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Zoro had met Sanji through Luffy at the beginning of their freshman year of college. The first thing Zoro remembered noticing about Sanji was his smile. It was goofy and wide, full of warmth; it made Zoro feel like he was staring at the sun. Then Sanji had floundered over Nami, gushing praise as he worshipped the ground beneath her feet. It was like a curtain had been pulled around the blond and the sun was blocked out, leaving a lamp in its place. Zoro hated it.
That first semester was spent around each other but not with each other. Zoro talked with Luffy and Usopp while Sanji stuck to Nami’s side like glue. Zoro didn’t know if he was dumb or just blind to the fact that she had a girlfriend already. He was sure she’d already told Sanji on numerous occasions but Sanji had said, “It’s not about wanting to date you. You’re wonderful and should be treated as such.” Zoro felt like it was a crock of shit but to each their own, no one would ever find Zoro mooning over someone like that.
Luffy had pushed for them to get along better and Zoro had obliged reluctantly. It wasn’t as if he could tell Luffy the first time he saw Sanji he thought he was cute until he opened his mouth. Not that Luffy would care, Zoro just didn’t feel the need to mention something that wouldn’t change anything. Like the fact he maybe still thought Sanji was cute, swooning included. Even if it got on his nerves to see Sanji gushing over nearly every woman he came across. Yeah, he was still cute.
Zoro and Sanji began to talk more solely from Luffy’s insistence. At every hangout, Luffy would start a conversation and then shift it to where it drew in Sanji and Zoro. Sometimes it went okay, other times it felt like pulling at straws. Zoro never knew how it would go. Eventually Sanji learned it was best for him to carry the conversation and they settled into an easy acquaintance of sorts. Zoro still didn’t love having him around but he didn’t hate it either.
The second semester they shared a class together and Zoro had done his best to keep his head down. He didn’t want to waste his time talking about women when there were more important things to do. Like his class work. Or napping. But Sanji had been persistent. He’d chosen the seat next to Zoro and had spent that entire semester starting one-sided conversations and sending folded notes that Zoro never bothered to open. It didn’t phase the blond though.
By halfway through the semester Zoro had accepted Sanji’s pestering for what it was. They passed notes, fingers brushing along each other as they handed over the small folded papers and each time Zoro would feel a rush of excitement. It became easier to be open with Sanji.
When the next semester started in summer, Zoro found they shared another class. It started early in the morning and Zoro had only picked it because he’d been late for sign ups. He needed the credits so he’d sucked it up and accepted his fate.
Sanji had chosen the seat next to him again and Zoro didn’t bother trying to tell him to move, there weren’t any available seats open and on the off chance he found someone willing to trade, he knew the blond would find some other way to sit next to him. Zoro had pushed through the class, yawning every other minute, fighting the urge to fall asleep mid-lecture. The next morning he’d found a coffee on his desk, just the way he liked it. Attached to the side was a little sticky note that had his name scrawled on it with a tiny drawing of a sprout. He crumbled the sticky note and downed the coffee, ignoring the pleased look Sanji had on his face. And if a coffee happened to appear on his desk at the start of each week, well Zoro didn’t mind it that much.
By the third and final semester of their freshman year, they’d developed a somewhat ambivalent friendship. Some days they were thick as thieves and others Zoro resisted the urge to bash Sanji’s curly eyebrows into his desk. Their conversations mostly revolved around their shared class and plans their group of friends had come up with, but it was easy going and nice. By finals Zoro had learned that Sanji wanted to open his own restaurant and Zoro had shared that he wanted to run a dojo and teach kids.
Sophomore year of college began and Zoro picked up a side job that required him to work nights. He’d come to class exhausted and starving, having slept in too late to have time to eat beforehand, and Sanji had noticed instantly.
“Let’s go get lunch on break, I’ll buy.” Sanji had said and Zoro couldn’t think of a reason to turn down free food.
Sanji had led him by the cuff of his jacket, fingers gripping the fabric, and all Zoro could think of was how nice it’d be if those fingers would wrap around his hand. He blamed the thought on lack of sleep. But as they ate and Sanji filled the silence with idle chatter, Zoro found himself the most relaxed he’d been in a long time. Sanji’s voice was soft and welcoming compared to the utter chaos of the lively campus café.
