Sanji followed love around, even though it didn’t seem to want him. He put himself out there every day for years, hoping someone might be interested. His heart was filled with love to give. He believed someone, someday would accept.
He liked women. He liked the way they smelled, the way they smiled, and the way they looked. He wanted to pamper them, treat them like princesses, and give them all of himself. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for a woman.
But women didn’t like Sanji. No matter what he did, he couldn’t gain their affection or attraction. He thought he was a good-looking man. He dressed nicely. He had manners. He could cook. But for all his flirtation, all his compliments and adoration, he was rejected at every turn.
He’d thought getting away from the Baratie would help his chances. The Grand Line was full of women who might be interested in a man like Sanji. They weren’t. With every island the Straw Hat crew visited, every new town they came upon, Sanji was spurned. A majority of the time, he wasn’t even given a second glance.
Before he’d spent two years with Okama, not a single woman was interested in Sanji. He’d hoped, once he’d reunited with his crew, that since he’d grown stronger, changed his hair, grown a mustache and goatee, his chances would increase. He was wrong. There was a brief, blessed moment on Fish-man Island that maybe, just maybe, the mermaids were into him. It turned out, they just thought he was funny. Ha-ha Sanji, acting stupid and getting nosebleeds. Nothing had changed. On Dressrosa, while chasing Zoro around, a woman threw herself at Sanji, begging for his help. She gave him compliments. Sanji was under the delusion that, finally, someone might like him, might appreciate him. But instead she beat the crap out of Sanji, because of course she did, when was a woman ever actually interested in him?
Sanji thought, maybe, hopefully, that Pudding might be, when he was yanked into a political marriage by the father he’d wanted to forget. But she took Sanji’s offered heart and stomped all over it. Viciously. Unremorsefully. Between her words and his former father’s, Sanji thought he’d be better off not existing anymore, then the fact that he was a disgusting loser and failure of a man wouldn’t matter.
Sanji was still alive, though; Luffy had seen to that. Apparently, he thought Sanji might be worth having around. Sanji went back to the crew, beaten and broken, but able to put on a good show. He still wanted to find All Blue, that hadn’t changed. Everything else had changed, including his body, which had activated the genetic modifications his former father had always wanted, turning Sanji into an abnormality. He’d kept his emotions, which he should be thankful about, but mostly it made him hate himself more. He felt gross and unlovable. He closed in on himself, putting away his wants and desires because they were useless anyway.
Sanji stopped following love around.
Three weeks had passed since departing Wano Country, the Thousand Sunny sailing where the wind took them on the search for the last Road Poneglyph. Sanji kept mostly to himself, sticking to the galley, his kitchen, where he felt the most comfortable. He enjoyed feeding people, giving them the one simple thing that could keep them going. With this crew, he had the added responsibility of making sure everyone had the best nutrition on top of the best taste. The Straw Hats needed strength to conquer adversaries and this was one way Sanji could feel helpful.
Sanji worked on recipes, taking stock of their food, and cleaned the galley until it sparkled. He also worked through his issues with his ex-father. Luffy wanted him for all the reasons Judge had not, and Sanji was finally able to forgive himself for not being good enough for that man. The dislike of his new body lingered, coupled with feelings of inadequacy and unattractiveness. Love was stupid, anyway.
Sanji took a final drag from his cigarette and flicked the butt over the back of the Sunny. It was mid-afternoon, lunch having been over for about an hour. The sun played peek-a-boo between thick, puffy white clouds. He could hear Usopp and Robin conversing behind him on the upper deck. Usopp was working at his extension office. Robin was tending her garden. Loud whoops and laughing screams carried from the main deck on the wind. The Sunny’s sails snapped in the breeze.
Sanji cut through Chopper’s empty infirmary back to the galley. The galley was divided into halves, with a kitchen on one side of a bart and dining area on the other. The dining table seated eight, with swivel chairs bolted to the floor. Bar length seating provided a spot to sit at the bar. A couch ran along the wall between Chopper’s infirmary and the door to the main deck. Light sconces hung above the couch. The entrance to dry storage was tucked behind the service elevator that led down to the Aquarium Bar.
The kitchen, which Sanji loved, had high end appliances and a checkered-patterned floor. The prep counter ran along the bar, with the wash sink set into it. A four-burner stovetop, extra-large oven, and double-wide refrigerator created the triangle of cooking along with the sink. There were latching cabinets for storage and overhead lights provided plenty of illumination while Sanjis worked.
Sanji picked up the cleaner and rag he’d been using before his smoke break and went to tackle the service elevator. They used it often when they were asea, as the Aquarium Bar below was a good place to gather, to while away the evening hours. Sanji didn’t spend as much time as the others in the Aquarium Bar, though, as he needed to provide the snacks and additional drinks for those who didn’t like alcohol.
Humming quietly, Sanji opened the elevator door. The dumbwaiter was currently locked at the galley level. Sanji sprayed his cleaner throughout the interior and began to wipe it down. He had to lean in to reach the back and upper sides. When he did, he heard voices coming up from the Aquarium Bar through the service elevator. The service elevator door below must be open.
“...Show your tits or something.”
“I’m not going to show my tits!”
“Ow, woman! That hurt.”
“Serves you right.”
It was Zoro and Nami. Sanji wanted to go downstairs and kick Zoro’s ass for making an uncouth suggestion, but his strong, capable Nami had already smacked Zoro for his transgression.
“We have to do something,” Zoro said.
“Then you do something,” Nami replied.
“Me?”
“Yes, you. You’re the one who’s worried.”
“Shouldn’t everyone be worried?”
There was a brief silence, which to Sanji seemed uncomfortable.
Nami sighed loudly. “We’ve noticed. Robin and I have talked about it, and I’ve spoken to Luffy. Luffy said to leave it alone. It would sort itself out.”
“What? Why would he say that?”
“Who knows what goes on inside his rubber head? He’s usually right, though.”
They fell silent again. Zoro broke it. “I don’t think I can leave it alone.”
“Zoro…”
Zoro’s next words were too soft for Sanji to hear. Nami’s weren’t. “Come here, you adorable lughead.” Sanji heard a squawk of protest.
“Gerroff. You’re smothering me.”
A wave of jealousy washed over Sanji, and he yanked his head from inside the service elevator and slammed the door shut. Nami was obviously hugging Zoro. Why was Nami hugging Zoro? Were Nami and Zoro a thing? Was the reason Nami had never shown any interest in him because she’d liked Zoro all along?
Sanji’s thoughts went spinning into a downward spiral. Was that what women wanted? Someone brawny and brainless? He’d seen women checking out Zoro all the time. Was that why no one liked him? Didn’t find him attractive? Did he need to bulk up, dress down, and start grunting?
Sanji laughed piteously at himself. Right, because that would work. He’d have a better chance with Zoro than he would with women if he did that, and Zoro didn’t like him, either. He couldn’t even get that stupid, unwanted attraction right. Could he be any more of a loser?
Filled with self-loathing, Sanji put away his cleaning supplies, grabbed his clipboard, and went to bury himself with inventory.
Little Crab Isles bore its name wisely, as the islands looked like tiny crabs scuttling across the surface of the sea. The tropical summer isles held citrus trees, large ferns, and beautiful Heliconia flowers. The sounds of birds and wildlife filled the air. Visitors scattered along the pristine beaches, sunning themselves, playing in the surf, making sandcastles. Little Crab Isles was a tourist-type destination for those who lived at this end of the Grand Line.
Sanji worked to restock the food stores on the ship, while the rest of the crew scattered off to play. He didn’t mind. It was part of his job as the cook to ensure they had enough food in storage for long stretches at sea. It also gave him the opportunity to suss out the town. Were the locals friendly, wary, or hostile? Did he see anywhere he’d like to visit when he was done?
Sanji had seen a place, a tiki bar down by the beach. It looked friendly and inviting, a nice place to wind down after a day of work. Outdoor tables and chairs sat under wide, colorful umbrellas. Rhythmic music played over a radio sitting on the bar. Locals and visitors sat and chatted in the cool ocean breeze.
He took a seat at the bar, which spanned the width between torches that marked the edges of the outside establishment. A local with a golden tan and ready smile served Sanji a mixed drink in a colorful cup. Sanji’s cigarette smoke drifted with the breeze. The tiki bar didn’t serve food, but it was a pleasant place to spend an hour to unwind.
“Hello, handsome.” Sanji was startled by the hand on his back and the voice near his ear. He hadn’t expected anyone to approach him and his observation haki hadn’t alerted him to any danger. He turned on his stool and his jaw dropped. A blonde-haired woman stood beside him, dressed provocatively in a short skirt and low-cut blouse, showing off plenty of cleavage.
Sanji pressed his fingers quickly to his nose, in case of nosebleed. “Are you speaking to me?”
“Of course.” The woman fluffed her bouffant hair. “You are the most handsomest man here.”
Sanji was flabbergasted. This couldn’t be real. He knew better. But hope still sprang inside him. Was she actually attracted to him? “A lovely compliment from the loveliest woman in existence. Would you like to join me for a drink?”
The woman smiled. “Certainly.”
She took the bar stool beside Sanji, and Sanji quickly ordered whatever she wanted. She told him her name was Tippy. He peppered her with questions: was she local, did she have a job, did she know she was beautiful? She didn’t answer, and instead merely laughed lightly and smiled. “You’re sweet.”
Sanji was excited, not physically – not yet anyway – but happy. A woman was interested in him, had taken the time to sit down next to him and have a drink because she wanted to get to know him. It was a first. He was likely babbling, because he didn’t know how to act. He poured on the flattery and charm. She answered his questions about the town, but little about herself. One drink turned into two, then three, and she was still there.
Sadly, Sanji could only afford that many drinks and he settled their tab. “Would you care to take a stroll on the beach with me? It’s a nice night.”
