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It was dark outside. The Straw Hat had started a party earlier in the evening because Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp had caught a big fish and their Captain had decided they needed to celebrate it. In Luffy’s defense they had been sailing for two weeks without stopping so he needed to burn some energy.
“I want to participate!”
Luffy was arms crossed frowning. Around midnight, Nami had called for a drinking contest. Luffy had been banned from them because last time around his sixth drink, he had forgotten about his devil fruit and was determined to go swimming. Zoro and Sanji had to pick him up seven times from the ocean before they decided to attach their Captain to his bunk.
Nami sighed “No, you know what happened last time and no one here wants to live it again. So go to sleep!”
“I’m the Captain! I want to play with you! Captain’s order!”
Sanji repressed a sigh. Once Luffy had something on his mind it was hard to stop him. Chopper stood up and went to Luffy.
“I’m not doing the contest either and Nami said we should arrive at the next island tomorrow. Maybe we should go to sleep to be in good shape for adventure.”
A minute passed and Luffy beamed “You’re right Chopper! We need to sleep! Come on!” and took the young doctor in his arms and ran to the boys' room.
Sanji made a promise to himself to either buy or make cotton candy as a thanks.
Two hours later, the contest had moved to the galley, the night was fresh and the wind a bit cold.
Franky was snoring on the galley couch, face on Robin’s lap who was drinking her red wine. Brook and Jinbe were talking about their future purchase since the next island would be a commercial one. Usopp was wasted, face against the table next to Nami and Zoro, the last two in the competition. Usopp had tried to keep up but the idiot forgot his alcohol tolerance was nowhere close to the two monsters.
Sanji stopped the contest pretty quickly, he didn't want to say or do something he would regret the next day. He was sitting at the bar counter, showing his back at the table, holding a pen preparing the next week's menu.
Monday :
Lunch: onigiri with omelet
Dinner: Blue-Finned Elephant Tuna Sautée
“Hey Zoro, how about we put a little spice in his game?”
“What, you feel you’re losing sea witch?”
Sanji can’t bring himself to not mutter “Watch your tongue mosshead.” even if he knew the marimo wouldn’t respond to him.
When Nami-san and the idiot were drinking together, it was like the rest of the world didn’t matter. Or moreover, they were too drunk to care. Every time they would arrive on an island, Nami-san and the stupid moss of brain would always go to the city bar together and spend one night getting wasted. It was normal for the Straw Hat to see Zoro walking or more stagger to the Sunny giving a sleepy/happy drunk/singer Nami-san a piggyback ride.
Sanji would have been jealous if he didn’t know his goddess would never in a million years have romantic feelings for the idiot moss of a brain.
Nami-san was too deeply in love with Vivi for that.
“Never I have ever.”
“Bring on Witch.”
“Lost my way in the Sunny.”
“Fuck you! You know that ship is fucking huge!”
“It’s been three years Zoro! Three years we’ve been living on it and you still get lost! Fuck, you even got lost on the Merry.”
He did. Sanji would never forget the day he found Zoro in the kitchen muttering to himself “Where did the bedroom go?”, and Merry was small. Like fucking small. So on the Sunny after the first week, they had decided to put a little sign on every door and direction signs on walls but even with that, the marimo would still get lost.
That man was a desperate case.
“Fuck you. Never I have ever gotten so drunk that I made a love confession.”
“You motherfucker you promised!”
Ah. So that’s how Nami-san confessed. When Vivi had announced a week after leaving Drum Island, that she and Nami were dating, Chopper and Usopp had asked who had admitted first. Nami-san had always said it was private.
Nami-san’s alcohol tolerance was as high as the marimo. Sanji didn’t want to think or know how much she drank to confess.
Sanji wondered if he could do that too. Maybe he could get drunk, confess his feelings, and in case it wasn’t required, blame the alcohol and say he wasn’t remembering anything.
Sanji repressed a sigh. He needed to focus on the menu and not on his stupid crush on the idiot marimo.
Seriously, of all the people in the world, why did he have to fall in love with Roronoa Zoro?
Tuesday :
Lunch: Meat on the Bone with potatoes
Dinner: Lasagna
“My turn. Wake up on a beach on the other side of the island, half-naked, holding a beer bottle, and not remembering anything.”
