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In all honesty, Sanji didn’t easily noticed what was happening, but when he did, oh boy. He was fuming.
Ever since November rolled up, the green haired idiot that he was dating has been suspiciously busy, but he didn’t catch up with what was happening until the week of Christmas day came.
It comes as a surprise for Sanji when he realized that Zoro actually likes celebrating the Christmas season.
He plans the week before Christmas as early as he can. He puts up subtle festive decorations, and changes his bedsheets, pillowcases and even the curtains to holiday themed ones (read: Zoro thinks it is subtle but good lord the man’s apartment is on a fucking red, gold and green themed right now.) Zoro insisted on throwing a small party on Christmas eve with the gang and celebrating Christmas day together the next morning.
Really, Sanji didn’t see this coming, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t enjoy it. It’s endearing how much Zoro wants to celebrate this holiday. The man has literally no interests aside from swords, beer and, well, dating Sanji, so seeing the swordsman being excited and grinning every time he talks about what will happen on the 25th is really a Christmas miracle.
They have been dating for a while, and taking things slow just as Sanji asked for, but really, after months of enjoying the swordsman’s company (and kisses) Sanji would want to take the next step and finally enter a relationship with Zoro. He wants to be his boyfriend. It’s so cheesy and it should be simple, but nothing is ever simple for the cook. Sanji, being the petty child that he is, doesn’t want to ask the swordsman. It’s not that he doesn’t want to, he just doesn’t know how and where to start. So, he gave himself a deadline. Seeing how much this holiday means to Zoro, he wants to pop the question on Christmas eve, whether he is ready for it or not.
Thus, the countdown starts. For Zoro, it’s the countdown to Christmas day. For Sanji, it’s the countdown to quite literally one of the most crucial decisions he will ever have in his life.
Christmas eve comes and the whole gang is busy preparing for the party. It will definitely be a small one, with only the nine of them, and maybe a few other people like Ace, Sabo, Smoker and Jinbei if they are not so busy, but there is still so much to prepare. The food and drinks, which of course are assigned to Sanji, the decorations, the music, and other miscellaneous stuff. Luffy’s apartment was filled with different noises everywhere but it is warm. A familiar feeling whenever they are gathered and having the time of their lives together like this.
Being the only one to prepare the foods and drinks for the party, Sanji really cannot find the time to have the swordsman to himself the whole day. It’s either the cook is too busy preparing for the perfect Christmas eve meal, or Zoro is suspiciously being busy running around the house, and even running errands outside the whole day. Sanji’s gut is telling him something is not right, but he is not exactly sure why. He promises to himself that he will know what the idiot is up to once he finishes setting up their dinner and the snacks for later.
When he was relieved from his kitchen duties, Sanji waited for the right moment to drag Zoro to get alone time with him. He waits and watches from a distance, trying to make it seems like he is not waiting for an opening to proceed with his plans. But dinner comes and goes, and suddenly late evening comes and Sanji still waits and watches from afar. He watches Zoro ‘subtly’ hand a gift to Chopper. He knows it’s a set of the good quality stethoscope and other equipment that Sanji definitely doesn’t know for their doctor-to-be friend. He sees Zoro’s genuine smile from where he’s seating when Chopper broke down to tears as he gave Zoro a crushing hug, thankful for the gift. Sanji can’t help but look away, wanting to stab himself for the jealousy sprouting in his chest because of the whole exchange.
He knows he’s being a little bit unfair and sensitive, but he can’t help it. Chopper is not the first one to receive a gift from the idiot swordsman. In fact, before Zoro handed Chopper his gift, Sanji was sure the only ones left who hasn’t receive a gift from the green headed jerk were him and Chopper.
Sanji takes pride in being a selfless man. He knows he is not the material type. He knows he can be easily satisfied with the things and efforts that he receives from the people that he loves. He is absolutely sure of all of these things. He is not a paranoid who will throw a tantrum just because the man that he is dating forgot to get him a present for a holiday that he hardly cares about.
But it’s so important to Zoro. How hard will it be to get me something? Anything?
Throughout the whole day, he saw the swordsman hand gifts to their friends. Sanji almost missed the first time it happened.