Tippy gave him a coy look. “How about you join me instead?”
Sanji nearly melted off the stool. He got to his feet quickly. He caught a flash of green in the corner of his eye, but when he looked, no one was there. Sanji offered his arm to the woman. She took it. Sanji could barely see from the hearts in his eyes.
She led him from the tiki bar and away from the beach. They wandered through the town, two possible lovers on a nighttime stroll. Sanji flipped a coin into a fountain as they passed, allowing her the wish. He felt giddy.
They came up to a building with red shutters and a red door. A man was leaving as they arrived, a satisfied smile on his face. He clapped Sanji on the shoulder as he passed. Sanji was confused. “Where are we?”
“The brothel, of course,” TIppy said. “Where else would we go to have sex?”
The hearts floating around him dropped like lead. Sanji stared at the woman, then through the still open red door into the establishment. He could see men and women gathered in a parlor. The women all wore provocative clothes and had similar hairstyles to the woman with him. “You’re a brothel worker,” he whispered in dismay.
“Of course I am. You’re hunky friend bought you an hour with me.” Tippy smiled dreamily. “I would’ve preferred riding that horse, but he wanted me for you for some reason.”
All the air rushed from Sanji’s lungs. He felt gutted. He should’ve known this was too good to be true. Why did he let himself hope like that? The only thing hope led to was heartbreak. “Did he have three swords on him?” Sanji asked, remembering that flash of green back at the bar.
“Yes, he did.” She cocked her hip and went to take his arm again. “Let’s go in, sweety. I’ll show you a good time.”
Sanji extracted himself from her and backed away. “No. Thank you, though. Your services aren’t necessary.” Inside, anger and heartache coalesced into a rage. “I have other business to attend to.”
Tippy shrugged. “Suit yourself. I’ve already been paid.”
Sanji gave her a tight smile and a slight bow, because he was polite. “Good night, m’lady. I… had a good time.” The truth of the words cut him deep, knowing it had all been a job for her. Then, he turned on his heel and headed off. He had a swordsman to find and kill.
Zoro ended up not being hard to find, because the asshole was standing in the center of an intersection a few streets over, looking confused. His dumbass probably got lost again. His eye widened when he saw Sanji. “What are you doing here?”
Sanji answered him with a double-kick to the chest.
Zoro staggered back with an oof of pain. He immediately drew his katanas and blocked the next kick to his head. “You want a go?” he growled, when Sanji spun to kick again.
Sanji didn’t respond with words. He was too furious to speak. Zoro had bought him a sex worker like he was a pathetic loser incapable of finding a woman. That it was true made him even angrier. The woman had preferred Zoro, too! She was disappointed at being stuck with Sanji. Not even sex workers wanted him.
Sanji launched kick after kick at Zoro, not letting up. Zoro lost ground, blocking and dodging, barely getting a strike in. They fought viciously, breaking lamp posts and street signs, cracking the stone off buildings. A crowd had gathered around them. Someone said the marines should be called.
Nami’s voice rang out. “What the hell do you two think you’re doing?!”
Sanji flipped upright with a steely glare at Zoro. Zoro panted around Wado in his mouth, his other two blades raised. Nami stomped over to them, but before she could say anything, Sanji apologized. “Please excuse me, Nami-san. I’m going back to the ship. I won’t further disturb your evening.”
Nami appeared surprised, but mollified. “Okay. But I’d better not catch you two fighting again.”
Sanji gave her a curt bow, pivoted on his heel, and left. The crowd began to disperse. He heard her words rise up behind him. “Why were you two fighting?”
“I don’t know. He just came at me. He was supposed to be with that woman.”
“What woman?”
Sanji had gotten too far away to hear the answer. But he didn’t need to hear it. He knew. And it hurt. Even Zoro thought he was an unwanted, unlovable loser. So much so that he’d bought a woman, with his own money, for Sanji. Zoro must’ve seen his jealousy over Hiyori sleeping with Zoro back on Wano and felt pity for him.
Sanji reached the Sunny, climbed the gangplank, and made a beeline for the Aquarium Bar. He snagged two bottles of wine before taking himself to the men’s quarters. He planned to get drunk.
Sanji wasn’t a heavy drinker. Since he was the one usually serving food when others were revelling, he didn’t imbibe often. He drank the first bottle of red wine down quickly, then started on the second. About halfway through, he was feeling pleasantly foggy. He went to the galley to make himself a charcuterie board, collected a third bottle of wine from the Aquarium Bar, and returned to the men’s quarters.
The men’s quarters on the Thousand Sunny were large. Eight bunks hung in a double-row from ceiling chains. A row of lockers to hold their clothes and other items stretched along the back wall and a nearby ladder ran down to storage. Laundry, old papers, a few books, and various sundry items littered the floor. The wash sink with a mirror above it stood beside the entrance to the room. A sunken sofa surrounded a sunken table, big enough to gather around for a night of cards. Their wanted posters hung on the wall near the sofas.
Sanji aimed another kitchen knife and let it fly. It thunked into the wall at the top of Zoro’s current wanted poster. The one with the bounty that put him second only to Luffy. The bastard. Sanji was no longer the third, but the fourth because of Jinbe. Not only was he unlovable, he’d dropped in ranking with the crew. He sucked.
Sanji took another swig directly from the third wine bottle. He’d had a glass, but it had rolled off somewhere, leaving a trail of red wine in its wake. Most of the charcuterie board had been eaten. Another knife went sailing. It thunked into Zoro’s stupid face. “Ha.”
He was on the left side of slurring his words. Parts of him felt numb. He didn’t know how long it would last. The genetic modifications that had activated included exceedingly rapid healing and it was possible he’d sober up super fast. He’d have to keep drinking to stave that off for as long as possible.
Another knife went flying. This one hit Usopp’s poster. “Oop. Sorry, Usopp.”
Sanji reached to stab a hunk of cheese with one of the six knives he’d brought from the kitchen and ate it. The door to the men’s quarters opened behind him. He glanced back and glowered when Zoro skulked in. “Go away.”
“It’s my ship, too.” Zoro headed over toward the lockers, leaving wet bootprints behind him. When the light hit his face, Sanji saw that he had a black eye.
“What happened to your eye?” Sanji asked. Not that he cared, but he was curious. Zoro only had the one and now it had a ring around it.
“Nami says you’re welcome,” Zoro grumbled in response.
Sanji was confused. Why would Nami say that? What did that have to do with anything? Zoro opened his locker and began rooting around in the mess within. His ass was on display in his tight, wet trousers as he bent forward. Sanji stared at it. He’d had many dirty fantasies about that ass. So dirty he wanted to wash his brain out with soap after he’d jerked off. He blamed that ass for making him question how straight he really was. He was also mad at that ass and the asshat attached to it. He threw one of his last three knives at it. The knife clinked off the locker, far from its target.
Zoro straightened abruptly, holding a new pair of trousers in his hand. “Oi! Why are you throwing knives at me?”
“Serves you right,” Sanji said, anger returning swiftly. His pleasant fog was turning into a storm. “I can’t believe you bought me a worker from a brothel.” The word came out like braffal.
Zoro looked away from Sanji. “I thought I was helping.”
“Helping? Helping!” Sanji picked up another knife, wanting to chuck it at Zoro’s stupid head. “You think that I’m so desperate for love that I’d pay for it?”
Zoro blew out a breath and ran his hand over his short, green hair. “You’ve been unhappy. I thought maybe if you got laid, it might snap you out of it.”
“Fuck you.” Sanji was livid now. He got to his feet and the world spun. He caught his balance against the side of the couch. “I don’t want my first time to be with someone who does it professionally. I actually want someone who likes me for me. I know that’s never going to happen, since I am a disgusting, unlovable fool, but I don’t want your fucking pity.”
Zoro’s mouth turned down in the corners. “You’re not disgusting or unlovable.”
“Ha!” Sanji waved the knife in his hand in an agitated gesture. “You know that sex worker you hired? She said she was disappointed that she was hired for me. She wanted you. They all want you.”
“Tch. That’s not true.”
“They do. Even Nami-san wants you, with your overgrown muscles and your caveman personality.”
Zoro frowned. “What the hell are you talking about? Nami doesn’t like me.”
“Pft. Don’t lie. I heard you two.” Sanji snagged the bottle of wine from the table and drank heavily from it. He wanted to drown the memory of Nami apparently smothering Zoro with her perfect breasts of love. Sanji nearly fell over as he drank. The world kept spinning and spinning.
“I don’t know what you heard, but you heard wrong,” Zoro told him firmly. “And there are people who want and like you for you.”
Sanji thunked the bottle down on the table with a jagged laugh. “Really? Do you think they want this?” Sanji turned the knife in his other hand to face himself and plunged it hard against his chest.
“Cook!” Zoro gasped, dropped the clothes in his hand, and rushed over to Sanji. “What the fuck? Why did you do that? Chopper’s not here!”
Sanji held up the crumpled knife. “Don’t need Chopper, do I? Because I’m a fucking monstrosity.” He’d never told any of the others about the modifications. Only Chopper knew because he was there. Zoro hadn’t asked what the den den mushi call had been about when they’d fought over it after the battle was won. They’d only brought up Sanji’s death wish.
Zoro stared at the knife, then at Sanji’s chest. Sanji could see the horror written plainly on his face. It made Sanji feel sick to his stomach. He chucked the knife down on the table and palmed the last one.
“You’re not hurt.” Zoro’s voice was tinged with both fear and awe. He raised his hand as if to touch Sanji’s chest, then balled it into a fist and let it drop back to his side. “Why aren’t you hurt?”
“I told you. I’m a monster. A gross aberration. Who the hell would want me?” Sanji took the last knife and stabbed it into his neck in front of Zoro’s shocked eyes. He felt the blade crumple. It didn’t even sting. “I can hardly feel pain anymore. I don’t even know if I can feel pleasure. I haven’t tried jerking off since it happened, because I’m too fucking afraid to find out.” The alcohol had loosened Sanji’s tongue. He never would have admitted his fears otherwise, especially not to Zoro.
