Chapter Text
Sanji remembers the day he lost the ability to touch.
He was eight years old when the Fey arrived at the castle. He remembers how beautiful they looked, and how smooth their voice sounded when they spoke to Sanji's mother.
And then the Fey looked at him and motioned him to come closer. Sanji looked up to his mother and she nodded, so he hesitantly took a couple of shaky steps in the Fey's direction until he was standing right in front of them. They looked at Sanji for a long moment and raised their hand to Sanji's forehead, just like his mother did not long ago to check his temperature.
"Your life will not end here, sick little child." The Fey smiles but it is the kind of smile that makes Sanji feel cold. He wants to pull back but the Fey doesn't let him yet. "I can cure you. But it comes with a price. I cannot give unless I take."
Sanji remembers hearing his mother agree, fear of losing her child to this terrible fever resonating in her voice.
The next thing he remembers after that is the touch of his mother, warm and soft and full of affection. He remembers how comforted he felt, how the tears that had started welling up in his eyes would stop again. Just this touch made him feel safe in his mother's arms. He remembers the kiss she pressed to his forehead and how he had closed his eyes, smiling.
He remembers her stroking his hair and whispering in his ear: "No one who truly loves you will ever hurt you, my little sun."
He remembers how weak his mother sounded and how her hands fell away from his head. Someone grabbed his arm to pull him away, and it felt like his skin was on fire. He screamed and flinched away from the painful touch, crying for his mother and missing her embrace.
Ever since that day, Sanji hasn't been able to touch anyone without subjecting himself to terrible, burning pain. His mother had died that day from the same disease that had lived in Sanji not too long before that, but the Fey only granted one wish, so it was Sanji who survived, although cursed by a spell that took away his ability to get close to anyone.
Zeff, his father, knew better than to try and keep his son inside all day. He knew Sanji wouldn't listen, he would find a way to escape the guards and leave the castle anyway, so Zeff resorted to a different method of keeping his son safe from the effects of the curse.
The greenhaired knight has been at Sanji's side since they were both 14 years old. He's been proving himself through his exceptional sword skills and his loyalty to the throne. To Sanji. He is in charge of Sanji's personal safety, and he makes sure no one is getting too close to the blond.
In a way, that makes Zoro the person closest to Sanji, but this is true in more than one way. They've been friends for almost as long as they've known each other, they've always had each other's back and there is no one Sanji trusts more with his life.
There is a soft knock on Sanji's door and the Prince already knows it must be Zoro. He's the last face Sanji sees before he goes to sleep at night and the first one when he gets up in the morning. No one else is allowed to approach the Prince without his knight present, everyone in the castle knows that.
"Come in," Sanji calls and the door opens for Zoro to step into the room. He is wearing his usual chain mail armor, covered by a cloak in blue and yellow colors with the emblem of their kingdom across the chest. His swords are resting on the belt around his hip. He's not wearing a helmet, even though it is usually mandatory for the knights during duty but Zoro claims it makes his head all itchy and obscures his vision, so he refuses to wear it. There is no one to force him either since he is the captain and everyone else answers to him only. Well, him and the royal family of course.
"Good morning," Zoro greets him politely and Sanji narrows his eyes suspiciously. "I see you have decided to cause me trouble by belating our arrival to the dining room."
That's more like it. A gentle stab hidden behind Zoro's elevated language. He's been getting better at flowery speech since his training with Mihawk, enough that Zeff seems to be satisfied at least, despite the fact that Sanji's father doesn't make use of it himself. The respectful tone is expected from a knight when speaking with the royal family, however, and Zoro never argued with that rule. He's been following it since day one.
Still, it doesn't stop him from teasing the Prince from time to time, even when he hides it behind a respectful bow, and Sanji wouldn't have it any other way.
"I'm sure the old man can wait a little bit," Sanji responds with a shrug.
The Prince gets up from his bed and lets his robe slide off his shoulders, revealing his nude body to the other. He can feel the knight's eyes on him but when he turns to catch a glimpse of Zoro's expression, he seems composed and entirely unbothered. He has seen Sanji naked many times before, there is no need for modesty when it comes to Zoro, but still...
Turning away again, Sanji can barely keep himself from pouting as he vanishes behind his room divider and starts to get dressed in a fine silk tunic. It's blue and yellow as well, and maybe he chooses it just to match his knight today.
"The King might wait but you seem to forget that there is a guest joining today that might not be so patient," Zoro reminds him and Sanji sighs heavily. He remembers, even though he spent a long time trying not to think about it.
