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Waking up with an annoying, intense pain in his belly and back was a problem he wasn’t expecting to meet after they left Loguetown on their way to Grand Line, without any certainty that they would find some sort of civilization for the next couple weeks.
Zoro hadn’t bought anything for his period, too busy with the job of finding suitable swords. Now he was fucked because all Nami had stocked – she decided that she would take care of his stuff due to his incurable carelessness regarding anything that wasn’t his weapons – were the cloth rags. No herbs to make teas, no natural medicines and much less leather bags that he could warm up and place on the aching areas. Just great. If his intentions were to suffer until his body decided that it had enough, then he succeeded gratefully.
With slow, careful steps, he started to walk towards Nami’s room. Luckly, Luffy was distracted on the head of Going Merry, otherwise his cheerful captain wouldn’t waste the chance to jump at him. It was his way of showing affection but, right now, his rudeness would probably kill him. Usopp, on the other hand, interrupted his path to ask about a suggestion to name a new invention of his. Zoro wanted to dismiss him, but one innocent look was enough to wake his weak spot towards the youngests of the crew.
He gave one or two exemples, and heard the inspiration behind it, until Usopp finally let him go.
Zoro sprinted towards Nami’s, only to be stopped again. This time, by the pervert cook.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Sanji asked suspiciously, as if Zoro was about to commit a felony. He groaned and tried to pass him, but was blocked by his arm. He would’ve punched this asshole’s face if it wasn’t for this damn pain. “Men are not allowed in Nami-san’s room. If you want to talk with her, you’ll have to wait.”
“Fuck you, Sanji!” Zoro cursed, pushing his arm down. The cook’s mouth fell at hearing his name instead of some mockful nickname. “That’s none of your business! I’m going to see Nami!”
He knew Sanji would snap, he knew his patterns with the palm of his hands. But so did the bastard. Zoro didn’t react fast enough to dodge one of his kicks, receiving a strong one right on his belly. A sharp, deep and unbearable pain made him fall on his knees. He hugged his body, trying to protect it in case he decided to do it again.
His reaction took Sanji by surprise.
“M-Mosshead? Hey, don’t be dramatic! I haven’t––”
Whatever he was going to say, was stopped by a flying fist hitting his face. Before Zoro could look up, he felt rubbery arms wrapping him protectively.
“ARE YA CRAZY?!” Luffy screamed, and he sounded so pissed. Sanji was still composing himself after the punch, while Zoro whined from the pain. “HOW DARE YA HURT ZORO?! I’M GONNA BEAT YER ASS!”
“What the hell, Luffy?! I didn’t do anything!” Sanji defended himself, yet he looked unsure. “He had taken worse kicks than that!”
“It’s ‘cause Zoro is sick! And he is bleeding! Idiot Sanji!”
Great, what a way to find out that the blood had already smeared his pants. Zoro snorted, finding it funny but also wanting to disappear from this world. “It’s fine, captain. Don’t fight.”
“But Zoro is hurt!” He screeched, alternating between looking at the swordsman and his attacker.
“That’s not important. Just help me go to Nami’s bedroom.” Zoro checked on Sanji’s face at the mention of the girl. He didn’t make a deal over it, thankfully. “That’s all I need.”
Luffy obeyed shortly thereafter. He held Zoro in his arms in a bridal style, not what he expected but which was gladly accepted, then they passed through Sanji without interruptions.
Zoro felt his gaze on them, on him, until Nami opened the door and let him come inside.
____________________________
He didn’t know how many hours had passed since he collapsed on Nami’s coach, only on his white shirt and underwear, feeling extremely ill. His low part was aching like hell, swollen too. He wanted to throw up constantly, but nothing came up besides spit. There was nothing in his stomach to be put out in the first place. Zoro was empty, empty and in pain, holding back his tears because it would be childish of him to do it just because of cramps. He hadn’t done it after almost being cut in half by Mihawk’s sword, so why would he do it now?
A while ago, Zoro noticed that his cramps got worse after he joined Luffy’s crew. Which was weird, considering that he was eating better due to Sanji’s amazing cooking skills. The plates were more full and diversified, therefore, he didn’t understand why it was having the opposite effect. However, in his current state, that wasn’t an issue he was going to spend his energy on. All he was focusing on was to make his breathing steady and to keep his legs still instead of curling them at each twinge.
Zoro grunted, changing his position to lay on his stomach. At the same time, he heard a polite knock on the door. Nami wouldn’t do that, it was her own room. Luffy would straight up break in while shouting his name, and Usopp would announce his presence by speaking. The only option left was Sanji. Why, though? Didn’t he have enough earlier? Zoro hoped he didn’t come to fight, otherwise he wouldn’t hesitate to call Luffy to beat his ass as he promised.
“Come in.” Zoro allowed it after a few minutes, grimacing. It felt odd since it wasn’t his place. Well, whatever. As predicted, the person on the other side of the door was Sanji. He looked more serious than usual. “What do you want, dartbrows?”