“I think I’m going to take up Zeff’s offer.”
“Oh yeah?” Zoro asked, eyes glued to his sandwich as he leaned in for another bite. Sanji hid his smile behind his coffee cup, taking a sip as Zoro groaned in appreciation of the food. Warmth spread through Sanji and it wasn’t because of the coffee.
“That’ll be good for you curly. Don’t you wanna open your own restaurant still?” Zoro asked, eyes finally looking at the blond. Sanji nodded and Zoro grinned, glad to have remembered.
“If you ever need to test your skills, I’ll sacrifice myself to the cause.” Zoro offered, stuffing the last bite of his food into his mouth. Sanji shook his head fondly, the corner of his mouth upticked into a smile.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Sanji reached across the table, placing his hand atop the others. “Thanks, Zoro.”
Zoro’s ears burned red and his stomach twisted, he felt like he might throw up. He covered his mouth with his free hand and looked away, focusing on the bulletin board on the café wall.
“Sure, whatever. It’s not a big deal.”
Sanji’s hand squeezed his and Zoro’s heart thumped wildly in his chest. His fingers twitched restlessly beneath Sanji’s and the blond sighed softly, removing his hand. Zoro hated how he wanted to reach out and grab it again. To twine their fingers together and hold on until they were forced to let go. But he couldn’t. He didn’t have the courage to tell the blond that he thought he was developing a crush. A small one, one that came with a yearning that burned in his chest and got stuck in his throat. No, he was not brave enough to say he hated it when Sanji wasn’t by his side. Or that he enjoyed the little things Sanji went out of his way to do for him. Yeah, Zoro was sure he had a crush but he didn’t know when it had happened, only that in that moment all he could think about was how much he wanted to hold Sanji’s hand.
Zoro followed blindly as Sanji stood up, eyes tracking the gentle sway of pale hands as he walked. Zoro tore his gaze away and moved next to him, focusing on the path ahead of them. If their pinkies brushed, palms sliding across tops of hands, neither said anything.
•
Zoro grabbed the bottle of vodka off the counter, it was a little under half full but it would do. He was at a house party hosted by Luffy’s brothers and as usual it quickly got out of hand. It wasn’t surprising, just bothersome. Too many bodies pressed together and too much noise, Zoro wasn’t a big fan of it.
He’d walked in ready to have fun, maybe he wasn’t smiling but he’d felt good about his decision to go despite having an early class the next morning. They’d barely finished their finals earlier that day and now they were waiting on the scores. After weeks of non-stop studying, no one had disagreed when the idea of a party was brought up, even if it wasn’t them necessarily throwing it.
Small talk was never Zoro’s strong suit but he powered through as Ace stopped by with a heavy hand on his shoulder saying hi, accompanied by a few people he recognized as upperclassmen. Overall it was fine. He liked the steady beat of the music and he’d never complain about free alcohol. Seeing his friends was nice too.
Zoro climbed up the stairs, knowing Luffy was hanging out in his room. He entered the room with a quick rap of his knuckles against the door and slid in. Luffy was sprawled across his bed, Nami and Usopp next to him as they scrolled through their phones, periodically shoving it in each other’s faces and laughing at a post.
Sanji was sprawled across a giant beanbag chair in the corner and when Zoro walked in his head popped up. He patted the space beside him, his movements slow and tired.
“Come on, Marimo.” Sanji said, words slurring together as he opened his arms at Zoro as if he expected Zoro to crawl into them. He was tempted.
“You realize there’s a party down there, right?”
Usopp waved Zoro off and Nami reached into her back pocket, pulling out a wad of cash that she waved around happily. “I already got kicked out.”
“I just wanna hang out with everyone so I’m fine here,” Luffy said, eyes never leaving his phone.
Zoro sighed, eyes landing on Sanji. “And what about you, curly? Don’t you have women to charm?”
Sanji laughed as he shook his head, arms still open and waiting, he made grabby hands and Zoro shook his head as he noticed the rosy tint to Sanji’s cheeks. “Who let him get into the alcohol?”
“I think Ace pressured him into doing shots with him,” Luffy laughed. Zoro looked down at the bottle of vodka in his hands and uncapped it. He’d be damned if he was gonna let Sanji be the only one drunk that night.
