanji never doubted it once though, not even a second. His faith in his crew has and never will waver.
What is surprising though, is the massive party that’s thrown afterwards.
Sanji really should start expecting them now. Luffy’s tendancy to get them into fights is rivalled by his ability to inspire the people around them to hold raving celebrations in thanks… and fishmen know how to celebrate hard, flooding Ryugu palace with food, booze, and music as they cheer for the liberation of their island, dragging the Straw Hats with them.
They really do seem to do a lot of liberating, Sanji notes blithely.
It doesn’t take long for their captain to disappear into the madness, Nami hot on his heels with a frustrated grumble, and Sanji finds himself trailing along behind Robin as they skirt the edges of the grand hall they’ve been hauled into. Usopp and Brook are already neck deep in the celebrations, Brook leading the crowd into a chant that Sanji isn’t familiar with and Usopp teaching the fishmen a dance that he’s clearly making up on the go. Chopper has stars in his eyes as he sits amongst the tables ladened with piles of food, nothing but sweet treats surrounding him in abundance, and Franky is loudly showing off his new modifications to a captivated group near the back of the hall, the odd cheer of excitement able to be heard over the rather terrible singing of the crowd.
Zoro is nowhere in sight, but Sanji had spotted him slipping off to follow the fishman that had barrels of booze hefted on their shoulders the moment they’d stepped into the hall, so he’s not exactly surprised even as he finds himself scouring the hall for any trace of green-hair.
“Here, Sanji,” Robin says beside him, pulling Sanji from his search, and he turns to see she’s holding out a wine glass filled with a strange blue liquid that makes him raise an eyebrow.
He takes it nonetheless. “Thank you, my sweet,” he glows, and she gives him a pleasant smile as she lifts her own glass to her lips, her gaze flickering out to the energetic crowd dancing in the middle of the hall. Sanji joins her, holding back a laugh when he sees Usopp is looking a little out of his depth as many fishman have started to earnestly copy his movements.
They don’t say much, both just happy to be in one another’s company again, although Sanji can’t help but continue looking for Zoro. Every time he sees a flash of green, he starts to think he’s found him, but each time it turns out to be just another fishman.
Robin lets out a small laugh beside him. “Searching for our dear swordsman?” she asks, and Sanji feels his cheeks heat as he glances over to see her watching him with a knowing look.
“I…” He takes a nervous swing of his drink, not expecting the burn of such strong alcohol. Zoro would love it. “I’m just wondering how long it will take his directionally challenged ass to find the hall again.”
Robin shakes her head. “He truly is a wonder sometimes,” she muses, and Sanji lifts his drink in mock salute. “However, I see not much has changed between you two.”
Sanji thinks of their bickering and fighting, how easy it’s been to fall back into old habits since they’ve reunited. There’s something else there now though, something simmering away beneath their actions towards one another that’s lead to lingering looks and brief touches, moments where Sanji thinks of their almost kiss at Sabaody and tries not to feel breathless… but he takes another burning sip of his drink instead of focusing on that.
“Yeah,” he agrees half-heartedly, well aware he’s missed the mark of nonchalant when Robin’s eyes sharpen.
“Oh?” Robin turns completely to him. “What happened?”
She’s much too observant, but Sanji knows that look on her face. He won’t be getting out of here without an explanation, so he throws back the last of his drink with a grimace before he painfully recounts what happened at Sabaody.
Which of course leads to him telling her about the other ‘almosts’ he’s shared with the swordsman before their two years apart, and he’s not quite sure he’s happy at the absolute delight on Robin’s face that is very much at his own expense.
“Well,” Robin muses, handing Sanji another replacement for the couple of glasses of that blue liquor he’s already thrown back during his retelling, “that is quite surprising. I knew there was something there. I didn’t realise how long its been going on for.”
“It hasn’t,” Sanji grumbles into his glass, sounding more petulant than he should. “If there was anything really there then the bastard wouldn’t keep pulling this ‘almost’ bullshit.”
