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The bell chimed overhead when Zoro walked through the doors of Black's Brews and Bakery, about half an hour before closing time.
He'd brushed the snow off himself outside, mindful of the owner's fussiness but in the warm air inside the last remnants melted away anyway.
The place was cozy as always, worn comfortable leather sofas and chairs arranged around dark wooden tables under gentle warm light, the air heavy with the aroma of beans and baked goods.
But, more important than all that, the real source of warm comfort was the owner, who was currently busy serving a couple seated at the large windows. He was all smiles and festivity in a dorky sweater with snowflakes over it, talking to his guests in that smooth gentle tone. He sounded happy and Zoro enjoyed listening to him as he took his usual counter seat to wait.
It didn't take long either for the blond to notice him and swing back around behind the counter. "Hey Marimo," he said, brushing Zoro's shoulder in passing, the touch lingering. He also gave him a secret little grin that made his heart jump.
Small gestures, but much more than Zoro could have expected a few months ago, when he first confessed his feelings- and against all odds wasn't rejected.
Now, Zoro was a simple man.
He liked what he liked, fought for what he wanted and didn't have secrets.
But the Cook- an affectionate nickname that had stuck from their school days, when Sanji had worked in his father's restaurant- wasn't like that.
He was contrary and complicated and sometimes liked to keep things stupidly close to his chest.
It was frustrating at the best of times, and if Zoro hadn't carried this torch for so long with much less hope he might be more mad about not being allowed to show the whole world that the Cook liked him back.
But he was a simple man, and the prospect of going to the Cook's shoe box apartment later for a quick dinner and a long makeout session was enough for now.
And even between the Cook packing takeaways and cashing out the last guests and clean-up already in full swing, it wasn't like he didn't get any attention.
"Oi, loitering plant, here's your tea. Also try this." The tone was rough, like usual. The provocation that had never quite left even if it had gotten milder since their teenage years. Zoro wouldn't have him any other way.
So he looked up, stared in fact at this fucking annoying, beautiful bastard that was raising one curly brow like Zoro was bothering him and impatiently drumming his long fingers against the counter.
Not that Zoro was likely to complain. Instead he accepted the tea and the plate of cake shifting a little in his seat. The perfect spot to observe the blond at work. To watch him handle coffee beans, tea leaves and baked goods with a smile on his face and a hum on his lips.
Always happiest when he worked.
Or when some woman was in sight.
The ring of a bell signaled another new arrival and Zoro could tell it was a girl at once from the way the cook lit up.
Zoro tuned out the fawning that followed. Instead he focussed on the piece of cake in front of him.
A grin tugged at his mouth as he tasted the new creation. It wasn't sweet at all, almost herbal instead, and thought up especially for him, to complement his favourite green tea that came with it.
Something that woman couldn't hope for, no matter how much the Cook drew in her coffee or fluttered around her.
Luckily she was gone as quickly as she came. Finally the last customer of the day and the Cook turned the sign and locked the door after her before dramatically falling against it. "Ah, what a lovely finish to a great day!" He said.
Zoro ignored the outburst and finished the last bite on his plate. "This is a good one," he said instead.
"'Course it is," the Cook said, going for smugness but the unrestrained grin told Zoro he had his full attention now and whoever that woman had been, she was already a distant memory. "I have a whole tray left. Let me just pack that up and we can go." He then went about his usual routine, wiping everything down one last time and packing anything that was left over together, all quick energy.
"How cold is it outside?" He asked, pulling on his gloves and scarf, rocking back and forth on his heels.
"Wasn't that bad earlier. Snowed quite a bit though" Zoro said and helped the blond into the coat brushing his hair out from under it and noting how long it had gotten, now that it fell to the Cook's shoulders freely.
"Look at you, such a gentleman," he said and smiled, snipping against Zoro's earrings playfully.
"Shut up," Zoro said and before the blond could talk back leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "Or I'll make you."
The Cook blushed wildly, looking around although they were alone.
But at least he didn't push Zoro away, or curse him out. Merely mumbled a complaint and hid his face in his scarf before grabbing his things, double checking everything and then locking up and heading out.
Progress, even if he still wouldn't let Zoro hold his hand in public.
And fuck, did he want to when they stomped through the freshly fallen snow and the Cook's nose was pink from the cold in no time. He was humming too through his cigarette, sounding pleased even as Zoro felt nervous energy radiate off him for some reason.
"Hey Mosshead...," The Cook said suddenly when they were at the park they usually cut through to get to his building.
"Yea-" he started but found himself with an armful of snow in his face and laughter ringing in his ears.
He sputtered and when he was oriented again the stupid cook had dropped his basket of leftovers and ducked behind the wall surrounding the park. Zoro could see the snow missing on top of the wall that was now all over his front.
That bastard.
A snow ball hit him in the shoulder before he could react. "You are so gonna pay for this, Curly!" He yelled and ducked away too.
"Bring it!" He heard him call back.
From then on it was a fierce fight that only ended when Zoro got close enough to wrestle the blond to the ground but instead found himself tripped and then tackled with a beautiful blond holding him down in the cold.