Zoro handed Luffy a small gift, and Sanji really wouldn’t have noticed it, but it’s Luffy. A gift from his best friend is bound to get some big reaction, “OH MY GOD? Zoro you got me gift cards to not one, not two, but three buffet restaurants?! ZORO! You are the best! I’m so happy I can kiss you right now!” And he did. Luffy chased Zoro until he can finally plant a sloppy, wet kiss on the swordsman’s cheek. Three times. Zoro should have seen that one coming.
It wasn’t that big of a deal at first. Zoro giving Luffy a present is not surprising. Sanji would have also done it if he had a shit to give about this holiday to be honest. So Sanji’s jealousy and suspicion didn’t start in that interaction. It started when the rest of their friends started either screaming, hugging or kissing Zoro one after another.
Usopp gets a toolbox for his engineering stuff. It has all the tools, rulers, and other stuff that Sanji definitely doesn’t know what, but the toolbox apparently costs a fortune or it is a really special and high-quality kind because the long nose filled Zoro’s shirt with tears and snot as the engineer expresses his gratitude by hugging the swordsman while crying hysterically.
Franky gets a toolbox too, but this is for the carpenter’s building stuff. Aside from the fact that these tools are, just like Usopp’s, are high quality ones too, Zoro got Franky a set of the expensive speedos that the blue haired man has been dreaming and blabbing about since forever. Franky’s high-pitched screams were enough to conclude that he is very happy to receive those gifts from the swordsman.
Sanji saw Brooke almost fainting when the musician unwrapped the new violin Zoro got for him. He cannot forget the look on Zoro’s face when Brooke pledged his life and career to Zoro, as he thank him for the ‘best gift I have received in 20 years’. Soon, the whole rooftop was filed with happy tunes as Brooke gave the new instrument a test, and needless to say, the musician was filled with joy and life.
Even Nami, the so-called “Sea Witch” in the swordsman’s vocabulary, got a gift. Although it is really not that surprising because even if these two play frenemies all the time, Sanji knows that Zoro respects and values Nami like a sister. She is his best friend. She knows the best ways to keep the ‘stone-hearted’ swordsman in check. She knows the right words to say at the right time. And really, Zoro cares so much about Nami’s opinion, but again, the idiot is just stubborn to admit that Nami is really an important figure in his life. Sanji doesn’t miss the way Zoro smiles sweetly as Nami tears up because of the dozens of high branded clothes and expensive cartography equipment that Zoro got for her. Zoro catches her in time when she throws herself at him for a tight hug as a thank you. The swordsman grunts and tries to get Nami off of him, but the smile on his face was so wide no one would believe the words of disgust that the swordsman is saying.
Robin was the one with the most surprising response to Zoro’s Santa-Claus-gift-giving agenda that night. Sanji knows that the two are actually closer than it seems. He knows Zoro often goes to Robin for general life advices and afternoon snacks (read: Or in times that he is lost, and is too prideful to ask for help from Sanji and the others), and Robin values Zoro’s opinion more than the opinions of the smartest professors in the university that she works at. Being two of the quietest and most reserved people that Sanji knows, the two really hit it off, so it doesn’t surprise Sanji when Robin unboxes the big box that Zoro left for her. One by one, Robin brings out the books inside the box, and when she finally finished fishing out all the contents of the it, the number of big, thick books were about a couple dozen. Zoro wasn’t around to see the woman’s reaction, but Sanji was there serving the tearing up lady with tea and a couple of snacks.
“You know, he is surprisingly really sweet and thoughtful. He knows what people need, and he loves giving it to them. He cares so much but shows little. He loves so hard but expresses so little.”
Sanji sighs as he nods at the lady. He agrees. After dating Zoro for months, the man really has a big heart, but he restricts himself from expressing too much. Sanji doesn’t like it. He doesn’t like it when he sees Zoro hesitating or pulling himself together to be this perfect image of calm-and-collected. Sanji likes it when Zoro slips up. When the swordsman smiles with his eyes. When he’s so embarrassed to initiate a kiss that Sanji is too endeared to let the man die from embarrassment. Sanji loves it when he sees Zoro acting like a human being with emotions. He craves for those moments.
