Chapter Text
“How did Shanks propose to you, Mihawk?” Zoro asked, cutting off Perona in the middle of her nightly dinner rant; yet instead of screaming at the one eyed man like she usually would, she just made an interested noise and turned to look at Mihawk as well. The man in question raised an eyebrow, and set down his utensils.
“And just why are you asking, Roronoa?” he replied, not answering the question. He knew neither of the children (because that's what they were to him, they were both kids, just barely adults.) had a problem with the fact that Mihawk was married to a man. They seemed to be more in shock of the fact that he was married at all. The only reason they even knew he was married at all was because Shanks had paid them a few visits over the past two years. Their shocked faces when Shanks had first shown up and introduced himself as Mihawk's husband was amusing.
“I wanna know the best way to propose to the shit cook, tha’s all.” the green haired man shrugged, chewing a piece of steamed broccoli.
Perona’s jaw dropped.
Mihawk blinked.
Zoro kept chewing.
“YOU WANT TO WHAT ?” the ghost woman shrieked, floating up, and then slamming her hands down on the table in front of her brother (because she had called him that once and it only stuck when Zoro had called her ‘the most annoying older sister ever’). The man looked annoyed almost immediately and pushed her face away from his.
“ Holy fuck woman, what was the point of screaming at me when I’m literally only a few steps away from you!?” he barked, having been startled back into his native tongue of Eastern. Perona scoffs at him and sits back down in her chair crossing her arms. She glared at him, teeth grinding in the face of his nonchalant attitude.
“I can't believe you’re going to propose , hey when did you even have the time to get a ring anyways? I haven’t seen you leave this island the entire time we’ve been here!” she scowls, thinking back at the last two years they’d spent together.
“What the fuck are you talking about? What do I need a goddamn ring for?” he grunted. And it took Perona a second to realize that he was serious . She groaned and held her face in her hands. How one person could be so stupid was beyond her.
“By the Seas , how do you even have someone to propose to in the first place?”
Mihawk nodded in agreement, much to Zoro’s chagrin.
“Even Shanks got me a ring when he proposed, and he’s the dumbest man I know.”
Zoro snorted into his glass of wine, taking a sip before retorting,
“You’ve met my captain, and yet you still say Shanks is the dumbest person you’ve met.”
“Well like father, like son, yes?” the hawk eyed man hummed, smirking when the reply got a bark of laughter from his pupil. The two of them had gotten closer in the past year and a few months Zoro had been staying on the island. Not close enough to stop Zoro from wanting to beat the man and claim his title, but close enough to where they could sometimes joke like this.
“Uh? Can we get back on track here? Mosshead can’t really propose if he doesn’t have anything to propose with in the first place!” Perona hissed, sneering at the mosshead in question. He answered with his own sneer and flipped her off, which started a screaming match between the two.
Mihawk sighed and decided that drinking two bottles of wine alone in his room sounded amazing .
And he needed to call someone…
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Purupurpuru purupurupuru purupurupu-Gatchta
“What do you want?”
“Hello Crocodile, you seem to be in a pleasant mood today.”
“Up yours asshole, now what do you want?”
“Rude, are you still in contact with Ivankov?”
“...Why the fuck do you wanna talk to that fugly bitch? Yeah I still have their contact.”
“They are training your son’s cook.”
“So what?”
“I’m training the first mate, who was planning on proposing to said cook without a ring ."
“Ok so Luffy has an idiot for a first mate, what’s that gotta do with Iva?”
“Him not having a ring means he probably doesn’t have any ring finger measurements, which he will need if he wants to buy a ring.”
“...Ok, so Iva’s number is-”
“Hello? Who vis calling?”
“Ivankov. I hear you are training Straw Hats cook.”
“Mihawk-boy…vhy do you vant to know?”
“Long story short, I am currently training his other half, who mentioned wanting to propose to him. Without a ring.”
“Vhat the fuck.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Vhy are you calling though?”
“I need the cook's ring finger measurements. Roronoa doesn't know them, don't tell the cook what they're for.”
“...LADIES FIND SANJI-BOY VE HAVE TO-”
Gatchak
“Well at least I know he's getting them.”
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One month later…
PuruPuruPuru PuruPur- Gatchak
“Hello?”
“Write this down Mihawk-boy.”
“Thank you Iva.”
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One morning, when Zoro dragged himself out of bed and into the dining room, he had to blink a few times to confirm that the boxes stacked on the table were actually bentos. He squinted up at where Mihawk stood helping Perona with her hair. His hat was laying on the table next to the bento boxes, and his coat was draped over a chair.