"I win," the Cook declared, full of glee, red flushed and tousled and covered in snow, smiling that wide smile Zoro had been in love with since middle school.
Zoro disagreed, but the Curly Cook didn't need to know that this time.
The little episode seemed to have relaxed him too. At the very least he wasn't as fidgety for the rest of the way after burning that energy off.
He still hurried them along to his building, smoking another cigarette on the way and complaining about being cold under his breath. Of course that was no one's fault but his own but Zoro was used to this contrary nature and happy to help his blond warm up.
So naturally as soon as the door fell closed he wrapped his arms around the Cook, pressing their cold lips together insistently and the man himself against the door.
They broke apart after a minute and Zoro licked his lips at how disheveled and rosy cheeked his Cook was. He cleared his throat, blushing prettily and turning an even darker red when he let Zoro help him out of his coat, then went ahead to the kitchen.
Zoro shook his head and grinned at the faint cursing he could hear along with kitchen clatter. The heating had been wonky for a while, and the Cook never failed to complain about the apartment being too cold.
He also never failed to seek Zoro's warmth when that was the case, so in his book the temperature was just fine.
He put his and the Cook's coats away before making his way through the tiny apartment and throwing himself on the sofa taking up half the space in the living room. The space so covered in pillows and blankets that it might as well be a bed.
Like clockwork the Cook emerged with two cups of tea, still complaining. "Sorry about the heat. Fucking landlord won't take care of it," he muttered as he passed Zoro his cup and sat down, close enough that their thighs were pressing together so Zoro could throw a blanket over them both and wrap his free arm around the Cook to pull him closer.
The tea was perfect as usual, warming from the inside.
Life was good. Then Zoro noted the rhythmic clink of the Cook's nails hammering against his cup. Apparently the nerves were back.
"You okay, Cook?" Zoro asked and squeezed his shoulder.
"Hm, why wouldn't I be?" He asked and the aggression in his voice was a clear sign that he was lying.
Now, Zoro was used to weird mood swings. The Cook had always been volatile, but cuddly and defensive at the same time was weird even for him.
"Something wrong with the shop?" He asked and the Cook narrowed his eyes at him.
"I said I'm okay," he bit back once more.
"Okay, don't get your panties in a twist… you're just acting kinda weird," Zoro said and set his empty cup aside, rubbing the Cook's back soothingly.
He wasn't here to argue when this was the one place Sanji felt safe enough to let them be close like this.
"Am I?" The Cook muttered and put his own cup away too and Zoro was beginning to regret bringing it up. He liked fighting with his Cook, but not at the cost of their time alone together.
The Cook sighed and rubbed his hands through his hair. "There is… something actually," he said.
"We've been… us for a while and-" He made a frustrated noise and bent forward, grabbing a small black box from under the table and holding it out to Zoro.
He was bright red, but probably not more so than Zoro who forced a grin and tried to stop his heart from beating out of control. "You're not gonna propose, are you, Curly?" He asked.
The knee to the side came swiftly and left him smarting. "This is hard enough mosshead. Take the box," he forced out between his teeth before Zoro could debate whether that constituted a 'no'.
He popped the box open and inside sat a set of keys.
When Zoro looked up, Sanji was biting his lip.
"Remember the apartment above my shop?" He started and Zoro nodded. "Well, it's- was for sale… I bought it and I wondered if…" he bit his lip again and looked at Zoro pleadingly.
"I'm gonna move in with you?" Zoro asked and raised an eyebrow. "You think everyone is gonna buy the roommate stick?"
It was meant to be a joke but instead of kicking him Sanji hid his red face behind his hair. "They won't have to if… if we tell them."
Now that got Zoro's attention and he almost dropped the keys. "You wanna tell them?"
Sanji glanced at him, blushed harder, and then looked away again. "Don't look so excited… 's not that big a deal. Hey!" He complained when Zoro grabbed him around the waist and pulled him into his lap.
He pressed his lips to the Cook's, delighting in being kissed back even after months of being together, giddy at the prospect of getting to kiss the Cook whenever he wanted.
"When?" Zoro asked after having kissed his fill for the moment.
"We could move in for the new year… and I wanted to tell everyone at the Christmas dinner, after Chopper's birthday party," the Cook muttered against his lips, playing with his earrings like he liked to do.
"Good," Zoro said and held him close, the keys still dangling from his fingers.
"You gonna put those down?" The cook asked and leaned back enough to look at Zoro smugly.
"No."
The Cook's laugh rumbled through him while he rearranged himself so he could reach for his tea again. But he stayed in Zoro's lap, tension for once completely bleeding out of him when Zoro rubbed his back and shoulders.
Well almost. "Are you hungry? I have some soup left over from yesterday and there's still your cake...," he said, but settled more against his chest.
Zoro huffed a laugh. "Would it matter if I said no?"
"No. Who knows what you eat in a day when I'm not there to feed you," Sanji muttered but didn't make a move to untangle himself from the blanket.
Zoro grinned and jingled the keys in front of Sanji's eyes. "Good thing that you'll be around to keep me in line then," Zoro said and pressed another kiss to warm lips, wrapping his Cook tighter in the blanket and keeping him warm and safe.