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The sun was shining, the sea was calm, and Zoro was bored as hell.
He had been working out for hours now to try to combat his restlessness, but all he had been left with were sore muscles and a mind too active to nap away. Normally when this happened, Zoro would walk into the galley, bother Sanji, and demand sake. That would lead to one of two things: the first, they would fight and the second – Zoro’s preference these days – was to find a dark corner of the ship away from the others to make out or if they were really lucky, to have a quickie in. Since they had met up again in Wano, the two had finally talked about their feelings and actually got their heads out of their asses and gotten together.
However, Zoro’s usual preference for solving his boredom wasn’t even in the galley. Sanji has been holed up in the library for hours with Chopper and Robin in their book club.
The book club was a fairly new creation due to the weeks after leaving Wano gifting the Strawhat’s with fairly calm seas. The more bookish members of the crew were able to pick up their old hobby, finding their noses in the pages more often than not. Initially, Zoro wasn’t even bothered by Sanji reading more often. In fact, it had often led the two of them to finding time away from the others to relax in one another’s company. During pleasant afternoons on the sea where no meals had to be made and workouts had been completed, Zoro often found himself laying under the mikan trees, head in Sanji’s lap, as capable fingers from one hand mindlessly ran through his hair while the other held whatever story his cook had been in the middle of.
Zoro’s problems started just over a week ago when Robin had asked Sanji about a book he was reading and the shit cook literally kicked Zoro off of him to talk to the archeologist about the novel. The days after that instance saw the two providing book recommendations to the other and spending hours in the library discussing plot points and symbolism in the works.
Most of the Strawhats didn’t seem inclined to join them though. Usopp, with his love of storytelling, had tried at first but found he wasn’t a regular reader and not as keen to discuss the stories to the same length as Sanji and Robin were. The only other member of the book club was Chopper who – when Sanji and Robin had decided to take their discussion of a novel outside of the library on a particularly pleasant morning – had overheard them talking about a fictional doctor in a book they had picked up in Wano. Chopper had initially been interested in the medical practices outlined in the book but it was the thrilling story itself that had the little doctor signing up for the book club. Which meant Zoro was now without his partner and his occasional napping companion due to bound paper of all things.
So, while Zoro did have other nakama to entertain him when sleep eluded him, it wasn’t the kind of attention that he wanted. The kind of attention he had gotten used to over the past few weeks. Even before he and Sanji started dating, the two would spare at least once a day, but now they hadn’t spared in a week – or three books ago by Zoro’s count.
They were dating now which means they could be doing other things . Things they clearly weren’t since the library door was shut and the discussion inside still not done.
Which leads to where the swordsman is now – glaring at the library door from where he was laying on Sunny’s lawn.
“Dumb books.” Zoro grumbled under his breath.
He hadn’t thought he was loud enough for anyone to hear but an exasperated sign near him told him he wasn’t quiet enough.
“What are you mumbling about now?” Nami said. “You know your moping is really ruining what would otherwise be a nice afternoon sunbathing.”
“I’m not mumbling.”
“Clearly since I could hear you. Is it about the book club again? Because you have been glaring at the library door hard enough to burn a hole in it.”
“Along with all the books inside too.”
Nami gave another deep, irritated sign at his answer.
“You know,” She began, placing her sunglasses on top of her head and turning to look at the swordsman, “there’s a pretty easy solution to your ‘wanting Sanji’s attention all of the time’ problem.”
“I don’t want curly’s attention.” Zoro replied, arms crossed and still glaring at the library door.
He heard Nami snort at his response, clearly not buying the lie.
“Ugh, fine. What is your solution then.”
“You could just join the book club.”
At that, Zoro finally turned his attention to the navigator, giving her a questioning look.
“I could what?”
“You heard me, I know you did. Just join the book club. Then you can see Sanji more and maybe read a book for once in your life.”
“I’ve read a book before.”
The flat stare Nami gave him said more than her words could have.