Robin hums, swirling the drink in her glass. “Perhaps our swordsman doesn’t realise what his teasing is doing.” She gives him a smile that errs just a little too much on the side of predatory. “Have you thought about giving him a taste of his own game?”
Sanji pauses, eyes widening, and he slowly meets Robin’s gaze. “Huh,” he says, and Robin’s eyebrows raise. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
Robin lifts her glass, and Sanji tilts his forward so they clink together. “Just an idea,” Robin practically purrs, and she gives him a wink that shoots straight to his heart before she turns to disappear into the growing crowd.
It leaves Sanji alone, and he promptly downs his next drink before searching out for another, Robin’s words swirling in his mind. She has a point, if he’s honest with himself, but the very thought of playing Zoro at this odd little game they have going on makes him a little bit too nervous.
After all, it now poses the question of… well, what if it is just a game?
Deciding that’s an avenue not worth exploring tonight, Sanji makes his way towards the buffet tables, grinning when Chopper lets out a cheer at his arrival. Their little doctor is filled with tangible excitement as he starts handing Sanji sweet treat after sweet treat, swaying in place as he gushes over how delicious it all is. Sanji finds it easy to perch beside Chopper on the table, laughing as his lap is filled to overflowing nearly straight away.
The party rages on around them, and Sanji munches on whatever Chopper hands him and sips more of that blue liquor as he watches out over the dance floor. Brook has well and truly taken over the music with Franky at his side, Luffy has appeared and is swinging Nami around at a pace that makes Sanji very dizzy, and Usopp has managed to convince Robin into dancing something a little more elegant beside them.
It makes him smile around the rim of his glass as he sways to the music, the warmth in his belly a mixture of happiness and booze, and it’s then that he spots their swordsman where he’s on the other side of the dance floor, leaning against the wall with a bottle of sake in his hand, his gaze following their crew.
Very suddenly, Sanji decides that won’t do.
“Sorry, Chopper,” he says as he drops his empty glass on the table beside him, and he gives Chopper a pat on the head, “but I think there’s a grumpy swordsman who needs some attention.”
Chopper chirps something that Sanji doesn’t hear as he hops off the table, weaving his way amongst the crowd towards where Zoro is lurking. He passes Luffy and Nami as he goes, barely managing to dodge his captain’s hand as he reaches out for him, before he finally pops out the other side in front of their swordsman.
Zoro raises his eyebrows at him straight away, and Sanji offers him a large grin as he sways up to him.
“Marimo,” he drawls, dragging the name out unnecessarily, well aware the burning in his chest isn’t just from that blue liquor. Zoro huffs and shakes his head, but Sanji spots the way his lips quirk up at the edges.
“Dart-brow.”
Normally Sanji would bristle, but he finds he’s in too much of a good mood and instead just laughs. Zoro seems amused, and Sanji glances behind him at their crew before turning back to Zoro with a determined look.
“Dance with me,” he asks, holding his hand out in front of Zoro.
Zoro, however, very suddenly looks like he’d rather swallow the bottle of sake he currently holds than accept Sanji’s hand, the amused look disappearing as he gives Sanji a narrow glare. “You’re drunk, shit-cook.”
“Maybe,” Sanji sighs, smiling brightly, “but that doesn’t make me want to dance with you any less.”
Zoro scowls and Sanji keeps on smiling, the brilliant shock of confidence from the countless glasses of that blue shit he’s drunken not even wavering an inch. Zoro glances between his face and his hand, looking more and more like he wants to bolt for the exit, but Sanji is quite positive that he wouldn’t even know the direction of it if he tried.
But the swordsman’s glare does have Sanji faltering for just a moment, and he thinks about lowering his hand before Zoro suddenly lets out a ridiculously over the top sigh.
“You’re an idiot,” he grumbles, but he’s placing the bottle of sake on a table beside him and Sanji feels his chest wanting to explode as Zoro reluctantly reaches out to take his hand.
After only a brief moment where Sanji wonders just what the hell he was thinking, he starts to tug Zoro out to the dance floor, pushing his way through the tight crowd towards their crew. Luffy spots them straight away and lets out a delighted yell, but Sanji ignores him in favour of finding a spot with a reasonable amount of space before turning around to face Zoro.