Zoro grabbed the knife from him. “Stop it.”
“Why? It doesn’t matter.” Sanji grabbed the bottle of wine and drained the rest. He was done with this conversation. Done with Zoro. “Leave me alone.”
“Cook…”
“I mean it. Go away.” Sanji tried to shove Zoro, but it was like trying to shove a stone wall. “I want to enjoy the last of my drunkenness in peace before it disappears.” Peace came out like peash.
Zoro looked like he was going to say something and changed his mind. He put the broken knife on the table, picked up his trousers, and left. Sanji spared a thought as to why Zoro was wearing wet trousers. Probably got lost and walked off a bridge.
Sanji sank down onto the couch again and pillowed his head with his arms on the table. The couch spun underneath him. Zoro’s appearance had reminded him that he hated himself. Fuck him. Fuck everyone.
Roughly an hour after he stopped drinking, Sanji was sober. No hangover. No headache. No nothing. His memory was fine and he winced over the stuff he’d admitted to Zoro. There wasn’t anything he could do about it, though. He rose from the couch in the men’s quarters and cleaned up his mess. The clock told him it was still before midnight. The others could be returning to the ship at any time, for the night. Some may have opted to stay in town.
Sanji had spent his pocket money on drinks with Tippy. His stomach churned with disgust, not over her, but toward himself. “Stupid,” he muttered, insulting himself. “You’re so stupid.”
He carried the empty wine bottles, wine glass, knives, and charcuterie board back to the galley. He didn’t meet anyone on deck. He saw a light on in the crow’s nest as he passed. They hadn’t set a watch. Franky had security systems that would stop anyone from stealing the Sunny. It was likely Zoro up in the crow’s nest, training.
Sanji scowled in that general direction as he climbed the steps. He was still furious with Zoro, even though the idiot had said he’d done it because Sanji had been unhappy. Sanji was surprised he’d noticed. They weren’t the best of friends. They hadn’t spoken much since Sanji’s return. They had a fight here and there, but Sanji had mostly kept to himself. He didn’t want to burden the crew with his issues.
Sanji cleaned up, returned to the men’s quarters to mop the spilled wine and crumbs from the charcuterie board, and headed outside for a cigarette. He wandered up to the helm deck, lit a cigarette, and braced his elbows against the port rail. He looked out over the harbor. Lights from the various ships looked like low-hanging stars against the darkness. Sanji wondered what the crews were like on those ships. Were they like the Straw Hats, more of a family than a crew? Or were they militant, like the marines, where they only did as ordered? The fact that Luffy still wanted Sanji aboard after what he’d done still bewildered him. He doubted any other captain would have acted the same. But Luffy had forgiven him, telling Sanji that he’d understood why Sanji had done it, because of the type of man Sanji was. That sort of grace was rare.
Sanji blew the smoke from his cigarettes in rings, contemplating tomorrow. He’d get up at his regular time and make breakfast. A light one, in case there weren’t many who came back to the ship. Nami indicated they’d only stay a day if they didn’t find any information on the Road Poneglyph. Sanji didn’t want to go back to shore, anyway.
He flicked his spent cigarette over the side of the ship and returned to the men’s quarters. He decided to call it a night.
Lavender Grove was a single, tiny island a few days sail from Little Crab Isles. Unpopulated, the entire island was covered in lavender plants. The plants had fragrant leaves and small blue-violet flowers. The fresh, sweet, floral scent that filled the air was calming and herbaceous.
Franky set the anchor and the crew traveled in groups on the Mini Merry II to the island. Chopper immediately began gathering lavender, as it had good medicinal qualities. Nami and Robin picked lavender, as well, to make perfume and sachets for their room. Luffy flopped down to take a nap. Brook played a soft melody on his violin, in celebration of the find.
A basket over his arm, Sanji also picked lavender for the kitchen. The flowers were edible. They could be used in salads, soups, stews, and tea. Sanji’s imagination was already overflowing with ideas and recipes. A small smile graced his lips as he wandered the field. He was careful to pick only the lavender that hadn’t fully bloomed. He cut the plants low, using sharp secateurs.
He ran into Usopp, Zoro, and Franky sitting amongst the plants, working on something with the lavender. Sanji paid them no mind. He strolled his way across the field, allowing the three foot high plants to tickle his palm. He could actually feel the tickle, which gave him some relief. He still hadn’t dared to touch himself in any sexual way.
The sun was warm overhead. White, puffy clouds drifted through the blue sky. Sanji meandered to the opposite side of the tiny island, where the waves slid upon the sandy shore. A peacefulness stole over him, one he hadn’t felt for a while. It could be the soothing scent of the lavender or the fact that it was a beautiful day.
He heard Zoro’s footsteps coming up behind him. He didn’t turn. He didn’t want Zoro ruining this. “Go away, marimo.”
Zoro didn’t listen, because when did he ever? His feet clomped right up to Sanji. Sanji felt something deposited on his head. “What the…?” Sanji said, reaching to remove whatever it was.
“Leave it on,” Zoro told him.
Sanji didn’t, because when did he ever listen to Zoro? He pulled it off, and then stared incredulously at what was in his hand. It was a wreath made from lavender. “Did you really just put a flower crown on my head?”
“Yeah. What of it?” Zoro sounded belligerent. “Usopp showed us how to make it.”
Sanji was confused, turning to face Zoro. “Wouldn’t you want to give it to Nami-san?”
Zoro released an exasperated breath. “I told you, I’m not with Nami. Besides, she already has one.”
Sanji looked past Zoro across the field to his other nakama. Both Robin and Nami now sported lavender crowns. “Why are you giving this to me?”
Color stole across Zoro’s cheeks, though he still sounded angry. “Because you like pretty shit like this.”
Sanji’s expression darkened. “Do you think I’m a girl?”
“What?! No.” Zoro folded his arms defensively. The tone of his next words rang like an insult. “You just always look good.”
“That’s because I bathe, until stupid idiots like you.” Sanji’s fingers curled around the lavender wreath, crunching some of the blossoms, making them scatter onto the shore. “Get away from me, shit swordsman. You’re ruining my day.”
“Fine.” Zoro pivoted on his heel and stomped away.
Sanji ground his teeth, watching him go. The nerve of that idiot. Giving him a lavender crown like he was a girl, because Sanji wore suits and cared about his appearance. What an asshole.
Sanji shoved the crown into his basket, lit up a cigarette, and tried to regather the joy in his day.
Cool Sun Rock stood like a monolith against the sky. It had a large, flat top balanced perfectly on a stone pillar that rose from the ocean. Jinbe maneuvered the Sunny artfully to enable the crew to reach the rock from the exterior crow’s nest. Usopp shot a zip line between the mast and the rock and they zipped over for an impromptu picnic.
Sanji passed out sandwiches and cut up fruit bowls from the large basket he’d brought over. Franky had carried the basket with the drinks. They’d thrown a couple large patterned blankets on the hard surface of the rock to sit on. The sun caused the rock to sparkle.
The crew ate and chatted about nothing. Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper moved to lay on their stomachs at the end of the rock, peering over edge down at the water. Nami stripped off her overshirt to expose a bikini top, to sunbathe. Sanji had a brief reaction to it, but nothing big. He knew it was useless anyway.
Robin brought out a book, and Brook and Franky were making up lyrics to a bawdy song. Jinbe sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, meditating. Zoro’s katanas were near his side. Zoro, himself, was hanging from the edge of the rock, doing pull-ups. His head kept appearing and disappearing over the rim.
Sanji took himself away from the others and sat with his legs hanging off the rock. He lit up a cigarette. The wind tousled his hair. He looked out over the ocean. A couple of sea birds circled and dove for fish, but the sea was empty of ships. The Sunny was no longer on a log-pose route.
Zoro’s shadow loomed above him. Sanji sighed. “What do you want?”
Zoro took a seat next to Sanji, bare feet hanging off the side. He’d shed his boots and his shirt immediately upon setting foot on the rock. His earrings glinted in the sun. He peered down at the water far below. “Think we could dive that?”
Sanji glanced down. They were about seventy-feet above the water. “I could. Don’t know if your neck’s thick enough not to be broken.”
“Let’s find out,” Zoro said, and clapped Sanji on the back hard enough to send him flying off the rock.
“You fucker!” Sanji shouted, his cigarette spilling from his mouth. His heart flew into his throat, both terrified and exhilarated. He straightened his legs and tightened his muscles. His feet hit the water first. It was like slamming into stone. The impact rattled him. He sank far.
He was swimming for the surface when a plunge surged near him. Zoro. He turned and swam in that direction, in case the stupid ape had gotten hurt. Would serve him right. Still, Sanji wouldn’t let him drown. Maybe.
He couldn’t see under the salty water for more than a foot. His vision was blurry and it stung. He eventually spotted Zoro paddling for the surface. Satisfied that the dumbass wasn’t struggling, Sanji swam upwards.
He broke the surface and sucked in a breath of air. The waves caused him to bob up and down. Zoro surfaced a moment later nearby. He was grinning like a loon.
“I hate you,” Sanji said, and jumped at him. He shoved Zoro’s head underwater.
Zoro punched him in the gut, which didn’t do any good because Sanji couldn’t feel it. He decided to wrap his arms around Sanji instead and yank him under. Sanji got water up his nose. The bastard.
They tussled underwater, fighting to keep one another beneath the surface until breathing became an issue. Zoro broke for air first. Sanji rose up beside him. “Ha, I win.”
“You guys alive down there?” Franky yelled from above.
“Yeah!” Zoro shouted back. He paddled in place. The grin returned. “Want to jump again?”
