Chapter Text
Zoro wasn’t really aware of the way Sanji smelled, because why would he?
However, he has been doubting this statement for a few days now, since every time they have passed each other lately, the swordsman has been noticing the slight change in the way the cook smelled. It was a new perfume, he was sure, which made sense, they had been stopping by an island to stock up on new supplies and Sanji had been gone for almost an entire day, when asked about by Zoro, he had only returned a scoff and a hushed
“None of your business, Marimo.”
Before returning to lifting the barrels to be filled with food on the dock.
Zoro knew this little detail should not affect him in the least, but he couldn’t help but want to stop and take in this unfamiliar, yet pleasant scent; take it apart, understand every particle of the graceful composition. It really was a shame he didn’t know a lot about flowers, it would have been nice to at least be able to put a name to this fragrance. The swordsman didn’t know exactly why he enjoyed the way Sanji smelled now, and why he would even noticed it; none of the others had mentioned it, to his knowledge, and they were always the more expressive ones.
It was embarrassing, he even had a dream about it at some point. He woke up horrified at the implication that he dreamt of Sanji, of all people, but he blamed it on the fact that he was just unaccustomed to this new smell and this was how his brain chose to deal with it. He had practiced and worked out the entire day after that, just to finally get rid of the thought, but he was so affected by that smell, he had to know what it was, what it was composed of, that his body and mind reacted to it in such an extent.
He was fairly close to just walk up to the blonde and ask him what perfume he wore, but that was way too risky.
What if he thinks I am weird, no one else seems to even noticed it?
Will he think I make fun of him?
The latter one he was scared of most; he didn’t knew a lot of men who would wear a scent this flowery and sweet, he didn’t mind it at all but he didn’t want Sanji to get the wrong idea and think that he asked out of mockery.
Of course, they were rivals and all, but that would be a low blow; their competing was purely on a level of personal strength, not petty insults. They did play part in it but differently, he couldn’t explain it really, he just knew it would be crossing a line to give the impression that the way the cook expresses himself made him less of a man.
No, he couldn’t ask him that.
It was about mid-day, Zoro was lifting weights on the deck of the merry, when Sanji called out for them to eat lunch. He wouldn’t admit he rushed to the kitchen for a reason other than his appetite. Though he was met with disappointment as he entered, for the tangy scent of the mouth–watering meal that was prepared blocked out any other smells to get detected. As he looked up, he caught Sanji looking at him, his curly brow crinkled into a slight frown. For a second, he froze, the swordsman thought his behaviour had been too obvious, too suspicious. But when the cook spoke up he released the breath he held:
“Where are the others? I added tangerines to this recipe because Nami would like it, but when she isn’t coming there was no point in even cooking it.”
Zoro suppressed the grimace that his facial muscles ached to pull and quickly retorted.
“I was just quick, they are coming in a moment, I am sure.”
“So eager to taste my delicious food?”
Sanji teased, tilting his head to light a cigarette, his light blue eyes twinkling with something he interpreted as amusement. Zoro hadn’t seen the lighter his slender fingers held yet, the way it shined made him think it was new.
“Don’t flatter yourself, Shit-cook. I would just rather eat what you serve me than starve.”
With that, the blonde threw his head in his neck and let out a hearty laugh and Zoro was glad they were able to bicker around lightheartedly like that, maybe he could finally overcome the weird obsession he had developed for Sanjis perfume.
Once the others arrived they ate their meal, as usual, he would mostly observe as the others talked animatedly. Upon hearing Sanjis laugh again, Zoro turned his head, looking at his crew mate.
He had to admit, even despite their rivalry he never truly took the time of the day to look at the cook, really. But the way the blond strands of silky hair flowed down half of his face, the milky skin of his neck, the jawline-
Was it weird to admit that Sanji was attractive? It shouldn’t be, right? He was objectively handsome, devastatingly so, everyone knew that, not that he would ever admit that. They were rivals after all.
Zoro shook his head, as if that would help him shake those thoughts from his mind.
First the smell and now this?
He figured that he should put his focus back to training, he wasn’t going to be the greatest swordsman in the world if he just sat around thinking about the attractiveness of another man. He made the decision to avoid Sanji as best as possible for the next few days, that shouldn’t be a problem, right? They hated each other after all.