"If he can't be patient enough to wait until I am ready, then maybe he shouldn't be here," Sanji huffs while slipping into his pants. He thinks he can hear Zoro chuckle at this.
At last, he grabs the light blue cape that he throws over his shoulders and ties to the front of his clothes with a brooch that shows Baratie's emblem as well, but when he turns to look into the mirror, he hisses quietly. Some of his hair got caught in the pearls decorating the cape.
"Are you okay?" he hears Zoro's voice once again, concerned before the Mosshead rounds the corner to check on the Prince.
"Yeah, just some strands that are stuck," Sanji admits, trying to pull it off without damaging either the hair or the cape.
Zoro raises an eyebrow and steps closer, causing Sanji to lower his hands in defeat when the swordsman raises his gloved ones to assist Sanji.
He is close enough that Sanji can sense the smell of metal and steel that clings to Zoro at all times. He is close enough that the gauntlet brushes over Sanji's cheek when Zoro tries to free Sanji's hair from the clothing, and there is a strange, prickling sensation that Sanji is all too familiar with by now.
At first, he assumed it's some kind of echo from the pain he would usually feel when it's skin-to-skin contact but then he realized this feeling is only arising in him when it's Zoro and it is not at all an unpleasant one.
He can feel the blush spreading on his cheeks but the knight doesn't seem to notice, he keeps his eyes on the task at hand.
A little too soon for Sanji's taste, Zoro steps back again after untangling the hair from the pearl, and he gives a curt nod. "You should think about tying it to a ponytail to keep it out of the way for now," he suggests and Sanji runs his fingers through his hair, considering it. It's probably not a bad idea, even though he likes having them open.
He has caught Zoro staring at him more than once whenever the wind picks up or strands of it fall in front of Sanji's face, despite his usual composure. He knows there are some things that can sway the knight after all.
"Will you help me with it?" Sanji asks and looks back at the knight. Zoro must know that Sanji is very capable of tying his own hair but he doesn't protest when Sanji offers him the hair tie, whatever compels him to follow the request.
Zoro's movements are cautious when he gathers all of Sanji's hair and ties them together, especially because he is still wearing the gauntlets which make it harder to be gentle, but Sanji doesn't mind that much, even though he wishes the gauntlets weren't necessary.
When Zoro is done, he lingers close to the Prince for a moment, watching him with an expression Sanji cannot quite discern. Sanji doesn't break eye contact, nor does he say anything as if not to break the spell but unfortunately Zoro turns away again and motions to the door.
"We should get going. Your father and the guest are waiting for you."
Sanji sighs quietly but it seems like he doesn't have much of a choice. "Let's get this over with," he says and slides a pair of gloves over his hands as well. Only a precaution that he has learned to live with, just like so many other precautions.
Zoro follows the Prince, always only a couple of steps behind him not unlike his shadow. It's been that way for over seven years and if it were anyone but Zoro, the blond would have tried to sneak away and get rid of him a long time ago.
He still does sometimes, but Zoro always knows where to find him - despite getting lost when he tries to find literally anything else - and he's always there when needed. It's comforting in a way. Even though Zoro cannot touch Sanji, he never shies away from the Prince, never makes him feel like there is a barrier between them.
Sanji enters the dining room and as expected Zeff is already waiting for him. He has taken the seat at the head of the table, which he only does when other people are around. Otherwise, he usually prefers to sit opposite of Sanji.
Today, on the opposite of Sanji there is a large and bulky blond guy with a sharp jawline and eyebrows that have a slight curl downside at the end.
He smiles when Sanji enters the room, and gets up from his seat, greeting the Prince with a small bow.
"It is my pleasure to meet you, Prince Sanji. My name is Duval, Lord of Motobaro. I am truly honored to take you out on a date today!" He finishes his introduction with a questionable grimace and it takes Sanji a second until he realizes that the guy is trying to shoot him a wink.
A quiet snort comes from behind Sanji and he shoots his knight a look. Zoro can barely hide his obvious amusement about the situation. Sanji is definitely going to kill him after this.
But for now, he turns back to the guest with a polite smile on his lips. "The pleasure is mine," he says and he swears he can feel Zoro grinning.
Sanji sits down with Duval now who starts talking about what an honor it is to be here and how he would never have thought to be invited to court like this. Zeff looks like he's about to stuff Duval's mouth with an apple and Sanji can't help but feel slight satisfaction by that. If his father forces him to meet with these people from all over the kingdom, it's only fair he has to suffer with Sanji for a while.
