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There was something intriguing about a drunk Sanji. The cook didn’t drink a lot, was more of an enjoy the taste of the alcohol type of drinker. Which was why his dinner wines were so important to him. He would go on and on about how wines bring out the flavors in the dishes he makes. Or how they can be a culinary experience. Zoro rolled his eyes because they’re pirates, they don’t do fine dining.
That was why the first time Zoro had seen Sanji drunk, had thrown him off. It had happened after Skypiea. They had all joined the islanders and celebrated with them. Zoro had made himself comfortable away from the commotion. Which gave him a front seat as he watched Sanji skip over to Usopp and kissed him right on the lips. Nami had almost fallen into a crater from laughing so hard at Usopp’s shrill cry. His face was bright red as he hid behind Luffy as Sanji tried to kiss him again.
The second time was on their ship after dealing with a sea beast, Sanji had a beer in his hand and trapped poor Chopper in the corner of the galley. He had listed reasons why he was handsome instead of cute. The doctor had turned towards Robin, pleading for her help. Their philosopher had rescued the reindeer and then helped guide Sqnji back to his hammock. Everyone was snickering and repeating some of the things Sanji had said until Zoro had stomped his foot down off the crate he was using as a foot rest. Usopp and Franky had gone back to their game of poker and Chopper gave Zoro a grateful smile.
And that was when Zoro actually started to watch their perverted cook. He’d always flirt with Nami or Robin. Even flirt with any woman they would cross paths with, but when he was drunk, the cook flirted with everyone. Flirted and kissed anyone.
Zoro had watch Sanji flirt with Franky their first night after rescuing Robin and the tank of a man had smirked and kissed Sanji on the mouth. The cook looked surprised but the light pink across his cheeks deepened as he shyly scooted closer to Franky. The two flirting back and forth the whole night. Zoro had squinted his eyes at the two but said nothing. Sanji was happy and Franky seemed all too excited to indulge their cook. Which was why Zoro kept it to himself when he had seen the pair cuddled on the floor of their quarters.
The other best thing is Sanji always remembers what he does drunk. He’d come out of the bathroom and apologize to his latest victim. He’d explain he knows they cannot consent when he is inebriated and promises to not drink as much the next time. But whomever it was would tell him they found it cute. Or when he apologized to Franky, the jester tried to kiss Sanji again.
Zoro laughed as he heard Sanji kick him but had gone back to his training a few moments later. He didn’t comment on how red Sanji’s face had turn as he grumbled down into the galley.
But as time went on, Zoro noticed that Sanji flirted with anyone but him. He’d come over to Zoro and lean against him or sit a little too close but he wouldn’t try and hold his hand like Luffy and him did, or try and kiss him like Franky and him did, nor did he try and cuddle up like him and Brook.
He’d just smile at Zoro and clink their glasses together before taking a big gulp and going off somewhere else. It made Zoro sad. He doesn’t fully understand why because Sanji and him aren’t really that close and when they are, they bicker constantly. But he’d watch Sanji grab at Usopp and rub his face in Usopp’s neck and feel left out.
Which was preposterous.
Tonight wasn’t any different. They were celebrating Jinbe joining their crew and Zoro had a few bottles of sake in him. It wasn’t enough to get him drunk but enough to take the edge off. He watched Nami cackle and she dragged Franky and Usopp’s berry across the table. The two obviously annoyed at the fact she keeps kicking their asses in poker. Luffy was watching them and laughing along with Nami.
Zoro was enjoying their little party and felt someone sit next to him. He turned and noticed how unfocused Sanji’s eyes were. He looked happy and relaxed as he lent back against the bench Zoro and him were sitting on.
Zoro had grabbed his glass of sake when he felt Sanji lean in closely beside him. His warm breath tickling his ear.
“Do you know what’s hotter than my cooking?” Zoro flinched as he tried to scoot away from Sanji. The blasted idiot didn’t realize how loud he was speaking. Zoro took a deep breath and turned so Sanji couldn’t scream in his ear anymore.