Sanji heard Robin-chan chuckled “It’s very precise navigator-san.”
“Fuck you witch.”
“Drink.”
Sanji doesn’t remember that so it must’ve been before he arrived. Sometimes, it feels weird knowing his nakamas had their own adventures without him.
Like, just Luffy, Zoro, and Nami on a small boat together.
It’s a fucking miracle they’re still alive.
Wednesday :
Lunch: Barbecue
Dinner: Sea king meat with rice and potatoes
“You want to play. Fine. Stole money from a guy after having a drinking contest in a small bar.”
“I paid for our drinks with that money and I didn’t hear you complain about it. Second, I’m a fucking thief and pirate, it’s like my job.”
“Drink.”
Thursday :
Lunch: Seafood pasta
Dinner: paella
Sanji wondered when they would get wasted. Or more if they can get wasted. He rubbed his eyes, Sanji wanted to go to sleep but couldn’t. He needed to finish the week's menu, wash the plates and glass, and clean the galley.
Also, drinking contests were the only time when Zoro would smile or laugh freely.
The tension in his shoulder would be gone and would stop frowning or glaring. It was like for one night, Zoro wasn’t carrying the whole world on his back. For one night, he was just a young twenty-two-year-old man and not the right wing and first mate of the next Pirate King and the future world’s greatest swordsman.
Zoro laughed.
God Sanji would never get used to it. Zoro’s laugh was so rare and precious. It’s deep but also warm. Sanji wanted to use a tone dial and record it to hear it again and again.
Friday :
Lunch: Curry
Dinner :
“So, bring on witch. Or do you prefer to call for a loss?”
“Never. Get flirted on and like it.”
Suddenly the galley temperature dropped. Brook and Jinbe had stopped talking, Robin had put her glass on the table and Sanji froze.
What?
“What?” Sanji turned his back to look at his drunk nakamas.
Nami-san was smirking, arms crossed waiting for Zoro’s reaction. The swordsman’s face was red, he looked like a strawberry with his hair. Or a tomato.
Sanji wasn’t worried though. Zoro never hung out with people except for the other StrawHat. Let alone flirting.
Zoro was hot and Sanji wasn’t the only one who had noticed but Zoro had that aura around him that people would just leave him alone. They, men or women, would go to the other StrawHat like Sanji or Nami-san, even Luffy, to ask if the swordsman was single.
It wasn’t pretty, but Sanji would always say that Zoro was dating someone. It was a dick move, he knew it but he wasn’t ready to see Zoro with someone.
Knowing the love of your life would never love you back and seeing them happy with someone else were two different things.
Sanji knew that day would come, he just didn’t want it to happen now.
So when Zoro took his shot, drank it, and put it back on the table, face red, Sanji felt his heartbreak.
Nami-san was laughing. Robin-chan only chuckled and Brook and Jinbe smiled. It was like they knew. They all knew someone flirted with Zoro and most importantly liked it.
Sanji wanted to throw up.
Zoro and Nami-san looked at each other before he stood up. “Dick move.” and left the galley. Nami-san smiled, “I won!”
Robin-chan gently put Franky's head on the couch and went to help Nami-san stand up. “I think we should go to sleep.”
“You think? Maybe you are right. Robin. I think I hurt Zoro’s feelings.”
“We will take care of everything tomorrow, navigator-san. Goodnight everyone.”
The girls left the galley. Sanji didn’t know what to do. He wanted to run after Nami-san to ask her who flirted with Zoro. He wanted to run after Zoro and ask why he liked it. What did that person have more than Sanji?
Probably everything.
Sanji knew he would never be good enough for Zoro, that’s why he wouldn’t even bother confessing his feelings. Zoro wouldn’t laugh at him, he may be a brute but he knew when things were out of line. Sanji just didn’t want to make things awkward and things would definitely be awkward. They would avoid each other until Sanji moved on and since he would never move on, the crew would fall apart because of Sanji’s stupid heart.
Sometimes, he regretted having emotions and not being like his brothers. Everything would be so much easier for everyone.