Fine. It had been a while since Zoro had even thought to read but he had tried to start a book or two before. Whenever he tried though, he found he only made it a couple of pages before falling asleep. It wasn’t his fault books were boring as hell and didn’t have nearly enough pictures or discussion of swords to keep his attention. He had better things to do than read anyway, like training or sparring or kissing his boyfriend - all things stupid paper was keeping him from doing.
Zoro was - he was loath to admit - getting desperate though and it wasn’t the worst idea he had heard. Maybe, if he was lucky, he didn’t even have to read or even join the club. Maybe he could get away with lying on the couch in the library and napping with his head on Sanji’s lap while the rest of them talked around him. Decision made, Zoro got up from his spot on the lawn and made his way over to the library.
A few minutes passed as Zoro stood outside the door. It had seemed so simple when he was laying in the grass but now that he was standing there, about to go inside, what was he even supposed to say?
I actually really love books and want to read them non-stop with you all. No. That wouldn’t do. They would clearly see that that was a lie.
I’m jealous of paper and just want to nap and cuddle on Sanji while you all talk about your dumb books. He couldn’t just go in there and tell the truth. Sanji would use it to tease him nonstop. Absolutely not.
Screw it, he would sneak in and just lay down on whichever couch Sanji was on and no one would have to say a thing.
The door letting out a high pitched creak as the hinges were worked quickly ruined any plan for subtlety Zoro had though, announcing his presence to the room before he even had a chance to enter. He would find some way to get back at Franky for not oiling the door hinges later. As Zoro stepped into the room, he was met with the wide eyed looks of the three people inside, confusion clear on each of their faces.
The silence between the three in the room and the one at the door went on for far too long before Sanji chose to break it.
“Hey, marimo. What are you doing here?”
Zoro stood in the doorway for a few moments, struggling to form words. Any words. Just a simple the couches in the library are comfortable and I wanted to take a nap on them or maybe a hey cook, you’ve been in here for literal hours do you want to maybe go to the empty aquarium bar with me instead . Any of those options would have been better than what he actually managed.
“I want to join your book club.”
The silence that followed his statement was deafening.
Zoro was met with the wide eyed looks of his nakama in front of him. Like he had said something insane to warrant the look.
“You would like to join us, Zoro?” Robin finally said, breaking the silence.
He just nodded in response, not trusting his voice not to betray him.
“Do you..um..” Chopper began nervously. “Do you read, Zoro?”
“Of course I read!” Zoro could feel his face heat up at the question.
Sanji snorted, clearly holding back laughter. Even Robin had a hand covering her mouth to hide a smile clearly seen in the way her eyes scrunched up.
“Mosshead. The last time I saw you so much as even look at a book, you looked like you wanted to burn it. Why the hell do you want to join our book club?” Sanji said, following the question up with a teasing smirk and statement mumbled under his breath. “I’m not even sure you know how to read.”
Zoro felt himself turn red, in either embarrassment or anger he wasn’t entirely sure. Probably both. Zoro knew that the cook knew he could read given the number of times Sanji would make him read aloud handwritting that curled more than his eyebrows off of a grocery list when they shopped to restock the kitchen together.
Stupid teasing love cook.
“I know how to read, dartboard brow. I’m just bored and figured reading or whatever would help.”
“Reading might be one way to cure your boredom.” Robin said, a knowing look on her face as she looked at Zoro. Sometimes he really hated the way Robin seemed to see right through him. “We are almost done with our discussion. Join us. If you find our discussion not to your liking, maybe we can find another solution to your problem.”
“Sit, marimo.” Sanji said, patting the space on the couch next to him and Zoro didn’t have to think twice about taking it, sitting just far away from the cook that their shoulders barely touched. He didn’t want to come off as desperate even if he was enough to entertain the idea of joining a book club of all things just for some of Sanji’s attention.