That’s why he feels guilty for being so jealous over not getting a gift from the man. With Chopper finally receiving a gift from the green-haired Santa Claus, that leaves only one gift-less person in the gang: Sanji. Deciding that maybe he is being a whiny brat, Sanji tries to calm himself down with a smoke out in the small veranda. He definitely doesn’t want to be the reason for a spoiled Christmas for their gang.
The idiot swordsman really likes giving gifts to everyone. Sanji snickers bitterly, deciding to finally stop sending glares at the swordsman so the idiot can take a hint, and glances at his watch: 11:45. Well, everyone except me.
It’s almost midnight, and he knows he promised himself he will ask Zoro to take the next step in their relationship before Christmas comes.
Why is that moss idiot being so hard right now? Why is he suddenly so busy giving gifts and playing Santa to everyone except me?
Sanji takes a puff. He definitely didn’t come here to nag about Zoro giving attention to everyone.
Hell, we’re not even officially in a relationship yet here I am being jealous over our own friends?! God, it’s Christmas! I shouldn’t care what that seaweed head thinks of me. I am perfectly fine without his gifts or attention! Fucking pea brain! Moss head! Green-haired Santa! Idiot swordsman!
His self-monologue stops, as he hears the clicking of those familiar boots. Speaking of the idiot.
“Hey.”
Sanji takes a puff of his cigarette, making sure to blow the smoke away from Zoro. He grunts in response.
“Why are you out here alone, shitty cook? Everyone is having a fun time inside and you’re here sulking and sucking on your cigarette.”
“It’s nothing, moss brain. I just need some alone time.” Sanji hopes he can hide the weight of jealousy and sadness that he feels in his voice, but of course, the idiot swordsman takes a hint.
“What’s wrong, cook? Are you feeling okay?” The sincerity of Zoro’s voice makes it even harder for Sanji to collect his thoughts and himself. He feels awful for being jealous and overall, just being a drama queen at Christmas eve, but alas, he can’t contain his frustration anymore, and he certainly cannot contain the tears that have been wanting to drop all night.
He can see the instant panic in the swordsman’s eyes as soon as he let out a small sob. Sanji feels pathetic. Why does he want validation and attention from Zoro when throughout their relationship, Zoro has been the one to actively pursue him and give him happiness and full attention? He knows Zoro gives too much, and he is sure he is not giving the best that he has to Zoro. Zoro have always been thoughtful and caring, and all Sanji does is cook him food and kiss him sometimes. He cannot compare, and he certainly cannot bitch out and feel jealous just because his swordsman is not giving him attention tonight. Stupid, he’s not even your swordsman
“Hey, what’s wrong? Did I do something wrong?” Sanji feels his heart dropping to the floor. He wants to punch himself for being such a whiny brat, but he just wants some time alone with Zoro. He realizes he doesn’t want anyone to receive Zoro’s attention and love more than him. He wants it all for himself. You can tell Sanji he’s being irrational and stupidly possessive but he doesn’t know what to do with it. He loves Zoro.
Wait. I love Zoro?
Shit. I love him.
“Sanji, hey. You have to speak to me, cook. Talk to me please?” Zoro tries to raise his chin to meet his eyes, and for the first time tonight, he stares at Zoro’s longing eyes. He feels the guilt sink even deeper in his stomach as he sees the worry and care in Zoro’s eyes. He cannot help but sob more.
“Hey, what’s wrong, cook? Why are you crying?”
Sanji tries to calm himself, and the warmth of Zoro’s embrace really helps with that. He tries to ground himself before speaking, “I just, I’m sorry Zoro.” It’s all he can say before he’s sobbing again.
He felt Zoro freeze for a moment, a hint of panic and scare in his eyes, but the swordsman continues to try to calm Sanji’s crying down. “For what Sanji? What are you sorry for?” he says softly.
“I don’t know Zoro. I just can’t do this anymore. I feel like shit the whole night and I just didn’t have the courage to tell you all night because I’m so scared of what you will say.” Sanji blurts out, not really thinking of what he was saying.
Zoro pauses for a bit before saying, “It’s okay, Sanji. It doesn’t matter. Nothing will change between us, just say what you want to say.”