Sanji jolted when he heard Jinbe clearing his throat.
“Are you alright Sanji? Do you need help to clean?”
Sanji looked around the galley, glass and empty plates were everywhere. Usopp and Franky were snoring and Usopp would definitely feel pain in his back when he woke up.
Jinbe was still looking at him.
What should Sanji say?
Bring Usopp and Franky back to bed? Clean the galley? Who flirted with Zoro?
Why wouldn't he be ever good enough for Zoro?
“Sanji?”
The cook swallowed. He couldn’t have a mental breakdown now. He needed to move on.
Sanji took a deep breath and rolled his sleeve “Can you and Brook take Usopp and Franky to bed? I’m gonna wash the glass and plates. Then give a mop stroke and do the night watch.”
Jinbe frowned “Are you sure? You need to rest.”
“Yeah, I’m fine Jinbe.” Sanji smiled. He hoped his new nakama would buy his fake smile. Thank god it wasn’t Luffy or Nami-san. Those two could see his fake smiles a mile away.
Zoro too but Sanji tried to not think about it.
“Okay if you’re sure. Brook, can you take Usopp?”
“Yohoho of course Jinbe. I don’t have enough muscle from carrying Franky. Wait, I don't have any muscles at all!”
Sanji and Jinbe chuckled at the skeleton jokes and a couple of minutes later Sanji was alone in the galley. He picked up the glasses and empty plates. He put everything in the sink and turned the water on. Pulled some soap in it and started washing.
Usually, Zoro was with him when Sanji was doing the dishes. Sanji would wash and Zoro would dry. Normally, they had a chores calendar, every day, Sanji should have a different member of the crew to help with the dishes but after they had passed the Grand Line, Zoro had put his name on all the dish cases.
Even when they welcomed new nakamas, nobody would take Zoro’s dishes turn. Franky had tried one day but quickly changed his mind after a small talk with basically the whole crew except Sanji.
Sanji had asked why but Zoro quickly dismissed, called him a pervert cook, and started fighting.
Sanji pulled the freshly washed plates into the empty sink and when everything was clean started to dry. He pulled in the plates and glasses from the cabinet and looked at his weekly menu. He sighs and decides he will finish it the next day.
He left the galley and lit a cigarette. Fuck it felt good. He looked up and saw light in the crow’s nest. Either the idiot was doing push-ups or he fell asleep, light on.
Probably the latter.
Sanji sighed and climbed the ladder. He slowly opened the door and found Zoro snoring on the ground and his swords on the couch. He wasn’t surprised anymore. He picked up the swordsman and put him on the couch a little further from his swords. He covered him with a blanket and put a pillow under his head. Sanji was about to turn the light off when he looked at Zoro. He was sleeping peacefully, Sanji hoped he wouldn't be bothered with any nightmares. Zoro deserved sleep.
Zoro deserved everything but most importantly sleep.
All the StrawHat crew suffered because of nightmares. When they reunited after their two years of training, Sanji found that Zoro had a lot of nightmares about Sabaody, Kuina death’s or even Thriller Bark.
Sanji had nightmares about a lot of things too but the nightmares about Thriller Bark were always the worst.
He still could feel Zoro dying in his arms when he ran to Chopper. Of his lips turning blue, his breathing stopping, Chopper doing CPR. The whole crew took turns to do it except Sanji. Chopper said his hands were shaking too much.
Every time one of them would dream about Thriller Bark, they would sink in the other bunk and sleep. Either in each other's arms or back to back. Most of the time, Sanji had his head on Zoro’s chest to hear his heartbeat. Zoro would put his hand on Sanji's chest to feel his. Neither of them would talk about it in the morning.
Sanji turned the light off and closed the door. He went on the deck and sat against the main mat. Once he finished his cigarette, he lit a new one.
Sanji started to mentally make his to-do list after his post-night watch nap.
- Finish the week's menu
- Go to the grocery
- Make sure Luffy hadn’t raided the kitchen while he was sleeping.
Hold on. This is not right.
- Make sure Luffy didn't raid the kitchen while he was sleeping.
- Find who flirted with Zoro.