“Nice of you to join us Zoro, breakfast will be eaten on the way there, go get ready.” Mihawk greeted, not looking up from where he was dutch braiding pink hair into two buns. Perona giggled when Zoro made a confused noise.
“Uh, why? Where are we going?” the easterner questioned. Perona jeered at him as Mihawk finished off the last bun.
“We’re going ring shopping since you can’t be trusted to make any life changing decisions without supervision.” she sniffed, making Zoro throw a few curses in Eastern at her.
She turned away from him with a huff, announcing that she would wait for them at the dock as she grabbed her Kumashi and umbrella. Once the door shut behind her Mihawk was sending him back to his room to get dressed in something presentable.
Zoro blinked as he stood in the middle of the room he had claimed as his almost two years ago.
What. What the fuck was going on?
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“Ooooh look at the SIZE of that stone! I wish I had someone to propose to me…”
“Who would ever be crazy enough to date you in the first place?”
Perona gritted her teeth at the sound of Zoro's irritating voice quipping back at her. It had been almost 2 months since Perona had started forcing the one eyed man on these trips, and so far she’d been having no luck in getting him to agree to any of the rings they'd been shown. And they hadn't just looked at rings! They'd looked at necklaces, bracelets, anklets, earrings, even fucking TATTOOS for gods sake!
The ghost woman was at her wits end, Zoro was heading back to Sabaody in a month and they had gotten nowhere . Something shines caught her eye and snapped her out of her angry thoughts. It was a small shop, but it was advertised as a jewelry store, and Perona was going to take what she could get at this point.
“Let's check out this one, you meathead!” she announced, pushing him through the door and over the threshold. They were greeted by an black haired man (who's eyebrows seemed to be replaced by metal studs?) who was standing behind a wooden counter. Perona moved over to greet the man (who's name she learned to be Gajeel) and left Zoro to his own devices. After a few minutes of chatter between Perona and Gajeel, the woman learning that the man was married to the bookshop owner down the road, Perona realized that she hadn't heard a thing from Zoro the entire time.
Thinking he might have left (and thus gotten himself completely lost) Perona spun around, a curse on her tongue. Only to be met with the sight of Zoro across the store, back turned to her, silent as a mouse.
The ghost woman approached her pseudo brother, wondering what he could possibly be staring at. Ignoring Zoro’s mumbled curse at her sudden appearance behind him, she peeked over his shoulder and scanned the display case. It was full of earth toned jewelry, from necklaces to earrings. Perona looked up at the swordsman, holding herself back from snickering at the flush apparent on his face.
“Which one?” was all she said, it was obvious what Perona was asking him about. Which one have you decided would be best for him?
Grumbling, Zoro jabbed a finger at one of the rings. It was slim, the emerald inlay outlined by sparkling silver. There was no diamond, or jewel sticking out of the top. It was simple. It was perfect.
Perona nodded once and waved Gajeel over.
The three of them talked about sizing and custom adjustments (When Zoro asked for the silver to be replaced with steel Perona couldn't help but roll her eyes. Leave it to him to favor brawn over beauty.)
When the two returned to Kuraigana (after Zoro almost wandered off three times), Mihawk was waiting for them in the lounge. Perona snatched the ring box from Zoro, ignoring his shouts for her to give it back, and shoved it in Mihawk's face with sparkling eyes and a beaming smile.
Wordlessly Mihawk took the box and opened it. He studied the ring and after a moment, he nodded and held the box back out to Zoro who snatched it from him.
“Simple yet strong, a good choice indeed.”
“I didn't ask for your fucking approval…” Zoro grumbled.
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A few weeks later and Zoro was standing on Kuraiganas only dock, a sense of anticipation filled him as he bowed to his teacher and thanked him for his teachings.
“Next time we meet, I will best you and claim your title as Greatest Swordsman.” Zoro promised, Mihawk's responding smirk was as sharp as his sword.
“I look forward to it then, Roronoa Zoro.”
He turned away and started walking away, paused, and, “I hope he says yes.” And then Zoro was once again watching Mihawk leave.
Zoro clenched his fists as he watched Mihawk's back get further and further away the more they sailed away from the island.
Then he turned and looked forward.
Onto the future….
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Zoro wasn't surprised when he learned that he was the first to arrive at Sabaody, his crew was hopeless honestly. He spent the week dicking around Sabaody, fishing, sleeping, drinking and repeat. It wasn't until he went to see Sunny that he found someone else.