“Me flirting with you.” Zoro frowned at Sanji as the cook giggled behind his hands. Zoro just blinked before Sanji was dropping his hands and grabbing Zoro’s cheeks, albeit a little too rough.
“Squishy, squishy marimo.” Zoro felt his cheeks heat up and it didn’t go past him that everyone was looking at them. “You’re so soft and squishy. How can you be so thick yet so squishy?” Zoro tried to pull away but Sanji only squished his cheeks harder together.
“Can-can I tell you a secret? A mossy secret?” Zoro couldn’t hide the amusement in his eyes even as he heard Nami whistle and Chopper giggle. Sanji was swaying a little and his eyes were starting to close. He looked content to be in Zoro’s space. But then, he was pushing Zoro’s head away and shaking his head almost violently.
“No, no Zoro secret.” Zoro huffed as Sanji pushed his hand against his face so he could stand up, but Zoro wanted more. He wanted to know. He has been craving it for so long. He’s had to watch for years as Sanji allowed himself to love on the others. How he’d become so open with not just his words but his physical touch. Zoro at this point needed it.
Zoro had reached out for Sanji’s fingers. They were soft and so delicate. He could not only see the care and love Sanji had for his hands but he could also feel it. His nails were perfectly trimmed without any dirt under his nails, a clear contrast to Zoro’s scarred hands. There were no callouses, only smooth pale skin.
Zoro slowly looked up at the cook and his eyes were wide with curiosity and a hint of playfulness. He was trying to lean down so he was back in Zoro’s face. His breath smelt like smoke and wine.
“Beautiful. Our beautiful marimo.” Suddenly, Sanji was licking just under Zoro’s bottom lip all the way up to the tip of his nose. Zoro’s eyes widen as he felt Sanji’s tongue dip between his lips. It had Zoro’s skin tingling and his heart racing. Because this was more than just Sanji’s normal flirting behavior. It was something much more intimate.
Sanji was giggling and trying to lick him again but Robin had gotten up, mistaking Zoro’s silence as he was uncomfortable. She was giving him a strained smile as she tried to peel Sanji off Zoro. The cook had somehow climbed into his lap and started to lick and suck all over his neck. But Zoro’s sluggish brain was still trying to wrap around the fact that Sanji was trying to untie his robe.
“Sanji it is time for bed.” Zoro heard Sanji whine as his arms were being dragged off Zoro, but he quickly latched himself to Robin and began babbling incoherent words out.
Zoro frowned as Robin helped a stumbling Sanji out of the galley and out towards the boy’s quarters. He hadn’t realized everyone was watching him until he turned his head from the doorway and saw Nami and Franky smirking at him.
“Just wait until morning Zoro, then you can kick his ass.” Usopp jested at him before jumping up with a yell at Jinbe’s pair of aces. The fishman winked at Zoro as everyone crowded around him, seeing that he was the first to ever beat Nami. Zoro, realizing what Jinbe had done, he slipped out of the galley and made his way towards the boy’s quarters.
He could hear Sanji sing song something to Robin. He waited a second before opening the door and saw Robin trying to help Sanji out of his dress shoes.
“Zoro! Our beautiful swordsman!” Zoro raised an eyebrow as he watched Sanji trip over Robin and catch himself against Zoro’s shoulders. He can see how drunk he was, his eyes were unfocused and his cheeks were flushed.
“Robin! It’s our lovely swordsman.” Robin gave Zoro a knowing look before waving a hand as she walked out the boy’s quarters. It just left Zoro and Sanji.
“Zoro!” Zoro flinched back as Sanji crowded more into his space. It seems all the alcohol had finally caught up. He just smiled at the cook before bending down and sweeping Sanji’s knees into his arms. Carrying bridal style will make it easier for Zoro. But the cook squeaked as he held tightly onto Zoro.
“Come on princess, it’s time for bed.” Zoro made his way towards the door and had to stop himself from laughing as Sanji tried to escape his arms as they passed the galley.