Zoro wiped his mouth with the back of his hand as he sucked in a breath through clenched teeth, the alcohol settled warm in the pit of his stomach. He locked eyes with Sanji and he wiggled his fingers some more. Zoro sighed, the corner of his mouth lifting into a small smile.
“Scoot over asshole, give me some room.” Zoro said as he let the empty bottle fall to the floor and he fell face first into the giant beanbag chair. Sanji laughed as he bounced from Zoro’s movement.
Sanji rolled onto his side, arm sliding over Zoro’s back to clutch at his side. Zoro stiffened, head turning to glance at the blond.
Sanji was looking at him already, blond hair falling away from his face to reveal both of his eyes. Zoro felt heat rise to his cheeks, whether it was from the alcohol or the mesmerized look in Sanji’s eyes, he wasn’t sure.
“You’re so annoying,” Sanji mumbled as his fingers gently caressed along Zoro’s ribs, making his skin tingle. Zoro ignored the fluttering of his stomach and raised an eyebrow at Sanji.
“Annoying? Look who’s talking, blondie.”
“You know what I mean, you’re just so-” Sanji’s brow furrowed as he paused and narrowed his eyes at Zoro.
“I’m what?”
Sanji’s fingers stilled and Zoro held his breath, waiting for the next words to leave Sanji’s mouth but he didn’t say anything. The blond sighed, eyes closing as he scooted closer and pressed his face to Zoro’s shoulder.
“Just like me already.”
Zoro felt heat rise to his cheeks and he played it off with a warbled chuckle. “I think we get along just fine.”
Sani’s body shook and then he was laughing, face lifting to look up at Zoro. “I know, mossy. I know.”
Zoro didn’t get what was so funny but as Sanji moved closer yet again and his arm tightened around him, Zoro found he didn’t care if he didn’t know. He was fine the way he was; in the morning he could blame the alcohol for how he turned to curl into Sanji’s side and fell asleep. And if he checked his phone in the morning to see a text from Nami with a picture of him and Sanji entwined on the beanbag chair, hands clasped together, he definitely didn’t make it his wallpaper.
•
Zoro wasn’t good with words. He liked to let his actions do the speaking for him. It didn’t help that his actions were usually knee jerk reactions that he had a hard time controlling. But he knew his friends understood him, they knew he cared for them and that was all that mattered. He had everything under control.
“Hey mossy,” Sanji dropped his backpack down onto the grass next to Zoro. Grey eyes glanced up curiously, brow quirked in question.
“Don’t you have class idiot, what are you doing here?” Zoro went to grab the blond’s bag and toss it back at him but Sanji had already sat down. He laid flat on his back, arms crossed beneath his head and legs splayed out as he stared at the clouds above.
“I knew you’d ditch today.”
Zoro snorted, leaning back on his hands as he looked over at him with half-lidded eyes and a lopsided smirk.
“The teacher isn’t even there, it’s a sub. Why should I waste my time with someone who can’t even become a real teacher?” Zoro said, his eyes softened at Sanji’s soft laugh. Sanji’s leg stretched out, nudging his shin and Zoro’s throat restricted in that familiar way it only ever seemed to do around the blond. He swallowed past the lump.
“It gets boring when I don’t have anyone to bother.” Sanji said as he closed his eyes and a deep exhale rattled through his chest.
Zoro’s fingers fisted into the grass. The early morning sunlight had settled across Sanji’s face, highlighting his sculpted nose and sharp cheekbones. Zoro’s eyes flitted down to soft lips, they looked rosy in the light and beckoned him like a moth to a flame, only the grass tangled between his fingers held him back. His mouth felt dry and cottony as he breathed in the cool morning air. Zoro looked away, not noticing how blond lashes fluttered or how a dopey smile had spread.
“Let’s go to the arcade!” Sanji said, startling Zoro as he sat up and grabbed onto his arm. Long fingers curled around Zoro’s bicep and he subconsciously flexed. Sanji pressed his face closer, grinning wide as he ducked his head and looked up at him with a dramatically wide eye.
Zoro chuckled, his grip on the grass loosening. Sanji pouted, bottom lip wobbling and Zoro pushed him away.