“I didn’t jump. You pushed me!” Sanji scowled and spat water out when it got into his mouth. “You ruined my clothes. And my cigarettes!”
“They’ll dry.” Zoro began swimming for the Sunny. “Race you back!”
Sanji was hampered by more clothing and his shoes, but he wasn’t about to let Zoro win. He dove beneath the surface and kicked into high speed. He was gratified to learn it worked underwater. He surged up to the surface beside the Sunny and looked around for Zoro. Zoro was still swimming toward him. Sanji grinned in victory.
Zoro reached his side and hung onto the lowest ladder plank nailed into the Sunny. Sanji held on beside him. “I win again,” Sanji crowed.
Zoro swiped his other hand over his wet face. “You weren’t this fast last time we raced.”
Sanji shrugged, slicking his wet hair back from his brow. “The extra speed came with the modifications.”
Zoro grunted. “Any other body surprises you haven’t told me about?”
“My dick is the size of your arm now.”
Zoro’s jaw fell, and Sanji laughed loudly. “You should see your face!”
Zoro tackled him back into the water. They fought some more, turning and twisting against each other, bumping into the hull of the Sunny. Sanji hated to admit it, but he was having fun. He surfaced, gasping for a breath of air, at the same time as Zoro. Sanji shot Zoro a smile before climbing the ladder onto the Sunny.
Sanji tugged off his tie and wrung it out. His poor cigarettes were a loss. He toed off his sodden shoes as Zoro climbed over the rail onto the deck. “You owe me a pack of cigarettes.”
“Whatever.” Zoro shook his head like a dog, spraying water everywhere from his hair.
Sanji kicked him in the shin. “Stop spraying me with water.”
“You’re already wet.” Zoro eyed him up and down. He seemed to pause when looking at Sanji’s crotch. Splotches of color appeared on his cheeks.
Sanji noticed. “Are you trying to determine the actual size of my dick?”
“No.” Zoro jerked his chin, looking pointedly away. The blush grew darker.
Sanji was bemused. Why was Zoro blushing? “I can get a tape measure. We can find out who’s the biggest.”
Wow, Zoro’s blush could go all the way down to his beltline. A wet beltline that was showing Zoro was not lacking in the dick department. Sanji blinked. Wait, was Zoro getting hard?
Zoro turned away from Sanji before Sanji could determine for sure. “I’d win. I’m going to piss.” He clomped off toward the toilets hidden under the stairs that led up to the women’s quarters.
Sanji stared after him. Zoro’s wet trousers clung to his ass. Sanji started having his own problems with wet, revealing clothing. He fled to the galley to hide until it went away.
Mamizu Rock leaned like a drunken golem in the sea. A sprinkle of worn, crumbling stone houses dotted its surface. A half-broken pier stretched out into the ocean. Blackbirds perched on twisted, barren trees. Scraggly brown scrub grass tufted the hard terrain. Rats scurried from ruin to ruin.
“This is awesome!” Luffy leapt from the masthead onto the pier before the Thousand Sunny came to a stop. He ran towards shore. “Woohoo!”
“Luffy! Don’t get lost!” Nami shouted after him.
“I do not believe the island is big enough for that to occur,” Jinbe commented.
Sanji hopped down from the rail he was perched on at the front of the ship, holding the tie rope over his shoulder. He wrapped it around the cracked cleat on the pier. He saw Zoro secure the back tether. Franky extended the gangplank and the rest of the crew descended onto the pier.
“Sanji-kun, stick with Zoro,” Nami told Sanji. “I don’t want him getting lost, either.”
“Yes, Nami-san,” Sanji tried to say it with enthusiasm, because Nami was asking him, but he was being stuck with the ape for the day.
Robin settled her hat on her head, shading her eyes from the bright sun. “It appears this island has been deserted for a while.”
“Maybe we’ll get lucky and find some information on the Road Poneglyph then,” Franky said.
“Be back by nightfall,” Nami instructed the group. “If any of you find Luffy, keep him with you.”
Usopp lowered his targeting goggles. “The Great Sniper Usopp will locate him swiftly!”
“Great Sniper Usopp is so cool!” Chopper gushed.
The crew split up. Sanji and Zoro took a path that wound around the tilted outer edge of Mamizu Rock. Dark clouds skittered across the sky, occasionally blocking the hot sun. Sanji wore a pale yellow shirt and black trousers. He’d left his jacket and tie on the ship in deference to the heat. Zoro wore his long coat sans shirt, tied with the red sash around his waist. Sanji thought Zoro had an allergy to shirts. The brute probably couldn’t pack his ridiculous muscles into them.
The blackbirds on the nearest twisted tree took flight at their approach. “Messengers of the dead,” Zoro murmured.
Sanji cut a glance at him, surprised. “You don’t believe in that, do you?”
“No.” Zoro watched the birds fly off. “Fits the mood of the place, though.”
Sanji had to agree. Mamizu Rock had a haunted quality to it, as if ghosts still lingered in the fallen ruins of the houses. “Don’t worry, marimo. If the boogeyman tries to get you, I’ll protect you.”
Zoro shot him a scowl. “You’re the one who’s more likely to scream if we see a ghost.”
“Is that a challenge?” Sanji smirked.
“First one to scream loses,” Zoro said.
It was a ridiculous challenge. There were no ghosts. Just fallen down houses destroyed by neglect and the rough weather on the Grand Line. Sanji accepted anyway. “You’re on.”
The path they were on took them three-quarters of the way up Mamizu Rock. Two houses stood on this side of the island overlooking the sea. One was little more than rubble with the bare outlines where walls once stood. Sanji and Zoro poked among the ruins, looking for information or anything else of interest. Sanji found a few trinkets of jewelry, unlikely worth anything, but he pocketed them anyway.
“Hey, check this out.” Zoro held up a massive stone, revealing a staircase underneath.
Sanji peered into the darkness. The steps leading down were mostly broken wood. Zoro tossed the giant stone aside. “Don’t scream in my ear,” Sanji told him with a smirk, before flicking on his lighter and heading down.
The steps were treacherous, but navigable. Sanji’s lighter cast a flickering orange glow around a room with listing shelves full of jars and bags. Dust and cobwebs clung to every surface. It was cool below ground. “Looks like a food cellar,” Sanji commented, swiping a finger over a bag. The label told him it was a brand of flour.
“Hn.” Zoro ambled up and down rows with curiosity. “Think any of it is still good?”
“Probably not.” Sanji hated that this food had gone to waste. “We don’t know how long this island has been abandoned. But with the state of the ruins, I’m guessing it’s been quite a while.”
“Too bad. I know you hate wasting food.”
A warm feeling lit in Sanji’s chest. He hadn’t realized Zoro knew that. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“C’mon, there’s nothing here.” Zoro started up the steps again, careful where he put his weight.
Sanji waited until Zoro was up before simply jumping to the surface. Zoro rolled his eyes. “Show off.”
“Heh.” Sanji flicked the lighter closed and pocketed it. They left the cellar uncovered for the rats. The old, dried food wouldn’t make those scavengers sick.
They continued to the second house. This one was also in ruin, but it still had its walls and a roof. The windows were long gone. Zoro led the way past a broken door hanging from one hinge. Sunlight streaked along a dirty hallway from the open entry and shined through a few holes in the roof.
Sanji flicked on his lighter again. The walls were barren and a hall table lay in a heap on the rotting wood floor. He and Zoro went into the first doorway on the right. It was the kitchen, with a cast iron stove, sink, and ice box. An empty pantry stood open, its shelves coated in dust. A rusty knife sat on a rickety table.
Across from the kitchen was the remains of a living area. A large sofa tilted awkwardly on three legs. Its matching chair was missing its back. Broken lights hung from the ceiling. In the corner was a rocking horse wearing an eerie grin. Zoro gave it a wide berth, which caused Sanji to snicker.
They pressed onward, further into the house. A short hallway branching from the main hall led to two bedrooms, both devoid of furniture. Another door led to a full bath with a tub, shower, toilet, and wash basin. The only residents they found were spiders.
At the end of the main hallway was a shut door along with a set of stairs curving down beside it. Zoro shouldered open the door. The room beyond looked to have been a study. A carved desk filled one full side of the room. Bookshelves lined the other. Zoro flipped through the dusty books while Sanji dug through the crumbling papers in the desk. Neither found anything of note.
They left the study and ventured down the curving stairs. It led to another door, which Sanji kicked open. He wasn’t going to let Zoro do all the heavy lifting. Sanji spotted a candle near the entry and he lit it. He lifted it high. The large room appeared to be for storage. Large crates, chests, and wardrobes filled the space. It was a lot to go through, but they didn’t have to head back to the ship for a while.
Sanji planted the candle between two slats in the top of a crate and the two of them began to work. Sanji opened the nearest wardrobe, finding a rack of moth-eaten clothing. He fingered through them. They appeared to be of modest design.
He heard Zoro crack open a crate as he closed the wardrobe and opened the one next to it. “Oh!” Sanji gasped, loudly, as a body fell into him.
Zoro was at his side in an instant. “What’s wrong?”
Sanji picked up the headless and armless dress dummy that had tumbled out of the wardrobe. “Nothing. It’s only a dummy.”
“You’re the dummy.” Zoro grinned at him. “I’m counting that as a scream.”
“That wasn’t a scream!”
“Sounded like it to me.”
Sanji kicked at him, but he danced out of reach with a laugh. “Shitty swordsman.”
“Screamer.”
Sanji scowled and turned back to the wardrobe that the dummy felt out of. It had some sewing supplies, which he pulled out and set aside to take with them. They could always use repair material on the Sunny.
Sanji closed that wardrobe and headed for a third. He paused to admire Zoro’s ass as Zoro bent forward into a large crate. Sanji had to get his thrills somehow. He wasn’t getting them anywhere else. He was more cautious when he opened the third wardrobe door. Nothing fell out at him. It was merely another rack of clothing.