Zoro arches an eyebrow. “Do you know how to dance?”
Sanji laughs and reaches for Zoro’s other hand, tightening his grip so Zoro can’t escape. “Nope!” he cheers before dragging the swordsman closer.
Zoro looks abruptly surprised, but he doesn’t have time to respond as Sanji starts to swing them around to the fast tempo Brook and Franky are playing, all left feet and hardly any grace. Zoro barely follows, stumbling along after Sanji, and Sanji just laughs at his attempts to keep up as he beats a dance into the floor that would make Luffy proud.
That is until Zoro’s hands suddenly find his waist, and Sanji finds himself hauled into Zoro’s chest. “Idiot,” Zoro grumbles, and Sanji has a retort on the tip of his tongue before Zoro clears his throat and starts to move them again.
As it turns out, Zoro can dance, and Sanji’s eyes widen in surprise as Zoro starts to twirl him around in a dance not dissimilar to Usopp and Robin’s. One hand lands on Zoro’s shoulder, the other gripped in Zoro’s own, and Sanji can’t help his startled laugh as Zoro matches the fast tempo as he dances them around the room.
“Shit, Mosshead,” Sanji swears as Zoro spins him out before bringing him back in again, the swordsman’s warm hands sure and strong as he manhandles Sanji, “you’ve been holding out on me!”
Zoro doesn’t respond but he rolls his eye, ignoring Sanji in favour of dipping him in one fluid movement. Sanji yelps and grips Zoro’s shirt tight, feeling breathless when Zoro snaps him back up again and throws him into another spin.
He can hear his crew catcalling them, Nami especially loud over Luffy’s horrendous crowing, but Sanji finds he doesn’t care as his cheeks flush with heat and his grin stays on his lips. He’s enjoying this more than he thought he would, and if he’s not mistaken then he’s sure the smile Zoro is clearly trying to fight down shows he’s not hating it as much as he’d like Sanji to think.
But then the song is winding down, the tempo starting to slow, and Zoro is spinning him less and swaying him more. Sanji moves his arms, letting go of Zoro’s hand to slip them up around his neck, fingers curling into the green hairs at the base of Zoro’s neck, and he’s very aware now of how close they are as Zoro’s arms tighten around his waist.
He meets Zoro’s gaze, and Sanji gives him a soft smile. “Who taught you that, Marimo?”
Zoro glances away, and Sanji feels his stomach flip when he sees the sweet darkening of Zoro’s cheeks. “Mihawk,” he murmurs, and Sanji raises his eyebrows in surprise. “Turns out dancing and sword fighting are pretty similar.”
“Mihawk, huh?” Sanji nods his head slowly, tugging gently on Zoro’s hair until he turns back to him. “There’s a story there, I’m sure.”
Zoro smirks but doesn’t respond, and Sanji doesn’t push, knowing Zoro will tell him when he’s ready. Instead they keep swaying on the spot, the song sweet and melancholic in its ending. Sanji catches a glimpse of Brook watching them and he has to wonder how much of it’s on purpose.
Part of him is thankful though as he keeps Zoro’s gaze, unable to look away as the closing notes drift through the air. He can’t help but stroke the back of Zoro’s neck with his thumb, feeling the way Zoro shivers under his gentle touch, and he smiles softly as Zoro leans forward to nudge their noses together.
It would be perfect, Sanji thinks, as he feels Zoro’s breath ghosting over his lips.
But then he spots his crew watching them over Zoro’s shoulder, one in particular suddenly getting much closer, and Robin’s words from earlier play in his ears as the song finally comes to an end.
Zoro looks confused when Sanji pulls back, putting just enough space between them to break the moment, and Sanji feels strangely satisfied as he slides a hand down to pat the swordsman's chest.
“Incoming,” Sanji murmurs lightly.
Zoro’s confusion turns very quickly into a frown, but he doesn’t have much time to respond before Sanji lets go of him completely, stepping back just as Luffy comes out of nowhere to slam into Zoro, sending them sprawling to the ground.