“Quit it, you look stupid doing that shit.” Zoro said, looking away as Sanji gasped with a hand clutching at his chest in mock heartbreak.
“You wound me, Marimo!” Sanji said woefully, back of his hand covering his face as he slumped against Zoro’s side.
Zoro’s stomach tightened as heat flushed across his cheeks. Sanji’s hair tickled across his neck and then there was warm breath blowing across his ear. Zoro jerked back, face completely red as he scooted away.
“What the hell, asshole!” Zoro clasped a hand over his ear and Sanji laughed, loud and full.
“Let’s go,” Sanji stood up and dusted off his pants. He turned to Zoro and held a hand out.
“I don’t need help getting up.”
“Humor me,” Sanji said, wiggling his fingers and Zoro grabbed onto it, grumbling as the back of his neck burned. As Sanji pulled him up he raised their linked hands to his mouth, lips brushing over Zoro’s knuckles.
“Do you like me yet?”
Zoro’s eyes widened, blush spreading across his face.
“Like you? Who could like a pompous ass like you?” Zoro scowled trying to pull his hand away embarrassed but Sanji held on.
“Well, I was hoping you would.”
Zoro stopped, mouth pulling down into a frown. “You like women.”
“And I like you,” Sanji answered as if it were the easiest thing to admit.
“If I were to say I like you too, what would happen?” Zoro asked, heart beating erratically in his chest and he squeezed his fingers around Sanji’s.
Sanji smiled, blinding and full, and there it was. Zoro felt like he was staring at the sun again. His stomach tensed and he could feel his palms grow sweaty. Fuck, he really liked Sanji.
“First, I’d be happy. Then I’d like to kiss you.”
Zoro found himself nodding before he could stop it, cheeks warm as Sanji’s lips pressed to his hand again, leaving him flustered.
“You don’t gotta go do that, I’m not a damn woman.” Zoro mumbled and Sanji shook his head.
“But I want to,” soft lips pressed to his knuckles like he was fine china and Zoro’s breath faltered.
“Damn shitty brow, stop being embarrassing!” Zoro hissed out and Sanji laughed.
“I can’t help it, I like you.”
Zoro swore under breath, “what about Nami?”
Sanji gave him a puzzled look, “You know she’s dating Vivi, right?”
Zoro scowled, “I know that idiot! I thought you didn’t know, you’re always chasing after her.” Zoro looked away, mouth pulled tight and then Sanji let out a soft snicker that had Zoro snapping his head back.
“You’re messing with me,” Zoro said, eyes narrowed and calculating and Sanji nodded.
“I can’t help it, the way your face scrunches up is really the cutest. I knew she was dating Vivi and I haven’t looked at her in a long time.” Sanji reached up with his free hand, cupping Zoro’s cheek in his palm
“Won’t you say it, say you like me too.”
Zoro's eyes searched Sanji’s face, from his alluring blue gaze to his full lips. Zoro sucked in a sharp breath, face turning to press against Sanji’s palm.
“I guess I sort of like you too, even if you’re an asshole.”
Sanji smiled, thumb brushing along underneath Zoro’s eye and down his cheek.
“Can I kiss you now?” Sanji asked, eye searching Zoro for any sign that meant he could and finally he nodded.
Sanji pressed forward and Zoro gasped, startled by his ferverence. It was toe-curling and everything Zoro had never let himself dream of. His stomach twisted in knots and his knees felt weak, all because he could feel Sanji’s lips pressed to his. Months of denying he liked him, of fostering a crush while their friendship grew, all to be swept away on a spring day. Zoro could no longer deny he was head over heels for him. And then Zoro was kissing him back, open-mouthed and soft, nerves washing away as the hand holding his own squeezed reassuringly. He really liked Sanji.
When they parted, foreheads pressed together, they chuckled, short and breathy.
“Can I take you on a date?” Sanji asked, eye crinkling at the corner with the force of his smile but Zoro didn’t say anything. He squeezed their linked fingers and brought them up to his mouth, eyes locked onto each other as he pressed his lips to Sanji’s pale skin. Heartbeats skipped and faces flushed; and, when Zoro smiled back at him with that lovesick look in his eyes, Sanji knew the answer was yes.