When he got closer, Zoro realized that he was holding a glass with a colorful content on its insides. Fruits, he recognized by the smell. He frowned. “What is that for?”
“For you, who else?” Sanji spat back, not in the same aggressive tone as normal. It was forced, as if he tried to be sarcastic to keep the facade up.
When silence reigned, Sanji walked towards Zoro and helped him to sit. He placed the glass on Zoro’s hands and settled down on the floor, back on the couch and arms hugging his legs. The cook seemed thoughtful. In a gesture of respect, Zoro refused to eat until he said something.
“Nami-san told me everything.” Sanji said. Zoro tensed up. “Why haven’t you told me before? I mean, even Luffy knows. If I knew, I would’ve been more careful.”
A pain, similar to the one he was feeling in his belly, manifested on his chest. So, it happened. The outcome Zoro feared, the outcome that was making him hesitate to come out to Sanji, happened. It was too naive of him to think that he would accept him like he did with Nami. Nami, who was a woman. Sanji, who loved women more than himself. It didn’t matter as long as she was the object of his adoration. But Zoro? Zoro, who was born in the wrong body and spent years shaping it to fit in the way he wanted, getting rid of the feminine traits that disgusted him, didn’t fit Sanji’s notions of genders. And now, he would– he would!
“I don’t need your fucking pity.” Zoro said, practically tossing the glass on Sanji, who grabbed it right before the cutted fruits fell on the floor.
“That’s not pi––!”
“I don’t give a fuck about what you think of me.” He interrupted sternly, staring at Sanji as if he could slice him with his eyes. “Treat me like something I’m not, shit cook, and I swear I’ll kill you for real!”
Sanji twisted his lips. “The hell are you talking about?”
“I am a man.” Zoro asserted, placing his closed fist in the center of his chest. His body burned with pride and certainty. Hidden amidst the sentence, there was a hint of self-love, too. “And I won’t tolerate you treating me differently because of your misconceptions, regardless of how much I value you as nakama.”
For a second, he forgot about the pain. The tension and adrenaline covered up for it, changing his attention towards a matter that itched an already healed scar. But when silence fell above them, the cramps came back worse due to the commotion. Zoro cursed and Sanji remained quiet. He was looking at him with unreadable blue eyes, taking his time to digest what was told. It was expected, after all, his beliefs were confronted. Zoro silently hoped that he would change his way of thinking after this.
He did not expect, by any means, to hear Sanji giggling.
“I know.” One simple word, four letters and one vowel, made all the pressure Zoro was feeling vanish. Sanji was looking at him with fondness, something that he never did until now. “I know, Zoro. You’re, like, the manliest guy on this ship. Even more than I am, honestly.”
Zoro felt his lips getting dry. “Then…” It came out raspy. He tried again. “Then why did you say that?”
“I was referring to your cramps.” He clarified, pointing at Zoro’s belly with his cigarette. “There are some types of ingredients that make the pain worse, and some that relieve it. If I knew earlier, I would’ve made something special for you.”
Oh.
Oh.
That explained everything.
“You didn’t know that?” Sanji asked, dumbfounded. Zoro growled in embarrassment, but nodded. “Then why do you think I brought fruits?!”
“Because it’s about to spoil?” He tried, shrugging.
Sanji sighed and pressed his nose, though gave the glass to Zoro once again. “I’m not an asshole. I would never give bad food to someone who is suffering.” He said, pressing his index finger on the swordsman’s forehead. “Now eat, you dumb marimo.”
Tempted, Zoro took the spoon and lifted the fruit on top, an orange. However, before he could put it inside his mouth, he saw a brown line on it. It was on the whole thing, in reality.
“What is this?” Zoro asked, showing it to Sanji.
“This is chocolate sauce.” He answered, smiling. Zoro 's eyes opened wide. Chocolate was expensive! Why was Sanji giving it to him?! “Don’t overthink, idiot. I was already planning to make sweet dishes for you all, it only happens that you’ll have it first than everyone else. Come on, try it.”
Reluctantly, he took the first bite. Immediately, a good sensation spread through his tongue, from the tip to its sides. The combination of the citrusy taste of the orange, along with the sugary savor of the chocolate, was delicious. Suddenly, Zoro felt… pleased? Contented? So quickly, though? And after one single bite? He was surprised. Of course eating made him happy, but this one was different. It was a different kind of satisfaction.
He enjoyed it.
“Thanks.” Zoro uttered, devouring it at a fast pace. Sanji didn’t respond, yet he didn’t take his eyes off him. His face gleamed as he watched him enjoying his food.
This was definitely the best medicine for his period that he ever had.
“So…” Sanji coughed, and a slight blush appeared on his cheeks. Zoro, with his mouth full, only hummed. “You value me as your nakama, huh?”
Zoro never swallowed a strawberry piece so fast in his life.
“NO, I DON’T! I DON’T! I DON’T!” Zoro tried to deny it, but it was too late. Sanji already had a huge shit-eating grin on his face.
He was definitely going to tell it to the others.
Well fuck, it was never too late to jump from the ship anyways.