Chapter Text
"Zoro, I love it."
The cook's cigarette free lips turned up and he clasped his hands, and there were these alarming pink hearts in his eyes; they formed usually when he did something unexpected and apparently romantic.
Fuck.
He didn't really know what was up with him bringing up Kuina out of nowhere, but he supposed he should try to share his past, even though he wasn't used to it. That's probably why it kinda felt rough. It hurt. But, he meant it; there was never a time he didn't really mean what he had to say to the cook, even when he tried to rattle him up, it was for the right reasons.
"Huh, yeah."
He got up and wiped the snow off his pants and extended his hand.
He didn't think of it too much, but well they were dating or whatever so he should try to act the part.
"C'mon, cook, let's go inside."
The other grabbed his arm tightly around his forearm and Zoro effortlessly pulled him up; naturally, the cook didn't need help, but Zoro liked to show himself off a little.
"Why don't we go inside, yeah, as in the bedroom? Is that what I'm hearing?"
The cook's hand sneak up his bicep and Zoro felt himself being pulled in, and long arms snaked their way around him, and he could smell his cigarettes on his jacket along with some musky perfume.
He felt the cook's hand reach down and coup his ass through his pants like they were in a closed room together.
His eyes narrowed and he grabbed the moron's face, pulling him back.
"Oi, is that all you think about?"
Sanji's heart shaped eyes melted into little pieces and fell down like ice; he blinked and smiled sheepishly, trying to move his head; Zoro felt his large hand move up slowly off his butt and rest on the small of his back, and he pulled him closer despite being pushed away.
"Sorry love, I mean Zoro my dear, but your gesture is so romantic, I can't help myself."
His hand grasped the hilt of Wado.
"Moron."
He didn't usually think anything of it, the holidays and all that, besides the booze, he didn't care about any of that crap, but...
The cook's face fell almost immediately as he must have realized something about how annoying he was being, and Zoro felt his hands leave him and the blonde stumbled back before he reached out and touched the side of his face.
"No, no, that's not what I was going to say, not at all," he mumbled and his eyes had suddenly turned sad and a little glossy.
This guy was way too much.
He decided to be easy on him. Just for today. Well, moving forward. Guess it wouldn't hurt for a few hours.
"Fine, whatever."
Sanji beamed and leaned to brush his lips against his ear and he felt his fingers intertwine in his hair.
Zoro shivered. The cook loved his hair, apparently.
"You caught me by surprise; I didn't think we would be exchanging gifts."
The cook leaned his head against his shoulder.
He reached over and finally felt the cook's soft hair under his fingers tips.
Alright, so it wasn't exactly like that. Just because he didn't believe in a god, didn't mean he didn't appreciate something during the holidays, especially those briefest moments shared among the people he cared for.
He looked down at his hand, dried blood stained his knuckles, where the cook's foot grazed him.
Especially for him. Yeah, for Sanji, it wasn't too hard to start enjoying it.
"So, my Marimo, what should I get you?"
The cook whispered as if it was a secret. Zoro didn't think of that. There wasn't particularly anything he would like. He didn't care much for material things, but..
He must have been thinking too long because the cook lifted his head and pulled back; he looked uncertain, like he was worried about him again.
He didn't like that look on the cook. He liked when he was happy.
Zoro lightly reached out and grabbed a hold of a loose blonde lock of his hair and he felt himself grin.
"Just put it on."
He thought the cook was gonna say something dirty about that, but his cheeks just turned pink.
He observed him reaching over and he grasped the small brooch blindly and started to put it into his hair.
There wasn't much that Zoro knew about getting dressed for any occasion. He really didn't know anything. It wasn't even something Kuina did often as she sat at the mirror, trying to unsuccessfully put the same brooch into her hair.
::I know what I'm doing, okay?::
He heard her grumbling under her breath and he could feel himself smirk.
She did not.
He reached out and tried to gently hold a piece of Sanji's hair. There fingers met; his were always warmer. The cook's tended to be cooler under the touch.
::I can do it myself; plus what do you know about a girl's hair style, hmm?::
He heard her grumbling as he tried to help brush her hair.
::I don't know much, but you're not very good at it either::
The cook's hand tighten and he looked up to find his eye staring as if he was trying to read his mind.
"You sure that you want me to have it?"
His fingers pushed the brooch, so that it parted the cook's lovely blonde hair and suddenly both of his large blue eyes became visible.
He was beautiful, of course, even when his hair was all partly wet from the snow and some blood had dried on his nose.Zoro noticed there was a small cut on his forehead too and he brushed the blood away with his thumb. They had been particularly rough today with their fight..maybe he had over done it.
The cook's left eyebrow jerked up at his touch and he absently brushed it with his index finger and observed that it was very soft.
::Does it look dumb on me?::
He heard her speak again and she frowned almost immediately before he even had a chance to say anything back.
::I knew it would. I hate dressing up.::
Zoro wanted to say something, something that would make her confident, but he didn't know what.
"Dragons represent strength; it's perfect," he whispered suddenly and felt his hand finally leave Sanji's soft hair.
That's what he should have said.
The cook was eyeing him with concern before he absently brought his hand to touch the brooch.
Zoro cleared his throat and closed his eyes.
"Kuina didn't like girl things; it reminded her of what she would lose. She often said she was going to be weaker when she got older. I always thought she was an idiot for saying those things; but, now, I just think, as her friend, I could have, I should have made her happier."
He felt the moment, even after his eyes were already closed, when the cook reach over and pressed his hand to the small of his back, and he was shoved forward until his head was tightly against his muscular chest.
It was warm here and comfortable. Sanji was among the few people that Zoro could really have a proper hug with and he desired his closeness.
"Absolutely, I'm sure you do," he whispered and his fingers teasingly brushed his ear and he heard his earrings jingle like tiny bells carried by the wind.
"Merry Christmas Zoro; and, now let's go eat that Sea King meat, and you can tell me the latest results of your training," Sanji whisper next, and he felt a kiss land on the top of his head and he knew this time the cook was smiling.
Zoro's eyes opened wide. That was it. This was all he wanted.
He slid his hands around him, and tightly hugged him back with a grin.