“Ow.”
Sanji glanced over his shoulder. “What’d you do?”
Zoro was sucking on his finger. “Splinter.”
“Moron.”
Zoro glared at him. Sanji snickered. He pawed quickly through the clothing in the wardrobe. Nothing stood out. “Find anything?” he asked Zoro.
“Not really. Mostly house items, like dishes and stuff,” Zoro said. He moved on to another crate. Sanji had one more wardrobe to go, across from where Zoro stopped.
“It’s likely all we’ll find. Still, we could use some of this stuff on the Sunny.”
“Maybe someone left some money or gold.” Zoro pried off the lid of the crate with brute strength. “That’d get Nami off my back. She’s been harping about my debt.”
“Be nice about Nami-san.” Sanji tugged at the wardrobe door. It was stuck. He yanked hard and heard a loud crack. The entire heavy wardrobe came falling onto him. “Shit!”
He fell backwards into Zoro, who fell forwards onto the crate. The crate he was leaning onto busted as Sanji and the wardrobe crashed onto him. The wardrobe door sprang open, smacking Sanji in the face. All the clothing fell off the rack on top of them.
Sanji was more startled than anything. He hadn’t expected to be attacked by a wardrobe. He tucked his knees and gave the wardrobe a solid kick through the clothing. His feet went right through the rotting back. Now he was buried in clothing, a wardrobe, and his legs were useless. Great.
Zoro shifted beneath him and he heard a muffled, “Are you planning to get up? Your elbow is digging into my kidney.”
“My feet went through the wardrobe.”
Zoro snorted, then coughed from the thick dust. “Always up to me – cough – to rescue your – cough – ass.”
“You have never rescued me.” Sanji pulled his legs through the hole he’d made in the wardrobe and tried to find a new place to put his feet. He had upper body strength, but not enough to lift the massive piece of furniture from the position he was in. The clothing piled on his face muffled his voice. “I seem to recall a distinct lack of rescuing.”
Zoro fell silent. Sanji pushed against the back of the wardrobe in a new spot. The wardrobe’s wood splintered. “I didn’t think you needed it,” Zoro finally said.
“What?”
“Rescuing.” Zoro sighed and then coughed again. His shoulders shifted beneath Sanji’s. “I got mad that you left, but once I found out you were probably trying to protect someone, I figured you could handle yourself.”
Sanji stilled. They never talked about his leaving. He didn’t talk about it to anyone. Maybe because they were buried in a wardrobe under a pile of clothing and he wasn’t looking at Zoro was the reason he admitted, “I thought I could, too. I was wrong.”
Zoro went quiet again. Then, he murmured, “Sorry I wasn’t there.”
Sanji felt his chest tighten. It had to be the dust. “You would’ve hated me more than you already do. I… I beat up Luffy. I was trying to get him to leave, before my family killed him and Nami, or killed Zeff. They already had me caught. I couldn’t let anyone else get hurt.”
“They hurt you?” Zoro’s tone sounded dark.
Sanji tried to shrug and ended up getting a hanger digging into his neck. It didn’t hurt, but was annoying. “No more than they used to do. Though they hit a lot harder now that we’re not kids.”
Zoro growled. A straight up growl, without words. Sanji’s brows climbed. “You okay down there, marimo?”
Zoro started lifting. Sanji, the clothes, the wardrobe, everything rose as Zoro pushed himself up. The wardrobe tilted and slid sideways off of them. Sanji shoved the clothes away and scrambled to his feet.
Zoro’s hair and clothing was dusty as he stood. Sanji likely didn’t look any better. He began brushing the dust off his clothes. He was surprised when Zoro grabbed his wrist.
“I don’t hate you,” Zoro told him. He had a streak of dust on his cheek. “I’ve never hated you.”
“Tch. Right.” Sanji felt embarrassed now that he could see Zoro. He tried to jerk his wrist from Zoro’s hold. “I still don’t want your pity.”
“Why do you keep insisting that I’m pitying you?” Zoro snapped.
“Aren’t you? Buying someone to have sex with me, lying about your thing with Nami-san, telling me that you don’t hate me when I even hate myself.” Sanji glared at him. “I don’t need this crap from you.”
“Enough with the Nami-thing. I don’t like Nami. She’s a girl.” Zoro’s mouth had compressed into a frown. He still had a steel hold on Sanji’s wrist. “Why would you hate yourself? There’s nothing wrong with you.”
Sanji laughed bitterly. “I think we’ve been through this before. I was drunk, but not drunk enough to forget. Unattractive, unwanted, gross, abnormal, take your pick.”
Zoro stared at him as if he were crazy. “You’re none of those things.”
“Tch. No one else agrees with you.” Sanji tried yanking his wrist from Zoro’s grip again. “Will you let go already?”
Zoro ignored him. “Is this why you’ve been so unhappy since Wano? Because you think no one is attracted to you?”
When Zoro said it like that, it sounded shallow and stupid. Sanji looked away from Zoro. “It’s more than that.” It was the idea that no one would ever love him.
“Right, your modifications,” Zoro said. He was wrong, but that was also a part of it. Sanji wasn’t going to correct him. Zoro now appeared agitated. “Look, I told you before that there are people who want and like you for you.”
“Pft. Right,” Sanji scoffed. “Who?”
Zoro ground his teeth. He looked at the ground, looked up at the ceiling, looked over to the left. Sanji’s temper flared. “See, you can’t even make up a good lie–”
“Me,” Zoro blurted almost angrily. “It’s me.”
Sanji’s jaw dropped in shock. He was not expecting that, at all. Zoro finally let go of his wrist and crossed his arms defensively. He refused to look at Sanji. There was an aggrieved tilt to his jaw, like he was mad that he said anything.
Sanji tried to find words. His mind was spinning. Zoro wanted him? Like wanting to be intimate with another person, wanted him? But why? He thought Zoro liked Nami.
Zoro’s words filtered through his brain. I don’t like Nami. She’s a girl. Oh. Wow. Zoro was gay. Zoro was gay and wanted Sanji. Sanji still found it difficult to believe. He managed to make his tongue work. “How long?”
Zoro still wouldn’t look at Sanji. There was a pink tint to his cheeks. “Since Thriller Bark.”
“Holy shit.” Sanji gaped at him again. That was a long time ago. “Why then?”
Zoro ground his teeth again and shifted on his feet, like talking about this made him irritated. “You tried to take my place with Kuma.”
Sanji’s mind flew back to that time and place. Kuma was about to put Luffy’s pain into Zoro, which was going to kill him. Sanji couldn’t let that happen. Zoro was more important than him. Sanji stepped between Kuma and Zoro and offered himself instead. Zoro slammed the hilt of his sword into Sanji’s already injured side, causing him to black out. When Sanji came to, he thought Zoro was dead.
But Zoro hadn’t died. He was standing in front of Sanji, looking angry and declaring that he’d wanted Sanji since that day.
Sanji suddenly felt like he was falling again off Cool Sun Rock. The floor seemed to drop from under him. His heart flew into his throat, both terrified and exhilarated. This wasn’t something Zoro was saying off the cuff, trying to make Sanji feel better. Zoro had been interested in Sanji for a long time. Attracted to him. Wanted him. “You like me?” The words sounded weak and pathetic to his ears. It couldn’t be helped. He had to be sure.
“Yes,” Zoro snapped, his face turning pinker. “I just told you that.”
A smile stretched across Sanji’s face, so big that it hurt his cheeks. Somebody fucking liked him. A giddy laugh bubbled from his throat.
Zoro glared at him. “Are you laughing at me?”
“No! No.” Sanji reached out, hesitated, then tentatively rested his hand on Zoro’s arm. “I’m… really fucking happy.”
Zoro’s expression eased, but he still looked wary. “Yeah?”
“Yes, you idiot.” Sanji was so happy, he might start dancing, which would be stupid. He didn’t know how to dance. “Why didn’t you say anything before?”
Zoro shifted on his feet again and mumbled, “Didn’t think you liked guys.”
Sanji didn’t like guys that he knew of. He’d never thought about it. But he knew for a masturabatory fact that he was into Zoro. “Could be just you.”
The blush that had been staining Zoro’s cheeks grew deeper red. Why did it not surprise Sanji that talking about feelings discomfited Zoro? “So, now what?” Zoro said bluntly.
Now what? Sanji had no idea. He was still giddy and not thinking much beyond someone liked him! “I thought you’d know. You’re the one into guys, right?”
“Yeah.” Zoro cleared his throat. That blush spread farther, heading down his neck. He wouldn’t look at Sanji again. His next words sounded awkward, bashful. “I, uh, don’t actually know what to do, though.”
It took a beat for Sanji to figure out what Zoro meant. “You’ve never–”
“No,” Zoro said swiftly. “None of it.”
Sanji knew he wasn’t only talking about sex. Sanji hadn’t been talking about that, specifically, either. No one had liked him before. He didn’t know what to do next. “I guess… we’ll figure it out together?”
Zoro nodded and then suddenly turned his back to Sanji and went for a crate. “We should get back to work.”
Another laugh bubbled in Sanji, but he managed to suppress it. Apparently, Zoro’d had enough of discussing emotions for one day. Admittedly, Sanji had, too. He wanted to bask in the feeling of being liked by someone for a while.
They ended up finding numerous things to bring back to the ship. They used old clothing to create makeshift packs, loaded them with items, and carried them down Mamizu Rock. Sanji occasionally bumped into Zoro’s shoulder accidentally-on-purpose. Zoro cut him an irritated look that said Sanji was being ridiculous. He was. He didn’t care.
Nami was pleased with their finds, including the jewelry Sanji had pocketed. She was less pleased that Luffy had gotten his head stuck between two boulders and Jinbe had to break him out. The others returned to the Sunny by nightfall, carrying a variety of items scrounged from the ruins. They spent the night on the ship, anchored at the old pier, before setting sail again in the morning.