After breakfast, Duval takes him out to the royal gardens for a stroll but he keeps his distance, and his eyes keep flickering over to Zoro every once in a while. He seems a little bit put off by the fact that the knight - quiet as he is - is following them everywhere.
Duval isn't the worst guy, Sanji admits, but he is just unbelievably dull and, quite frankly, boring. He talks about himself most of the time and even though he seems to like Sanji and compliments him occasionally, it weirds Sanji out that the guy is calling him "Young Master" all the time. How old is this guy anyway?
The date ends after almost two hours in the Pavillion where they have taken a seat, even though it felt a lot longer than that. Sanji's been nodding and smiling politely all the way through but he barely talked himself. It didn't seem like Duval wanted to know much about Sanji anyway.
Duval is escorted back out of the castle by a few other guards and Sanji takes a deep breath as soon as the Lord is out of range. He sinks into his chair and lets out a defeated sigh.
"This was easily one of the longest conversations I was ever forced to have."
"It seems like he fancies you," Zoro responds with an amused smirk on his lips. Sanji kicks his leg out but it connects with the shin guards without causing much damage.
"This is pointless," Sanji huffs. "This won't work. My father is just too stubborn to see that."
Zoro's expression grows more serious when he says: "He is only trying to help you. It isn't the worst strategy either, and the King isn't blind. He knew that Lord Duval is not going to be the one since talking to him during breakfast."
"What?" Sanji straightens his back again and looks at Zoro offended. "Then why did I have to spend two more hours with him out here?!"
"Because Lord Duval is an important ally and it's not exactly speaking of respect if the King throws him out without even giving him the chance of a date."
Unfortunately, that makes sense but it doesn't mean Sanji is happy about it. "Please just tell me we're done for today."
"There are at least two more meetings on the list," the knight admits, and Sanji groans and buries his face in his hands.
"How am I supposed to survive that?!"
He can feel Zoro shift closer and a gloved hand comes to rest on his shoulder. "It will be worth it." His voice is soft and reassuring and Sanji eases into the touch. A touch he craves but cannot have, not fully.
He has seen Zoro's hands, rough from training, covered in small scars from nicks and bruises. Strong enough to break a cup without much than a flex of his muscle. And he has imagined those hands on his own body countless times. A gentle touch, a rough pull... Anything to be able to actually feel the contact of skin on his, the warmth of Zoro's body that he radiates, every time he hovers over Sanji, close but always just out of reach.
Zoro has never once touched Sanji directly, despite the fact that he doesn't keep away from the Prince as much as other people do. He is not afraid of accidentally hurting the Prince because he has incredible self-control and is always aware of when he can get close and when he has to be cautious. Still, he won't step over this one line, ever.
When Zoro removes his hand from Sanji's shoulder, the Prince gets up from his seat and stretches a bit, in hopes to chase away this sore feeling he's developed after listening to Duval for two hours.
"If there is some time, I would love to take a walk by myself without weird company." He shakes his head. "I need some time to clear my head before I can deal with making dull conversation with yet another Lord again."
He turns back to his knight, feeling the skeptical look on him and Sanji has to smile. "Don't look at me like that, you're the only weird company I accept," he says before turning around and making his way through the garden to the little pond on the far end of the castle grounds. Zoro follows him, just like he always does, quiet and attentive.
He has never once complained about his role as Sanji's knight, never mentioned wanting to do anything else, even though Sanji imagines it must be quite boring and uneventful, especially for someone like Zoro who gets a real thrill out of a good fight. But as long as Sanji's curse prevails, Zoro can't leave his side.
Maybe Zeff is right, maybe these dates are the best way for Sanji to find the one he is looking for, the one who will break the curse. Maybe not every Lord is going to be so self-absorbed and boring. But on the other hand, Sanji doesn't have much interest in getting to know any one of these Lords. There is just one person, he has ever taken an interest in, and maybe it's stupid and reckless but at this point, Sanji doesn't even care if his touch will hurt him. He just wants to feel Zoro's hand on his once.
And if Sanji is honest with himself, he doesn't want Zoro to leave either, as selfish as it is. He doesn't like to be babysitted, he can handle himself but Zoro knows that and he respects that which makes his company much more enjoyable. Even though Sanji is the prince and Zoro has his duties, he treats Sanji as an equal, despite the title, despite their rank.