And then Nami is shouting, storming over to them with a righteous fury as she reams out their captain and Usopp appears to punch Luffy in the head. Zoro looks completely dumbfounded as he stares up at Sanji from under the twisted mess of Luffy's limbs, and Sanji can't help but give him a wink.
“Almost, hey, Marimo?” he says.
The twist of resigned anger in Zoro's expression just makes Sanji laugh.
…
Unsurprisingly, Robin is right.
The memory of Zoro’s stunned look thrills Sanji for the rest of the party and right through until they leave Fish-Man Island. Multiple times he catches the swordsman looking his way, often with a furrowed brow that makes Sanji want to laugh, but there isn’t an opportunity for them to speak as they gear up for their departure.
There’s stores to fill and repairs to the Sunny that need to be done, people to say farewell to and heartfelt promises to make. Leaving new friends wherever they go is never easy, but Sanji takes comfort in the presence of his crew as they wave their final goodbye.
Then there’s the rise to the surface, a surprisingly long journey, and Sanji finds himself leaning against the Sunny’s railing with an unlit cigarette dangling between his fingers, watching the ocean as it passes by them.
He’s not alone for long. He can hear Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp goofing off on the lawn behind him, cheered along by Brook and Franky, but it’s not any of them that is suddenly by his side.
Sanji smiles. “Marimo.”
Zoro grunts but doesn’t reply, and Sanji rolls his eyes as he taps his cigarette on the railing briefly. He doesn’t light it, instead slipping it back into his pocket as he keeps his eyes on the sea in front of him.
It’s different seeing the ocean all around him like this, with all the many fish that swim past in their schools and the water waving over the bubble surrounding the Sunny. It’s comforting, incredible, and it makes him think of All Blue.
“Its beautiful,” Sanji sighs, reaching a hand out over the railing, feeling the bubble coating stretch around his fingers. “I didn’t get to really appreciate it on the way down.”
Zoro snorts, and Sanji glances over to see he’s shaking his head, his arms crossed firmly over his chest. “Stupid ero-cook,” he mutters, but there’s a small smile tugging at his lips.
Sanji huffs and turns back to the ocean, pulling his hand back down to rest on the railing. He doesn’t respond to the insult, knowing there was no heat in it, and instead he’s content to keep watching the sea around them.
But then a hand rests beside his, and Sanji glances down to see Zoro nudging their hands together. There’s a pause, just for a moment, before Zoro’s fingers curl over Sanji’s and Sanji is looking up to see Zoro is watching him with an unreadable look.
They’re close, and Sanji turns just slightly to rest his hip on the railing, smiling slightly when Zoro copies him. He reaches out with his other hand, pressing it to Zoro’s chest, feeling the warmth of Zoro’s skin beneath his fingers.
“What are you thinking there, huh, Mosshead?” he asks, fingertips tracing the scar that crosses Zoro’s chest, and when he glances up its to see Zoro’s gaze has turned heated.
He doesn’t reply, just moves forward, and Sanji’s breath hitches when Zoro’s hand encircles his hip to pull him closer, their foreheads bumping as Zoro leans forward to meet him.
“Zoro?” Sanji stumbles, and Zoro just meets his eyes.
“Sanji.”
Sanji’s heart stutters at hearing his name on Zoro’s lips, and very suddenly his mouth runs dry. He’s painfully aware that his crew have gone silent from the lawn, undoubtedly watching them, but he also finds that he doesn’t care.
His hand is rising and falling slowly with each of Zoro’s breaths, and Sanji swallows thickly as he feels the heat of Zoro’s breath against his cheeks. He looks down, finds Zoro’s parted lips, and he can’t help but let out a small huff of a laugh.
Two years later, and Zoro’s lips are still that warm dusky pink he remembers from Cocoyashi village.
Sanji glances back up, meeting Zoro’s gaze again. “Almost?” he hears himself ask.
Something flashes in Zoro’s eye.
“Fuck almost,” he swears, and Sanji’s eyes widen as Zoro kisses him.
…
Fin.