Zoro stomped into the galley wearing a glare. His jaw was tight. A sheen of sweat from his workout coated his forehead and bare chest. Sanji arched his eyebrow at Zoro from his spot on the other side of the bar. Sanji had been washing dishes when Zoro slammed open the galley door.
They hadn’t spoken more than a handful of words since they’d left Mamizu Rock two days ago. Mainly because Zoro was avoiding Sanji. Every time Sanji started to approach Zoro, Zoro would find somewhere else to be. If it weren’t for meals, Sanji wouldn’t interact with him at all. As it was, Zoro was his usual charming, grunting self at the dining table, only talking if asked something. Sanji was confused, and worried. Had Zoro changed his mind? Was Sanji destined for heartbreak once again? Every day that passed, Sanji grew more and more distressed that it had been a joke. A sick, disgusting joke on Sanji. It would fit the theme of his life. He’d tried not to let his thoughts spiral, because if it was true, it was possible this might break him.
Zoro was in the galley now, appearing ready for some kind of confrontation. Sanji tried to play nonchalant, even though his heart was pounding in his chest. Was this it? Was Zoro here to tell him it had all been a mistake? Sanji subtly braced himself against the sink, his hands clenching the washrag beneath the water. “What do you want, marimo?”
“You, damn it,” Zoro snarled as if Sanji had committed some offense. “I want you and I can’t figure out how to ask and it’s driving me insane. Because I can’t train for this and I don’t want to get it wrong.”
Sanji went through a gambit of emotions in a few seconds. Relief. Sappiness. Arousal. Anger. He settled on the last one. “You’ve been avoiding me for two days because you want me?”
“Yes!”
Sanji threw the rag at Zoro’s stupid face, then used the bar counter as a vault to kick Zoro in the chin. “What the fuck, you shittiest shit of swordsmen?!”
Zoro swiftly drew Wado to block the kick. “What the fuck yourself?!”
Sanji continued kicking Zoro with every sentence he spat. “I thought you’d changed your mind!” Flanchet. “That you thought you were making a mistake!” Collier. “That it was all a joke!” Poitrine Shoot.
Zoro’s blade rang every time Sanji’s heel connected with it as he defended himself. “I told you I didn’t know what I was doing!”
“And I told you that we’d figure it out together.” Reception. Sanji’s foot hooked around Zoro’s neck and slammed his face into the dining table. “You moss-haired idiot!”
Zoro hooked his arm over Sanji's leg and abruptly stood with a twisting motion that yanked Sanji closer. Sanji had to hop fast to keep his balance. He now stood within inches of Zoro, Zoro holding his leg, the flat of the katana pressing against his side in a weird parody of an embrace. Sanji glared at Zoro. Zoro glared belligerently back. Sparks crackled in the air.
Then, they were kissing. Zoro dropped Wado on the surface of the table. Sanji hooked his leg around Zoro's waist. Their mouths met messily. Teeth clacked. Noses bumped. Neither of them knew what to do with their tongues. There was a lot of spit and a little drool.
They broke apart, panting heavily, staring at each other with wide eyes. Sanji's heart felt like it was going to hammer out of his chest. His trousers were tight. He hadn't known kissing would be so sloppy, or arousing.
“Can I touch you?” Somehow, Zoro made the words sound like a challenge. “I want to touch you.”
Sanji was never one to back down from a challenge. “I get to touch you back.”
Zoro blushed a brilliant red. It made Sanji want to touch him more, to feel if Zoro’s blushing made him hot to the touch. Sanji wanted to know how hard Zoro’s ridiculous muscles really were. He wanted to poke Zoro in the navel and see if it made him laugh. Sanji wanted to venture below the beltline and maybe touch Zoro’s cock, to see how different it was from Sanji’s, to see how it would feel to be touching another man. The falling-terrified-exhilarated feeling was all encompassing.
Sanji didn’t want to do it here, though, in the galley where anyone could walk in. Sanji would be mortified if that happened. “Come with me,” he ordered, heading for the storage room tucked behind the service elevator.
Zoro grabbed Wado, sliding it into its sheath, because Zoro without his swords was like Sanji without a kitchen. Sanji fumbled with the key when unlocking the door. He flicked on the light after stepping inside the storeroom, Zoro at his heels. The door closed behind them, locking automatically.
The storeroom nestled besides Chopper’s infirmary. It was filled with crates, barrels, and giant bags of dry, unprocessed food, such as flour, rice, soup beans, and so on. It appeared cluttered, but Sanji had it in a pattern of more frequently used items in the front, less frequent in the back, and the stock rotated with the freshest on the top. The stacked crates and barrels were lashed with thick lines anchored to the floor and walls. An open path ran down the center for ease of access.
Sanji turned to face Zoro and awkwardness descended. Now that they were out of the moment due to moving, things felt weird. Should he just touch Zoro? Ask first? How did people initiate physical contact with intimate intent? Sanji realized this was why Zoro had been avoiding him, trying to figure this out.
Zoro still wore a blush, but he folded his arms and a scowl appeared. “Can I touch you now, or what?” He sounded angry, like he had in the galley and earlier back on Mamizu Rock. Only now Sanji heard the note of fear, the nervous kind, maybe even shyness. Angry-bashful. It had probably been present before but he’d been too shocked to pay attention. Zoro was either angry that he was nervous, or angry in order to fight his nerves. Zoro was the type who attacked things, even feelings. It also relieved Sanji to know that he wasn’t the only one who was unsure.
Sanji tugged at his dark blue tie, knotted at his pale blue shirt collar. He felt his own nerves flare up, but Zoro had issued the challenge and Sanji wasn’t going to back down. “Yes.”
Zoro could move fast when he wanted to, and he was in front of Sanji in an instant. Sanji expected Zoro to grab him, maybe paw at his shirt with brute force, scattering the buttons which would piss Sanji off. Instead, Zoro lifted a hand and brushed Sanji’s hair away from his face, exposing his reverse curling eyebrows and both of his eyes. “Your eyebrows are stupid.”
Sanji’s heart pounded in his chest, which was an idiotic reaction to that statement. “I know.”
Zoro’s thumb brushed over the curl at the end of the right eyebrow. “I like them anyway.”
The action stole Sanji’s breath. It was ridiculous and intimate. “How long have you been wanting to do that?”
“Too long,” Zoro said. “Same with this.” He leaned in and pressed his mouth to Sanji’s. Unlike before, this kiss wasn’t messy. Zoro’s warm lips rested against Sanji’s with a gentle pressure. It was simple. Almost innocent. Perfect.
Sanji’s hands came up reflexively to grasp Zoro’s upper arms. That simple touch was all it took to ignite the fire between them again. Zoro drew back, his gaze dark with a hunger that made Sanji tingle all over. Zoro took a breath and then asked in a rush, “Will you take off your shirt?”
Lust slammed into Sanji, aiming straight for his cock. He yanked at his tie, pulling it free. His fingers fumbled at the buttons on his shirt. Zoro didn’t help, but he watched. His hand still cupped Sanji’s head, holding Sanji’s hair away from his face. Color fused Zoro’s face, matching Sanji’s own, as Sanji yanked the shirt from his shoulders. Sanji’s hands got tangled in the still-buttoned cuffs, causing him to curse.
“You are so hot,” Zoro whispered, almost as if he didn’t want Sanji to hear. Sanji heard it, though, and it did funny things to his insides. He wanted to deny it. He’d spent the last several weeks feeling gross and uncomfortable in his skin. But Zoro was staring at Sanji’s chest like Sanji was the last slice of the perfect cheesecake about to be devoured. “Can I…?”
Sanji nodded rapidly, still struggling to get his hands free from his shirt cuffs. His hair fell back over his eye as Zoro laid both his broad, calloused palms on Sanji’s bare chest. Sanji sucked in a sharp breath as Zoro made this noise, like he couldn’t believe he was touching Sanji and was turned on all at once. Zoro’s face was flushed and he exhaled heavily. His hands began to rove, sliding across Sanji’s pecs, down to his abs, along his sides and back up again.
And Sanji could feel it. Every nerve ending felt electrified. He’d been afraid, so very afraid, that he would feel nothing. But pleasure coursed through him wherever Zoro’s hands touched. “Don’t stop.”
“Fuck,” Zoro’s curse was more of a gurgle. His hands moved up Sanji’s chest, over his shoulders, down his arms, then jumped to Sanji’s waist. Sanji had given up on freeing his trapped hands. He just wanted to feel.
Zoro’s fingertips skittered along the waistband of Sanj’s trousers, dipping underneath the edge briefly before shying away. Sanji desperately wanted Zoro’s hands on him, all of him, including the erection straining against his boxers. He toed his shoes off, kicking them away. He fumbled with the button and zipper of his trousers with his shirt-covered hands.
Zoro saw what he was doing and Sanji saw his blush spread everywhere, even partially down his arms. Zoro licked his lips, his mouth parted as he stared at Sanji’s movements. Sanji finally got the damned trousers undone and he shoved them and his boxers down past his thighs. They fell the rest of the way, pooling around his feet. He kicked them free. He now stood mostly naked in front of Zoro, clad in navy socks and his shirt dangling from his trapped hands, hanging behind him. His short erection stood straight out from his body, the pale skin flushed darker with arousal.
Zoro sort-of whinnied in the back of his throat and his hands flexed bruisingly where they rested on Sanji’s hips. The uncontrolled sound sent waves of elation through Sanji. Sanji had longed for someone to find him attractive and Zoro’s reaction was gratifying. Zoro’s hand slid down the outside of Sanji’s hips where his boxers had been and he stared at Sanji’s erection with wide-eyed wonderment. “Let me…,” he stammered, “let me… please.”
“If you don’t, I will kill you.” Sanji needed Zoro’s hands on him right now.