“Our friends! Zoro our friends-“
“Will be there in the morning. Come on you need to sleep. And the best place to sleep is in the Crow’s Nest. You won’t hear Luffy’s snoring nor smell Usopp’s socks.” As Zoro helped Sanji towards the crows nest he realized one fatal flaw. Climbing a ladder.
“Cook can you do me a favor?” Zoro looked down and realized Sanji was almost asleep in his arms. He looked at the ladder and thought fuck it. He shifted Sanji, whom let out a confused whine from being moved around, but Zoro ignored him as he threw Sanji over his shoulder like a sack. Sanji’s protest died as Zoro started to climb the ladder up into the crows nest.
Once he got them into the room, Zoro had set Sanji on the window bench before grabbing some blankets and a few pillows from the chest in the corner.
“This isn’t the boy’s room?”
“No cook, this is the crows nest.” He handed a blanket to the cook but he was too busy looking out at the ocean.
“Why do you like me?” Zoro frowned as he set the pillow next to the blonde. He looked around trying to figure out what to do with himself.
“You’re our cook.” Zoro huffed because it was such a silly question for him to ask. Sanji was as much a vital piece of their crew as was any of the others. Zoro won’t admit it but, he might play a more vital role with the fact he helps keep them alive and strong. Zoro rather go to his early grave than admit that. Zoro had turned to fully look at the cook and the soft laugh building behind his ribs popped at the sight of tears in Sanji’s eyes.
He could only see his side profile but the clear sign of the wetness at the bottom of his lashes threw Zoro off. Sanji wasn’t one to cry at any time. Let alone drunk. The one that usually cries is Usopp or Chopper.
It made Zoro feel like he had said the wrong thing. Typical Zoro behavior.
“Right, just the cook.” Zoro realized his mistake. He should have known. Ever since Big Mom, Sanji had been more sensitive towards his role on their ship. Nami had kept everyone in the dark on what Sanji had gone through, but Luffy had told Zoro some details. Enough details for Zoro to reconsider his answer or at least his approach.
It hurt Zoro to see any of his Namaka question their self worth. They all had dreams and goals that he wanted to help them achieve, fucking Luffy was rubbing off onto him.
But Zoro wasn’t the best at comfort like their captain. He usually sticks with his whole I’ll kill anyone for you, but he can’t kill what’s threatening Sanji’s mind. Zoro tried to figure out the best way to navigate this and thought to softly wipe the tears from Sanji’s right eye. It must have startled the cook because he was turning to stare at Zoro head on.
“Am I really only worthy because I’m a cook?” Fucking hell.
“No. Sanji no. You’re much more than just a cook.” That seemed to be the right thing to say because Sanji was smiling so brightly that his eyes had completely vanished from his face. It had the breath Zoro had taken get lodged in his throat.
“You are much more than our swordsman.” Zoro tried to cover his cheeks before the idiot saw them heat up but it was too late. The cook and beamed brightly before turning to look back out at the ocean.
“Why did it take you this long to-“ Zoro wasn’t all too sure what to say. He wanted to know why Sanji took so long to touch him. Why he wouldn’t allow himself to be open with his emotions towards him. It was almost maddening at how desperate Zoro was becoming from that simple lick.
“I knew if I touched you then I’d never want to stop. And I really don’t want to stop.” Zoro sighed and scooted closer to Sanji before taking his well cared for hands in his own. He watched all the tension leave Sanji as he shuffled to lay his back against Zoro’s chest. It gave Zoro the perfect opportunity to bury his face in Sanji’s soft hair.
And that’s how they slept. Zoro lent against the side of the crow’s nest window with Sanji slobbering all over his right pec. They’ll both stutter about in the morning, both unsure but excited by the change in their relationship. And if the crew notices when Sanji gets drunk again, that the only person he wants to kiss is Zoro, they don’t comment on it.
It only took one brave stripped-back moment sparked purely from vulnerability born out liquid courage and despite overwhelming embarrassment mingling seamlessly with buoyant excitement, for Sanji and Zoro to truly find happiness.