“No, I can’t. I just don’t want to be the one bringing problems and pettiness tonight because I know how important this stupid holiday means to you. I just can’t tell you that I–” think I love you now, and I want to be with you forever and I don’t want you looking at anyone with that stupid soft, caring eyes and your sweet smile. Sanji cannot even bring himself to say it to the other man face to face. He feels so selfish and petty for wanting the man for himself. And to think this all happened because he was stupidly jealous over the swordsman giving gifts to everyone but him? It’s really so stupid.
“Hey, Sanji, just tell me what you want to say. I will understand whatever it is. It doesn’t matter how it will affect the holiday; we have Christmas every year.” Sanji doesn’t understand why Zoro is looking at him with soft but sad eyes now.
What is he thinking? Am I making this hard for him? Am I causing him trouble? Is he thinking I’m being too much and he regrets dating me after all?
Sanji can’t help but sob more, and Zoro is quick enough to embrace him to a tighter hug once again.
“Look, Sanji, just say what you want to say, okay? I swear I won’t be mad. I will respect whatever comes out of your mouth. I promise I will understand.” And of course, even when he’s being a complete idiot, Zoro is there to understand him. Even if he is acting like a kid who didn’t get a gift from Santa this Christmas, Zoro is still trying his best to be at par with Sanji. He cannot help but admit to himself that truly, Zoro is one of the best people in his life, and he doesn’t want to let go of him. Ever.
I love him. Shit. I really do love him. I want him by my side forever. I want to be with him when I open my first restaurant. I want to be with him when he wins or loses all of his competitions. I want to be with him if he needs someone to spar with. I want to be with him if he wants to unload all of his secrets and deepest feelings. I want to be with him on my biggest failures. I want to be with him in my greatest achievements. I want to be with him for the rest of my life and I’m scared to know that he will not think the same way, or worse, that he will think I’m looking too much in the future.
I don’t think I will ever love anyone as much as I am loving Zoro now.
Zoro notices the hesitation and panic in his eyes, and he still holds him, whispers soft things in his ear in hopes that it will calm the young chef down. But what really made Sanji stop and stare at Zoro was the next thing that the swordsman said, “Sanji, it’s really okay. It’s okay if you want to stop dating and break up. I will respect you–”
Sanji stares at Zoro for a while before lashing out at the idiot, “What are you saying stupid moss brain? Break up? What do you mean I want to break up with you? I want to be with you for the rest of my life god damn it!”
“Well, you just kept saying sorry and you’re crying and I just thought that– wait. You want to be with me? For the rest of your life?” Zoro stares at him in disbelief.
Sanji sobs even more, feeling like a loser for making Zoro even consider doubting what he just said. “Of course, I want to be with your stupid ass, idiot. I want to be with you. I want to ask you to be my boyfriend but you just kept on giving gifts to everyone except me and–”
Zoro’s lips shuts him up before he can even finish what he was saying.
Under the night sky and overlooking the city lights in the small veranda of Luffy’s apartment, they kiss. Laying their hearts on the line, marking the beginning of another adventure in their lives together.
Zoro is the one to take a pause and put a space between them first. Not that much though, with the tip of their noses and foreheads still touching. “You are crying because you want to ask me to be your boyfriend? And you are feeling shitty because you feel jealous because you thought I was not giving you anything tonight?”
Sanji nods, cheeks red in embarrassment, “I know. It’s so stupid. I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, it was stupid. But you know what will make you think you’re even more stupid? I was giving everyone gifts because they are helping me with a surprise vacation for us where I will ask you to be my boyfriend. They are all helping me plan it and the gifts where a sign of my gratitude for their efforts, but I guess that’s not gonna happen now because you are asking me now, right?”
Sanji feels embarrassment flow in his face even more. God, he is so stupid and petty. “I’m sorry I ruined tonight with my childishness.”
“Eh, I can live with it. I have accepted that I fell in love with a man-child–” both of them pause and stare at each other in disbelief.
Love. Zoro said it.
“You said it.” Sanji whispers, just enough for Zoro to hear.
“Shit, I really did.”
They stare at each other for a while. Trying to read each other’s eyes. Trying to make out what the other is thinking.
Sanji decides, it’s time for him to be brave, and so he says the words so softly, he debates if the other man even hears it.
“I love you too.”