"What are you going to do, once the curse is lifted?", Sanji asks. He can't help it, he's curious. "Are you going to leave the castle?" Sanji knows that a lot of the knights also have duties outside the castle. They are taking care of threats all over the country. Maybe Zoro is going to join Luffy, who is always out to fight beasts and other dangers.
Sanji doesn't want Zoro to leave but he's not going to force him to stay even though he could. He could order Zoro to stay by his side, even after the curse is lifted and Zoro would follow the order. It wouldn't be fair to him, though.
Zoro stops when Sanji does, and he looks at the Prince intently. "Where would I go?" Zoro asks back, his voice serious and his expression stern. "My place is by your side, Your Highness."
Sanji smiles, he just can't help himself. The Marimo always makes it sound so simple, washing away his worry with just a few words. It makes him want to cradle the other's cheek in his hand, to tell him how much he needs the knight. Not for protection, not because of this curse but because his presence fills Sanji with warmth and comfort that he doesn't get anywhere else. Not with anyone.
If the knight would just get over it and touch Sanji...
When the Cook starts walking again, he has an idea. Maybe he just has to make the knight do it, coax him out of his much too professional shell for once.
It is the reasonable thing to just drop it and try not to think about it any longer. Nothing good will come out of testing the curses' limits once again, but Sanji knows this yearning won't stop if he doesn't do anything, and there is just this small sliver of hope that maybe the curse will let him. Just this once.
That's why, without really thinking about it, Sanji pretends to stumble, and to make it look realistic enough for Zoro to react to it, he lets himself fall backward.
And promptly ends up on his ass.
Sanji is surprised about it for a second, blinking a couple of times before looking up to Zoro, standing right behind him, clearly unmoved by Sanji's accident. The prince can't help but pout. "You didn't catch me," he says accusingly. Zoro raises an eyebrow.
"I am very well aware of how nimble you are on your feet, Your Highness," he responds. "I am not sure what you are trying to achieve here."
The prince sighs heavily and just lets his head drop into the grass in defeat. His plan wouldn't have worked, either way, Zoro is still wearing those gauntlets. He has to find another way after all.
"Nevertheless, you should not be lying there, you're going to get your dress dirty," the knight adds and offers Sanji a hand. Stupid gauntlets. He glares at them in hopes it would incinerate them to ashes. But after a moment he takes it and lets Zoro help him up to his feet.
He has a little more momentum than expected and bumps against Zoro's chest, the knight's arm wrapping around Sanji's waist naturally.
Sanji's heart skips a beat at the sudden closeness. He can feel Zoro's warm breath on his skin when the greenhaired releases an unsteady exhale himself. The prince looks at Zoro and the knight looks back and just for a moment it seems like the world has stopped turning. There is this unmistakable urge of leaning in, capturing Zoro's lips in a kiss - something Sanji has never once done in his life - and he thinks he can see it in Zoro's eyes as well.
Sanji parts his lips slightly and his eyes begin to close when he moves towards Zoro, following the pull that he's been feeling for so long now but just before their mouths connect, the knight steps back and releases his hold on the prince.
"We are late for your next date."
Sanji has trouble regulating his breathing but soon his urge to kiss the man turns into an urge to kick him. This fucking idiot knows exactly what he is doing.
The prince doesn't get it. Zoro can definitely feel what Sanji feels and still, he refuses to give in. It is frustrating and driving Sanji insane but it takes a lot more than that to dishearten the blond.
"Ah, there you are!" an unfamiliar voice calls out and when Sanji turns, another blond man approaches. He is also taller than Sanji, though not towering over him as Duval was. His hair almost seems to be shining and it is curled into large locks at the end. His clothing is extravagant and he wears a rapier, which surprises Sanji since only a few people are even allowed to carry weapons in the castle for safety reasons.
It must be another Lord or maybe even another Prince. Sanji supresses a groan.
"Your Highness..." The other man dips into an excessive and flourishing bow. "I am glad to have found you. You will have the great chance to spend some time with me, Cavendish of the White Horse."
Sanji blinks. Zoro stares.
Cavendish doesn't seem to care. Instead, he offers up his arm. "Let me lead you to another part of the garden. I have prepared something special for us."
Sanji doesn't really have a choice at this point, so he smiles and follows Cavendish but he ignores the offered arm. He's wearing gloves but it's better not to risk it.
Funny, Sanji thinks. At the same time, he's so eager to risk it when it comes to Zoro.
It's different with him though because for better or worse, Sanji has feelings for his knight.