As the three began their discussion again, Zoro could immediately begin to feel himself tuning them out. It wasn’t their fault by any means, he just had never been the type to care for long, in depth discussions. The world was simple to him, things and people meant what they meant and there did not have to be any deeper meaning than that. Anytime he did manage to find something he liked reading it had been straightforward. A brief history on swords or a swordsman. Illustrations and photos plentiful where words were not. One plus one meant two. No need to analyze why the curtains were blue or what it meant for the scene to take place at sunset.
As the other’s continued, Zoro’s single eye closed and he moved to lean on Sanji’s shoulder next to him. He felt as Sanji’s arm moved behind him on the couch, fingers moving through hair the cook gladly teased him for as the low timbre of Sanji's voice talked about the main character of the novel.
Maybe book club wasn’t so bad.
“-osshead. Grass-for-brains, wake up.”
Zoro blinked as he was woken up by a finger repeatedly and harshly poking him in the center of the forehead.
“Huh?”
“You’re snoring so loudly we can’t hear each other talk.” Sanji said.
Zoro grunted while rubbing the last of his nap from his eye. At some point during his nap, he had laid down completely with his head in Sanji’s lap. At least he achieved his goal of ‘napping on Sanji’ so Zoro considered book club to be a success. Maybe they would let him join next time too. It was probably the best nap he had had in a while.
“Our discussion is done and I have to go start dinner anyway so get up, moss.”
Zoro lifted his head just enough for Sanji to slide out from underneath him. He straightened his clothes, ruffled Zoro’s hair, and left the library to go start dinner. Zoro turned to look at the other two after Sanji had left to find they were already looking at him. He decided to speak before silence could settle over them for a third time.
“How was the discussion?” Zoro asked as he sat up, he may not have been an actual member of the discussion but he could pretend to be interested for the sake of the club.
“It was really fun!” Chopper said. “But, maybe book club isn’t for you, Zoro. You did sleep through it all.”
Before Zoro could even say anything, Robin chimed in.
“It does seem you might be disinterested in our discussions which are a large part of the book club. Maybe you can follow Sanji to the kitchen to see if he has anything for you to do.” She said, giving him a pointed look.
His cue clearly presented, Zoro left the library determined never to step foot in it again. Joining book club was clearly a terrible idea and he never should have listened to the witch.
When he left the library, he met Nami’s stare on the lawn. Something on his face must have given him away because she began to laugh at whatever she saw there. Zoro ignored Nami’s laughter as he stomped out of the library and made the short walk to the galley, finding the door slightly open as he made his way inside. The cook was already in the middle of dinner prep with a large wok warming up over an open flame on the stove and his hands working on chopping an onion. The swordsman moved to stand behind him, arms looping around a narrow waist and his head dropping so his forehead touched the back of Sanji’s neck.
“It’s hard to do anything with moss growing on me, you know.”
Zoro just grunted in response, not willing to give up on holding the other just yet.
They stood like that for several minutes; Zoro hanging off of his partner while Sanji chopped away at the large amount of vegetables and meat in front of him. Sanji might complain that Zoro was in the way by hanging off of him but it didn’t seem to slow him down at all. In fact, from what Zoro could see, Sanji had a small smile on his face, one that grew a bit larger when he nuzzled his face into Sanji's neck.
It was while the cook was lightly beating a bowl of eggs and after the rice cooker beeped to let them know it was done that Sanji worked to get Zoro off of him, elbowing him in the side until the swordsman moved. At this point, Zoro would normally move to sit at one of the stools on the other side of the countertop or to lay on the couch until dinner was done, but today he chose to lean back against the counter the cook had been working at and watch as Sanji worked. Sanji took the meat he had chopped, tossed it in the wok, coating it with oil and seasoning and cooking it thoroughly enough before adding the veggies. After giving the whole thing a few more tosses to mix it together, Sanji put the wok back on the stove at a lower heat before turning back to Zoro.
“You’ve been clingier than usual today, marimo. What’s on your mind?”
“Nothing.” Zoro replied, crossing his arms as he did so not liking being so easily read.
The flat stare Sanji gave him in response eerily mirrored the one Nami had given earlier.