But Zoro does, and the look in his eyes as soon as he hears the words escape from Sanji’s mouth is one of the best things that Sanji has ever seen. He thinks it’s one of his favorite Zoro moments from now until forever.
“You said – You love... me? Too?”
Sanji kisses Zoro in hopes it can prove he is sincere before saying, “Yes, idiot. I love you, and stupidly enough, I want to be with you for the rest of my god damned life.”
“Don’t make it sound like you’re proposing to me. I don’t think I can handle that.” Zoro says honestly, but he smiles and cups Sanji’s cheeks softly, “I love you too, and I want to spend every waking moment of my life with you too.”
“Don’t make it sound like you want to move in with me idiot.” Sanji says jokingly, but he realizes he doesn’t hate the idea of it.
He kisses Zoro for the nth time. He thinks he will never not get enough of those soft lips. He thinks he will never not love the way Zoro just melts and becomes so pliant in his arms. He thinks he will never not crave for the warmth that Zoro brings. He thinks he will never not love him. He thinks he wants to be with him forever.
Zoro stops kissing him and whispers softly against his lips, “I love you, shitty cook.”
“I love you too, shitty swordsman.”
And just like that, the Christmas eve-turning-Christmas nightmare was flipped upside down, as Sanji and Zoro announces to the whole gang that they are officially together. Everyone cheered, but they weren’t really that surprised about it. It’s like they always knew that Sanji and Zoro are going to figure it out. Like they really believe that Sanji and Zoro are the end game.
The party just becomes even more wild from there. With Ace, Sabo, Smoker and Jinbei arriving with more booze, gifts, and entertainment; with Luffy being stupid enough to think that he can outdrink Nami in a drinking competition; with Robin and Chopper panicking because Luffy is throwing up nonstop after the ‘competition’; with Usopp and Franky stupidly documenting the whole thing through their smartphones; with Brooke simultaneously laughing and playing lively music for the whole gang; and of course, with Sanji and Zoro laughing at the stupid antics of their friends while holding each other’s hands.
It was fun. Sanji felt complete.
That was until Zoro guides him to Luffy’s guestroom for his gift for Sanji. And look, Sanji is definitely not a pervert but what can a man think if his hot boyfriend tells him there’s a ‘gift’ in the guestroom? Certainly, it is not Sanji’s fault for thinking of something making out related.
But of course, he is proven to be a complete idiot again when they reach the room and he saw the gifts that swordsman prepared for him.
There were a ton of kitchen supplies, boxes of it. From the overview, he can see expensive brands of kitchen equipment that he knows he has mentioned to Zoro in random conversations. He can see different kitchen supplies and even groceries (Fuck really? Groceries?) in the room. But what really caught his attention was a briefcase that he can recognize from a mile away.
It was the case of a famous, and extremely expensive, brand of knives. The best ones in the market. He knows he has been bitching about it to Zoro for a long time now; always saying the collection of knives are far too expensive for him but Sanji wants, no, needs them for his own sanity. He cannot believe Zoro even pays attention to all of his rambling.
“Yeah, it’s not really that much but I hope you like it. Maybe now you can finally shut up about all of these knives and kitchen bullshi–” Sanji kisses the living out of Zoro before the green haired idiot can even try to ruin the moment for them.
“Thank you.” Sanji says, giving Zoro a peck on the lips again, “Thank you. Thank you. Thank youuu.” Each thank you accompanied with a harder kiss. He cannot contain his joy and gratefulness for the man in his arms. Some part of him feels guilty for not even thinking of giving the swordsman a gift, but he quickly shoves the idea away before it can turn into a gift-giving competition thought in his head.
“Thank you so much. I didn’t know you actually listened to my bullshit.”
Zoro grunts at him, seemingly annoyed at what he said, “Of course, I listen to you idiot, even if it’s you being a nerd about kitchen stuff.”
Sanji feels a pain in his heart for a second. God, Zoro loves him this much? He can’t help but feel so proud and happy.
“I love you, Zoro. Really, I do.”
Zoro smiles at him and embraces him even more. “I love you too, Sanji. So much.”
No one can ever tell Sanji he’s not the luckiest man alive for being the boyfriend of the best man alive.