“YEOW! Is that our SUPEEERRRR SWORDSMAN I SEE?!” A loud voice shouted from the upper deck. Zoro grinned as he spun to greet Franky, who had gone through some SERIOUS bodily changes the past two years.
“Franky! Good to see you!” Zoro called, watching as the other man hopped down to the lower deck to greet him.
“SUUUPER good to see you too bro! Nice scar! You look MANLY!” The cyborg grinned, striking his signature pose. Zoro grinned.
“You too, you've changed a lot it seems.”
Franky preened, and started to ramble about his new body when Zoro interrupted him.
“Actually Franky, I need to ask a favor.” He started, pulling out the ring box from his pocket. Franky’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets when he caught sight of it.
“YEOW! Sorry Zoro-bro but I'm committed to one lovely woman already, though I appreciate-”
“IM NOT ASKING YOU TO MARRY ME IDIOT! SANJI AND ROBIN WOULD KILL ME!” Zoro barked, scowling at the other man before taking a deep breath.
“I was wondering if you could make the cook and I wedding rings.”
Franky’s eyes went wide again before softening, he put a large hand on Zoros shoulder and nodded.
“Of course, I'd be honored…*sniff*”
“Are…are you crying? ”
“N-No! There's just something in my eyes is all!”
“Geez…”
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A few days later and Zoro found himself cutting a ship in half, honestly it wasn't his fault the idiots didn't tell him he was on the wrong boat. The only upside was that he had found the cook, even if the other man was now scolding him and treating him like he was a caveman. In any case, Zoro wondered if now was the right time to propose…
“Are you even listening to me?! I swear you were raised by wolves!”
Then again maybe not.
Sanji sighed, and yanked Zoro by the arm into an alley. Zoro barely had time to think before two arms were thrown around his shoulders and he was being pulled into an embrace by his other half. He blinked and half a second later he was wrapping his own arms around the cooks waist and shoving his face into his shoulder. He inhaled the scent of cigarette smoke and whatever perfume (“It's cologne you unintelligent gorilla!”) Sanji wore. The two of them stayed like that for what felt like only seconds before Sanji was pulling away to rest his forehead against Zoros own.
“...I’ve missed you idiot.” Sanji whispered, a small smile on his face. A smile that he reserved for Zoro and sometimes Luffy.
But mostly Zoro.
Zoro huffed, a smile of his own creeping across his face. He leaned forward slightly, his lips a hair's breadth away from Sanji's own.
“I missed you too, cook.”
Then again maybe now was a good time.
Zoro was about to open his mouth to ask when.
BOOM
A large explosion sounded from across the island, the two of them spun their heads to look at the large plume of smoke rising from where the explosion sounded from.
“....Well, looks like we know where Luffy is, come on moss head, let's go grab him before he destroys the rest of the island!”
Sanji pulled himself out of Zoro's arms fully and started off towards the explosion. Zoro sighed wearily, he had a feeling that this was going to be harder than he originally thought.
“Hurry up alge brains! Do you need me to carry you there or something?!”
Zoro growled at the taunt and began running after his other half. More explosions and screams sounded from the direction they were running in and Zoro’s skin practically itched with the desire to try out his new skills.
“As if, dartbrow!”
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The crew was finally all reunited on the Sunny and had submerged under the sea when Robin approached Zoro. He twitched a bit at the knowing gleam in her eye but held her gaze as she stopped in front of him where he was watching Sanji fawn over Nami. The two of them stood in silence for a moment.
“Franky tells me you are planning on asking a certain question to our cook soon.” She said bluntly, it wasn't a question. Zoro felt a wave of annoyance wash over him and he turned his head so he could glare over at Franky who was engaged in entertaining Chopper, Luffy, and Usopp with his new body modifications.
The cyborg looked up for a moment and Zoro caught his gaze. Franky shrugged unapologetically, giving him a grin. Zoro let the annoyance slip out of him. He knew Franky and Robin didn't keep much from each other, it's part of what made them a good couple, so it shouldn't have been a surprise to him that Robin already knew.
Zoro turned back to Robin and was about to reply when the aforementioned cook twirled over to them, his eyes practically heart shaped as he bowed to Robin.
“Robin my dear! You somehow look even more radiant than you did two years ago!” he declared dramatically, making Zoro roll his eye and Robin let out a tittering laugh.
“Why thank you Sanji, we all seem to have changed quite a bit, I'm glad to see everyone has returned safely.” she replied softly. Sanji swooned, his nose leaking a bit before he hastily wiped it away. He bowed again.