Zoro obliged, wrapping his fingers around Sanji’s hard cock. Sanji’s body jerked at the contact. It felt so fucking good. Zoro exhaled a staggered breath and stroked tentatively. “It feels like mine, but not.”
Sanji nearly keeled over at the stroke. Zoro was touching his cock. He never, ever, in a billion years, thought this would happen, let alone him wanting it. His dirty fantasies only ever involved Zoro’s pert ass. But having Zoro’s hand on his cock felt fan-fucking-tastic.
Zoro’s other hand joined in exploring the short length and contours of Sanji’s hard cock. It slipped down to fondle Sanji’s balls. Sanji was going to explode any second. “I’m going to come.”
The blush that had faded somewhat on Zoro came roaring back to life and his hand convulsed around Sanji’s erection. That was all it took. Orgasm slammed into Sanji, flying up from his toes to smack him between the eyes. His cum shot from his cock onto Zoro’s trousers. His vision whited out and his ears buzzed.
It had been so long since he’d had an orgasm – he hadn’t jerked off since before Dressrosa – that it took him a moment to regain his bearings. The fact that he could still have an orgasm, could still feel pleasure, made the corners of Sanji’s eyes sting.
Zoro’s hand left Sanji’s cock, and when Sanji opened his eyes, he saw Zoro pressing the heel of his hand hard against his own crotch. His expression was wild. He bucked against his own hand once, twice, and then his eye squeezed shut. Sanji watched as Zoro shattered into orgasm right in front of him. It was the hottest fucking thing ever. He saw the wet spot spread across the front of Zoro’s trousers. It made Sanji want to peel away the layer of clothing to watch Zoro ejaculate. He hadn’t even gotten to touch Zoro yet.
Zoro opened his eye, his breathing heavy, and he stared at Sanji with a dumbfounded expression. “That was fast.”
A laugh bubbled from Sanji’s lips. “Now you know how I feel.”
“I do.” Zoro said it in a way that didn’t mean emotionally. He flexed his hand, the one that had been wrapped around Sanji’s cock. “I want to do it again.”
Sanji was spent, but his cock twitched anyway with interest. “Me, too.”
Zoro stared blatantly at Sanji’s mostly naked body. His words were barely audible when he spoke. “You are fucking perfect. Better than my imagination.”
Sanji felt heat travel from his cheeks down his entire body. The words soaked into his heart. He looked away from Zoro to gather his composure. “Why am I the only one not wearing clothes?”
Zoro was quiet for a moment, and when Sanji glanced back, they were wearing matching blushes. The bashful expression on Zoro’s face did Sanji’s emotions in. He was going to fall in love with Zoro, hard and fast.
Zoro fumbled with his trouser’s fastening at the same time he tried to toe off his boot. He ended up losing his balance, falling into a crate. His look of surprise caused Sanji to laugh. He shot Sanji a sheepish grin, and it broke the heaviness in the air.
Zoro set his katanas on a crate and undressed. Sanji finally freed his hands from the shirt. He went to take off his socks when Zoro mumbled, “You can keep those on.” Sanji blushed. Zoro blushed. At the rate the blushes were happening, Sanji thought they may as well paint their skin dark pink.
Sanji folded himself into a sitting position next to Zoro. They’d spread out their clothing to protect them from the wood floor. Sanji had managed to convince Zoro to lie down. His eyes roved over Zoro’s muscular body. Zoro was stiff, tense, even though he was hard again. They were twenty-one, it didn’t take long to get re-aroused.
Sanji stared at Zoro’s erection as he put both his palms on Zoro’s stomach. Zoro’s muscles clenched as if shying away. “You would’ve won.”
“Won what?” Zoro’s voice was as tense as the rest of him.
“The tape measuring contest. Bastard.”
Zoro huffed a surprised laugh and he relaxed. “Told you.”
Sanji wanted to touch Zoro’s cock, to feel the hardness in his hand. But he also wanted to explore the rest of Zoro’s body. He decided to save the prize for last. His hands slid along Zoro’s abdomen, up to his hard pecs. His fingers danced down Zoro’s sides to his trim waist before skimming along to his abdomen again. “Why are you so ridiculously muscular?”
“Training.”
“Tch. I meant why all the muscles? Why train this much?” Sanji ran his fingertip along each defined ab muscle. Zoro’s abs quivered.
“Two reasons.” Zoro was looking at the ceiling, not at what Sanji was doing. “I get hurt a lot. The extra muscle protects my organs. If my opponents can’t reach them, I’ll likely survive.”
Sanji thought that was a wise reason. “You do get beat up a lot. Wimp.”
“Heh. Yeah.” Zoro didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, he shifted an arm to pillow it beneath his head. “Hazard of trying to become the world’s greatest swordsman.”
“And the other reason?” Sanji ran his palms over Zoro’s nipples, feeling them harden. He wondered why they did that. It wasn’t cold.
“I don’t have control over my conquerer’s haki yet. I need to be able to beat my opponent without it.”
“Hn.” Sanji poked Zoro in the navel, which caused Zoro to swat at his arm.
“Quit it,” Zoro told him.
Of course Sanji wouldn’t quit after being told to; he was a man and it was Zoro doing the telling. A wicked grin lifted the corners of his lips and he bent forward and darted his tongue into Zoro’s navel. Zoro squeaked. It made Sanji laugh and he did it again, quickly, before Zoro smacked him. Zoro’s skin tasted salty from his earlier workout.
Sanji’s hands roved over Zoro’s hips down to a muscular thigh. They were so large Sanji’s hands barely spanned halfway. Sanji’s legs were muscular, too, but not like this. Sanji’s power came more from his hips and core than his legs and he didn’t need tree trunks to fight. Sanji continued his exploration down to Zoro’s feet, scratching lightly at the sole. Zoro flinched away. “Tickles.”
Sanji tucked the information in the back of his mind, to be used to torture Zoro another time. “My feet aren’t ticklish,” he said, dancing his fingertips up Zoro’s other leg. “Calluses are too thick.”
“Who’s been tickling your feet?” Zoro asked, a frown coming over his face.
“Jealous?”
“No,” Zoro answered quickly. Too quickly.
“Liar.” Sanji grinned at him. “And I’m not going to tell you. That’s between my feet and my tickler.”
Zoro grumbled at him, “Perverse love cook.”
Sanji’s tickler was Chopper. The doctor had been giving Sanji an exam and apologized if what he did tickled. It hadn’t. But Zoro didn’t need to know that. It was more fun to see him squirm.
Sanji reached Zoro’s other hip, circled over it and onto his abdomen again. Sanji traced the muscle line that curved downward toward Zoro’s cock. He bit his lower lip, suddenly feeling hesitant. Surrounded by a thatch of green hair, Zoro’s heavy cock was resting on the inner curve of his hip, angled toward his belly. It had twitched from time to time as Sanji explored. Once Sanji touched it, he was definitely committing to not being a ladies’ man anymore. A hint of panic stirred. “How did you know that you were gay?” he blurted.
Zoro tilted his chin downward so he could see Sanji. “Getting a hard on from seeing men training shirtless clued me in.”
“But not women?”
“Nope.”
Sanji had never been turned on by seeing a man training shirtless. Even Zoro waving his stupid weights around while shirtless didn’t arouse him. Mostly he had a thing for Zoro’s ass and the way Zoro’s trousers fit tightly over those perfectly cut, pert asscheeks. Zoro was currently lying on that ass and it was his front that was on display. Sanji would admit he was fascinated by what he was seeing, Zoro’s hard cock exposed to Sanji’s gaze. Catching a glimpse of another guy’s soft dick while changing or in the bath was normal, but he didn’t take a second look. He not only was looking now, his palms itched to touch again.
Sanji took a deep breath, held it, and reached out to grasp Zoro’s cock. Zoro swore profusely, his hips bucking reflexively. Sanji’s eyes widened. He was touching Zoro’s dick! Zoro felt warm and solid in his hand, though the skin was silky soft. Sanji’s fingers didn’t close fully around it, like they did when he was touching himself. Zoro didn’t have a fourth sword in his trousers, but he did have a lot. Zoro had been right in that it felt the same, but different.
Sanji gave it a tentative stroke and Zoro slammed his fist against the floor nearly causing Sanji to jump. He let go quickly. “What? What did I do?”
“No, fuck, don’t.” Zoro’s tone was thready and his neck muscles were tight. “Do it again.”
Do it again? Zoro had reacted violently because he’d liked it? “You are weird, marimo.”
“Whatever. Just touch me again already, damn it.” Zoro had obviously gone from being nervous to being pushy. Sanji was definitely used to the latter.
Sanji wrapped his hand around Zoro’s erection with more assurity. He gave Zoro a stroke and Zoro banged his fist on the floor again with a ragged, “Fuck.” Apparently, what Sanij was doing felt really good. Considering Sanji had come very quickly when it had been Zoro’s hand around Sanji’s cock, Sanji understood. It was more than the movement, because he jerked off all the time. It was the fact that it was someone else’s hand on him.
Sanji shifted on his knees to get a better angle and began to purposely jerk Zoro off. Sanji knew how he liked it, fast and aggressive, and tried the same for Zoro. Zoro brought his fist to his mouth and bit on it, his head turning back and forth, his heels digging into the floor, pushing up into Sanji’s hand. The wider girth put Sanji’s fingers in a different position but he was still able to grip Zoro firmly.
It took longer than the first time for Zoro to come. He inhaled with a sharp whine, his head and shoulders arched back, and his neck muscles stood out starkly as he fell into orgasm. Sanji felt Zoro’s cock pulsing in his palm and watched the cum shoot from the tip onto Sanji’s hand and Zoro’s lower belly. It made Sanji feel powerful. He did this. He caused Zoro to climax, just from his hand. Sanji wanted to crow about it. He’d reduced the mighty Roronoa Zoro to a quivering mess of cum.