“Zoro,” shit, not his name , “you literally joined book club just to take a nap. Talk to me. I don’t know what the grass in your head is thinking if you don’t.”
While Zoro thought about how he would respond without sounding too pathetic, Sanji turned to toss everything in the wok again before adding the eggs and rice to finish their fried rice dinner. When everything was finished on the stove and removed from heat, Sanji turned back to him, his visible curled eyebrow raised and waiting for a response.
“You…uh…well you’ve been busy lately…” Zoro started, already feeling a blush form on his cheekbones and the tips of his ears. “And… I haven’t seen you a lot since you started the book club…”
Before Zoro could think of how to finish that thought, he looked over to Sanji and watched as a smirk grew on his face, transforming into a smile Zoro knew was at his expense. The cook walked over to him and placed his arms on either side of Zoro, trapping him between Sanji and the counter. Sanji leaned further into his space as he spoke.
“Are you saying you missed me, marimo?”
Zoro’s blush turning from pink to red was more than enough of an answer.
For the next couple minutes, all Zoro saw of Sanji was the top of his golden head as the other had dropped it to rest against his chest, fully giggling at the situation. When the cook had finally gotten all of his laughter out, Zoro watched as he lifted his head and grabbed Zoro’s hands from where his arms were still crossed over his chest before walking backwards and leading him to one of the storage rooms off of the kitchen.
“Come on, marimo. We have a little bit before our captain smells that dinner is done.” Sanji said, his smile still stretched across his face.
Zoro smiled at the implication.
Maybe he would go to book club again if this was the end result.
It was late when Zoro made his way out of the crow’s nest and towards the men’s room, his watch ending and Usopp’s about to start. It was a clear and calm night, the stars above reflecting on the ocean below making it hard to tell where one ended and the other began. Zoro paid that no mind though, thoughts only on laying in his bunk and getting some sleep. When he entered the room he expected to be met with the loud snoring of the other’s inside - and he was - but he was also met with a loud, short shriek, quickly followed by another scream and a thud where Usopp fell from his bunk.
“What happened? Are we being attacked?” Usopp said from his spot on the floor, rubbing his head where he had landed.
“It's nothing.” Zoro replied. “Just your time for watch, Usopp.”
As Usopp left the room, Zoro looked over to the owner of the earlier shriek. The cook was laying on his bunk, the light of a lamp near him illuminating the pages, and a frightened look on his face as he brought his breathing back under control. Zoro couldn’t help but laugh at Sanji’s expense a bit, it was rare to see him get startled by anything.
“What was that, cook?”
Sanji just looked at him, not answering the question as he replied, “Get over here, mosshead, you're sleeping with me tonight.”
Zoro didn’t even think as he quickly closed the distance between them and moved the blanket covering Sanji to lay down on top of him, resting his chin on the other’s bare chest.
“Yeah?” Zoro looked up at Sanji with a smirk.
“Not like that, pervert moss.” Sanji smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand. “I’m just reading the world’s most terrifying book and want you here while I finish it.”
“If you don’t like it just stop reading it.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t like it, just that it was terrifying. The story is actually very interesting and the writing is well done.” Sanji said, settling down into the bunk and allowing Zoro to cuddle on top of him better. “And besides, it was a recommendation from Robin and I would never do my flower the disservice of not finishing it.”
“And you need me here to protect you from the scary words?” He smirked, looking up at his curly cook.
Sanji rolled his eyes at him before leaning down to place a kiss on his forehead. “Just this time, yes.”
As Sanji started reading again, Zoro closed his eyes and let himself fully rest his weight onto him, letting the other’s warmth mix with the chill of the night air still lingering on his skin.
Whether Robin knew it or not – and Zoro is one hundred percent sure she knew it – she was the best wingwoman a man could ask for.
Maybe, I could get Robin to recommend more horror books to the cook, Zoro thought as he drifted off to the feeling of fingers in his hair and the sound of pages turning.