“Would you like anything to drink? Eat? Maybe some tea?” He asked, his voice taking on a softer tone. Robin smiled and nodded.
“Tea sounds lovely, thank you.”
“Your wish is my command my dear!” Sanji simpered, then he straightened and turned to Zoro, a scowl on his face.
“You better not be bothering her, shithead.” was all he said before he was striding across the deck, up the stairs, and shutting the galley door. Zoro flipped him off as he left before freezing when Robin coughed softly and he was reminded that she was here.
“So, how do you plan on popping the question?” She asked him as she summoned some arms to drag a small table and chair up from the lower decks so that she could sit. Zoro groaned and plopped down on the ground next to her chair, leaning back against the railings and bringing one knee up to rest his arm on while he moved his swords from his waist to rest against his shoulder and arm so they wouldn't fall.
“I dunno yet, I feel like every time I try I'm gonna get interrupted by something. That seems to be the case whenever anyone wants to talk about anything serious around here.” he grumbled, thinking back to his multiple attempts at asking Sanji out. Robin hummed, and from the small smirk on her face she was obviously thinking about the same thing.
“Maybe you should embrace the chaos? If you wait for what you think is the perfect moment, you might miss your chance to ask him entirely.” She offered, lacing her fingers under her chin as she fondly watched her own lover interact with their crew. Zoro snorted.
“You're only saying that because Franky asked you out immediately after he officially joined the crew.” Zoro snarked, and Robin's responding giggle was like a bird’s chirp.
“Yes well, he made quite the first impression, how could I say no to someone as passionate as that?” She replied as the galley door flung open and Sanji stepped out and practically glided across the deck, distributing snacks and drinks to his crew mates. Zoro raised a brow at Robin as Sanji made his way over to them.
“Yeah but you guys got married like, two weeks later, which I still think is kind of insane by the way.” Zoro told her as Sanji gently placed a cup of tea down in front of her along with a teapot.
“Are we talking about Robin and Franky’s wedding again? No offense my dear but the speed at which you two took your romance is shocking to even me…” the cook commented, pouring her a cup of the tea from the pot and pushing the saucer closer to her. Robin picked up the cup and gave the two a mysterious smile. Across the deck Nami called for Sanji.
“What can I say,” Robin said knowingly, watching as Sanji quickly pushed a bottle of sake into Zoro's hand and pressed a kiss to his cheek, “When you know, you know.”
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Zoro was fucked. Entirely, utterly gone.
Over the past few hours they had been under the sea, multiple of his crew mates had come up to him to give their two cents about his decision to propose to Sanji. Usopp had given a long speech about how he “always knew this day would come and would help Franky make the rings as perfect as possible when they had the materials to make them!”. Nami had given Zoro a lecture on how he had to make the proposal special for Sanji, and that she was willing to lend him her services for a price. Brook had offered to help him set the mood by playing a romantic song on his violin. Chopper had just hugged Zoro and assured him that Sanji would definitely say yes, further cementing the reason why Chopper was Zoro’s favorite. The only one who hadn't said anything was Luffy, which knowing Luffy, he would probably just ask why the two of them needed to get married at all.
None of them were of any help and to make things worse, just as Zoro had been about to pop the question they were attacked by a giant kraken, which he, Luffy, and Sanji took care of but then they were swept away by an undersea current, separated on Fishman Island AGAIN, and now they were fighting some guy who's name Zoro couldn't remember (it was something like Hardly? Hurdle? Herder? Who gives a shit.) and Zoro was feeling like he would NEVER get the chance to ask when he turned to get a look at Sanji in the middle of the battle and it was like his breath had been stolen right out of his lungs.
Sanji was dominating his opponents, twirling in and out of the way of his enemies and nailing them with sharp, vicious looking kicks. Zoro felt as if he was hypnotized as he watched the love of his life jump into the air, light his leg on fire, and slam it down right in the middle of a group of opponents, sending them all flying as a result. Zoro felt himself moving, swinging his swords and taking out enemies of his own but his eye was on Sanji. This feeling. The feeling of not having to watch his own back because he knew there was someone watching it for him. The feeling of fighting side by side by the man who held his heart. This was it.
“When you know, you know.”
Robin's words came back to him then, clear and crisp in his mind.
And as Zoro watched the love of his life kick absolute ass he wondered if it was possible to fall in love with someone all over again. It had to be. Because what he felt for Sanji could only be described as biblical. He wanted to wake up next to this man, wanted to fight next to him, wanted to live next to him. For the rest of their lives.