Sanji wore a grin when Zoro collapsed, bonelessly, onto their clothes. Zoro was breathing heavily. Sanji brought his damp fingers to his lips and gave Zoro’s cum a taste. Salty and slimy. Not dissimilar to his own.
“Are you tasting my cum?” Zoro said in a reedy voice, his eye wide.
“Cook, remember?” Sanji teased. “I like to taste things.”
Zoro’s cock pulsed again, spilling a little more from the tip. “Fuck.”
Sanji felt the urge to climb on top of Zoro, so he did. Zoro’s breath whooshed out of him when Sanji laid on top of him. He fitted himself between Zoro’s thighs, his hard-on nestled beside Zoro’s softening cock. Chest to bare chest, he braced his arms on either side of Zoro’s head. Zoro’s hands came around Sanji’s back. Zoro’s face was pink again from a blush.
“This okay?” Sanji asked, wary himself, even though he’d been the one to do this. He’d really wanted to feel what it was like to have someone’s naked body pressed against his own, like in his dreams.
“Yes.” Zoro sounded angry again. Sanji knew, this time, it was Zoro’s nervousness. “Feels good.”
It felt good to Sanji, too. The pressure against Sanji’s hard-on was not enough, though. He knew, sort of, what men and women did together in the bedroom. He’d worked on a floating restaurant with an all male crew. He’d heard the talk. But Zoro didn’t have the same parts as a woman and Sanji didn’t have any idea what to do. So he rubbed his erection slowly against Zoro’s body.
Zoro’s eye went wide. “Are you going to get off like that?”
“Dunno. Maybe.” Sanji drew his hips down and pressed up again. The roughness of Zoro’s public hair rasped against the underside of his cock. “Not sure if it feels as good as your hand.”
Zoro’s hands convulsed against Sanji’s back. He licked his lips. “Can I kiss you again?”
Sanji was happy to oblige. He lowered his head, pressing his mouth to Zoro’s. This time, without the rush of heat and hunger, the kiss wasn’t as sloppy. Their noses still bumped, but no teeth clacked. Sanji rubbed his cock against Zoro’s body with slow, steady thrusts. He could feel the orgasm building behind his balls.
He lifted his head as it drew closer and opened his eyes. Zoro’s lips were damp and kiss-reddened. His gaze hinted at happiness. He gave Sanji a tiny smile.
Sanji fell over into climax in melting waves, spilling between their bodies. A lazy-man’s orgasm. His brain buzzed contentedly. He lowered his forehead to rest it on the back of an arm, near Zoro’s head. Zoro’s arms closed fully around him, and he barely heard the shy whisper in his ear. “Can I keep you?”
Sanji’s chest tightened and he found he couldn’t breathe. His body trembled. Everything he’d ever wished for was right here for the taking. He only had to give Zoro his heart. “Yes.”
Hasumi Island was a curvaceous island of white, sandy beaches and clear blue waters. Palm thatched homes and business sprinkled the shore. Tropical flora in lush greens and bright yellows, reds, and oranges spread over the island. Locals rode on bicycles with fat tires along the sandy shores. A bevy of beautiful women in string bikinis waved from the beach as the Thousand Sunny sailed past, three weeks after they’d left Mamizu Rock.
Chopper, Usopp, Brook and Sanji were at the rail. “It looks like a fun island,” Chopper said. “Maybe we can build a sandcastle again!’
“So many panties!” Brook swooned and fanned himself with his boney hand.
“Hello, ladies!” Sanji shouted at them, waving both his arms over head. Hearts floated from his eyes. Arousal tightened his groin. So many beautiful women, waiting for him on the island! Maybe they might find him attractive and… huh.
Sanji looked at the lovely ladies again, hearts slowly floating to the deck as his brow furrowed. There was no question the sight of their scantily clad bodies was making him horny. But that was it. He didn’t feel compelled to run over to them to show his adoration. He didn’t have an urge to fawn or worship them. He didn’t feel the desire to do everything he could in hope of attracting one of them. He felt none of the things that had consumed his life since puberty.
He heard the thump of Zoro’s boots on the deck as he jumped from the rigging, landing beside Sanji. Sanji glanced at him. Zoro’s white button-down shirt hung open and there was a light sheen of sweat on his brow. He adjusted the three katana hanging at his side. His jaw was tight, his eye narrow as he stared over the rail. “Looks like you have a welcoming party.”
Sanji turned his attention toward the women again, who appeared smaller and farther away as the Sunny continued sailing for the docks. “Not my kind of party anymore,” he said with wonder.
“Oh.” Zoro shifted on his feet and asked tersely, “You sure?”
Sanji looked at Zoro, hearing the fear-hiding anger in his voice. His eyes traced Zoro’s masculine features, his sharp jaw, the thickness of his neck, over his broad shoulders and the muscularness of his chest peeking from his open shirt. There was no question that Zoro was all male. And while the sight of those ladies had turned him on, Sanji wanted none of them. He wanted the man standing beside him. “I’m sure.”
“Oi, Sanji,” Franky called, and Sanji turned his head in the other direction. Franky was coming from the Aquarium Bar. “We’re running low on cola in the bar.”
“I’ll add it to my shopping list,” Sanji told him.
Franky gave him a thumbs up. “Super, bro.”
Nami came down the steps from the women’s quarters to join them. “I think we might spend a couple of days here. I was checking the weather patterns and a storm appears to be brewing nearby. We may as well be comfortable.”
“Will it be a bad storm?” Chopper asked worriedly.
Sanji felt a hand tentatively take his own. He glanced back at Zoro. Zoro was studiously glaring over the side of the ship, wearing a fierce blush. Sanji’s heart flip-flopped.
“Not too bad,” Nami told Chopper. “Thunder, lightning, high waves. The usual.”
“I think I’m coming down with I-need-to-stay-at-an-inn-itus,” Usopp said.
Sanji squeezed Zoro’s hand as he said, “I think I’m coming down with that sickness, too.”
Zoro grew even more red.
“I’ll pass out Beli once we dock,” Nami said. “Sanji-kun, let me know how much you need for supplies.”
Sanji gave her a beaming smile. “Of course, Nami-san.”
“And since you’re holding hands with Zoro, take him with you.”
Sanji’s face went up in flames. Zoro made a choking sound. Chopper, Usopp, Brook and Franky all reeled around to stare in shock at them both. “Yes, Nami-san,” Sanji said in an awkward voice.
The other four began peppering Sanji and Zoro with questions and congratulations. Nami, Sanji noticed, never asked him anything. Sanji did his best to answer the others while Zoro clung to Sanji’s hand like a life rope and refused to speak. It was embarrassing, but also not. Sanji had put himself out there every day for years, hoping someone might be interested, and that someone turned out to be Zoro. And Sanji was happy about it.
“I guess our Ladies’ Man is now Zoro’s Man,” Franky joked, as the Sunny docked.
“Maybe I’m Sanji’s,” Zoro finally spoke up in that angry-bashful tone of his. “Stop talking about our love life.”
Sanji was sure he was smiling stupidly, but he couldn’t help it. Zoro had called what they had love.
“Wahoo! We’re here. I can’t wait to try some local meat!” Luffy flung himself to the main deck from the figurehead, glanced at Sanji and Zoro, and addressed Nami. “Told you it would sort itself out.”
Franky extended the gangplank and he and Usopp went to secure the ship to the dock. The others went to get ready to disembark. Sanji dragged Zoro with him to the galley to get his shopping list and once they were behind closed doors, Sanji kissed him.
When Sanji drew back, Zoro rubbed his lips together and murmured, “I like it when you kiss me.”
“I like it, too.” Sanji felt warm and content, and a little aroused. “I’ll kiss you in more places at the inn tonight.” He got to watch the blush travel all the way down to Zoro’s beltline. He and Zoro had spent a lot of time locked in the storage room over the past few weeks, getting to know each other more intimately. They still didn’t know what they were doing, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that they were doing it together.
“You grab the pack and I’ll get my list,” Sanji told him. “Did you want to clean up before we go?”
“Nah. I didn’t get too sweaty,” Zoro replied, catching the storage room keys as Sanji tossed them to him. “I was only running katas.”
“I’m going to change my shirt before we leave,” Sanji said, as he rounded the bar counter to the drawer where he kept his list.
“What’s wrong with the one you have on?”
“This is my I’m-on-the-Sunny shirt, not my I’m-on-the-town shirt.”
Zoro’s voice floated from inside the storage room. “You have too many shirts.”
“Simply because you’re allergic to shirts doesn’t mean normal people are.” Sanji jotted down Franky’s request for cola and a few other items he wanted to pick up on his shopping list.
“Who said you were normal?” Zoro came out of the storage room with a large, empty pack on his shoulder and a smirk on his face. Sanji kicked it off him, which started a fight in the galley, which led to kissing in the galley, which led to them locking themselves in the storage room and Sanji needing to change his trousers, as well.
“Meet you on the dock,” Zoro told him when they finally emerged.
Sanji smoothed his hair and followed Zoro out of the galley. “If you get lost, I’ll kick your ass again.”
“Tch. I’m only going down to the dock.”
“I know.”
They separated at the gangplank. Sanji went to change his clothes and get the money from Nami. Zoro went to get lost walking in a straight line. When Sanji found Zoro ten minutes later, Zoro was standing on someone else’s ketch wearing a confused expression. “Dumbass marimo.”
Zoro hopped off the ketch. “I didn’t even walk that far!”
Sanji gathered his courage and took Zoro’s hand with his own. He entwined their fingers. Zoro turned red but didn’t protest. “This way I won’t lose you.”
“You’ll never lose me,” Zoro mumbled shyly. “Love you too much.”
Sanji felt his heart sing. He braved kissing Zoro right there on the dock.
Months ago, Sanji had stopped following love around.
It found him instead.
End