“...Embrace the chaos.”
Zoro didn't need to wait. He wouldn't. He couldn't.
“OI! COOK!”
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If someone asked Sanji to describe Zoro in a few words he wouldn't have to think longer than a second. He would tell them that Zoro was a brutish, ill-mannered, directionally challenged, mossheaded idiot. What he wouldn't tell them was that Zoro was also an honorable, kind, protective, hard working idiot. Because anyone who had to ask didn't deserve to know about that side of Zoro. The Zoro that indulged Choppers need for occasional hugs. The Zoro that let Luffy and Chopper nap with him during the day. The Zoro that would sacrifice his limbs and his life for anyone on the crew. The Zoro that kissed all of Sanji’s scars and called him beautiful and strong.
However, despite Zoro being capable of kindness and the occasional romantic gesture did NOT mean that he wasn't, first and foremost, a giant PAIN in Sanji's ass. Exhibit one, the idiot calling out for him in the middle of their first big fight after two years.
“OI! COOK!”
Sanji gritted his teeth at the call and grunted as he let loose a flurry of kicks against a group of fishmen.
“WHAT DO YOU WANT?!” he called back, dropping back for a second to take a drag from his cigarette and scan how many adversaries were left. Too many for his liking.
Over the clangs of swords clashing and people crying out he heard Zoro bellow, “NEED TO ASK YOU SOMETHING!”
Sanji almost, almost, laughed at how…well… Zoro , it was for Zoro to ask him a question while they were fighting.
“CAN’T YOU WAIT UNTIL WE’RE NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF A FUCKING FIGHT?!” he snapped back, though there was no anger behind his words. Zoro's next reply sounded from right behind Sanji, the swordsman must've cut his way across the battlefield to get closer to Sanji.
“No, it really can’t!”
Sanji quickly turned his head to give Zoro a confused look, before having to turn back to deflect an attack. He blew a large chunk of enemies away from him and in doing so missed the look Zoro shot Robin and Franky. Landing back on his feet, Sanji took another drag of his cigarette.
“Look mosshead I know that you can't comprehend the meaning of the word patience but-”
“Sanji.”
Sanji freezes for a second, because what. And then a second later he’s spinning around to face Zoro because why-
There's a box. A velvet box being held in front of him. The box isn't open but it's obvious to anyone with a brain and two eyes what's in the box. And Zoro is the one holding it. Holding it out to Sanji.
Sanji feels his jaw drop and his cigarette falling out of his mouth.
“Wha…” is the most he can manage because now Zoro is kneeling and opening the box and Sanji’s arms fall to his sides because what.
A part of him registers Franky and Robin moving in to cover them, and distantly he can hear Nami and Usopp screaming at Zoro about a time and place for these things but most of Sanji is zeroed in on the ring in front of him because what-
“Sanji.”
And suddenly all Sanji can see is Zoro, everything else fading into the background as this man, his other half, calls his name.
“You know I'm not one for long speeches. But you told me once that you loved it when someone's proposal included a declaration of love. So. I tried a bunch'a times to ask you. But the timing never seemed right. But just now, watching you fight, knowing you had my back like I have yours. I realized how badly I want that. Forever. Until we achieve our dreams and whatever comes after. So, Sanji, let's get married.”
And it's the last part that has Sanji let out a mix of a laugh and sob. He sniffs and cups Zoro's face in his hands.
“You idiot, you're supposed to ask me not demand me,” Sanji rests their foreheads together, “But yeah, let's get fucking married.”
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“But yeah, let's get fucking married.” Zoro lets out a loud booming laugh and kisses Sanji right there, pulling back only to help the other man slip the ring on and then pulling him back in for another kiss.
They probably would have continued making out if Usopp hadn't screamed at them.
“HEY IM SO HAPPY FOR YOU GUYS REALLY! BUT WE’RE KINDA IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING HERE AND YOU GUYS NEED TO LOCK THE FUCK IN LIKE RIGHT NOW!”
The couple pulled apart and were promptly reminded that they were in the middle of a fight. Though the entire crew seemed to be cheering, Luffy was screaming about a giant party, Brook was sobbing about wedding songs, Chopper was giggling which sounded very creepy in his deep voice, Franky was crying so hard no one could make out what he was saying, and Nami was screaming at them again about time and place.
Zoro smirked at the angry mob that had surrounded them while they had been occupied. He turned to look at his fiancé (his fiancé! ) and re-tied his bandana onto his head.
“Shall we then?”
Sanji grinned something feral.
“
Let's."