- Finish the week’s menu
- Go to the grocery
Sanji let out some smoke. Did he know that person? Or maybe it was before they met before Sanji arrived or maybe it was a civilian on one of the islands they went to.
Nami-san obviously knew. Robin-chan knew but their goddess knew everything so Sanji wasn’t surprised. But Jinbe and Brook acted like they knew too. So if they knew it must’ve been either on Fish-Man Island or on Wano.
Then Sanji remembered, that Brook had said that he saw Hiyori, Momo’s sister, sleep in the same bed as Zoro so… Of course. Of course, a princess was worthy of Zoro and Hiyori was one of the most beautiful women they ever met. She was strong and smart. Perfect for him.
Sanji sighed. He took a long drag before exhaling some smoke. Maybe Zoro was embarrassed about it. Or maybe he missed her and Nami-san just brought back memories.
When they arrived at the island, maybe he could help Zoro to send a gift to Wano.
Sanji wiped a tear. As long as Zoro was happy, it was fine by him. After all, like Judge said, Sanji wasn’t worthy of being alive so being happy was out of the question. But Sanji will be fine.
One day.
Probably.
— — —
When the sun started rising, Sanji went to the galley to prepare breakfast. He was cutting bread when suddenly the door opened wide.
Luffy started shouting “Sanji! Meat! I’m hungry, Sanji!”
“Aye aye, Captain. Sit down, I’m coming. Did you wash your hands?”
Luffy smiled “Yes Sanji!” he tilted his head “Is Sanji okay?”
Sanji kept cutting bread. He knew he couldn’t look at his captain, otherwise, Luffy would know immediately something was wrong. “Yeah, I’m fine Luf. Just go sit.”
He heard the sounds of the sandals coming closer. Luffy rested his head on Sanji’s shoulder “Is Sanji tired?”
“A bit. I took Usopp's night watch. I will go take a nap when breakfast is done.”
Luffy doesn’t respond. A minute passed and Luffy softly spoke “Does Sanji need a hug?”
“You don’t have to Luf.”
“But I want to. Sanji is sad and tired.”
The cook stopped cutting and nodded. Luffy passed his arms around Sanji’s waist and pressed his face against his shoulder blade. Sanji tried his best not to cry. He didn’t want to worry his captain further.
“Sanji should go to sleep.”
“I need to finish breakfast.”
Luffy put his head on Sanji’s shoulder and smiled “Breakfast is ready. Coffee and tea are warm. Usopp and Nami can make tangerine juice and the bread is cut. So Sanji can rest. Robin can make eggs and you already prepared the rest.”
Robin-chan entered the galley and saw them “Good morning. Everything is alright Captain? Cook?”
Luffy smiled at her “Sanji is gonna go to sleep.”
“Oh.” Robin-chan smiled, “It’s okay Sanji, we will take care of everything.”
“Thank you Robin-chan. I don’t deserve your kindness, my dear goddess. Thanks, Captain.” Sanji was on his way to leave when he looked back at them “Chopper should prepare some medicine for Franky, Usopp, Nami-san, and mosshead. With all the alcohol they drank, they’re gonna have a headache.”
Luffy nodded “Thank you Sanji for worrying about them. Now go to sleep. Captain’s order.”
“Aye aye, Captain.”
Sanji left the galley and walked to the boys' room. He could hear Usopp throwing up in the bathroom and Franky growing.
Chopper put his pink hat on his head “I’m gonna get the medicines don’t worry Usopp! Please don’t die!”
Sanji smiled at the young doctor, “You should take for Nami-san and Marimo too.”
“They’re sick too! Oh my god, we need to call a doctor!” And Chopper ran to the sick bay.
Usopp lay down on his bed “I’m dying.”
Jinbe chuckled “I don’t think you are. Now we should leave Sanji alone, our cook needs to rest.”
“Right. Sorry Sanji, and thank you for taking the shift. I will take yours tomorrow.”
Sanji nodded with a smile. He was too tired to respond. He lay down on his bed and looked at Zoro’s empty bunk.
“Jinbe?”
“Yes?”
“Marimo is at the crow’s nest. Can you check on him and tell him breakfast is ready?”
“Of course.” Jinbe pulled a cover on Sanji “Don’t worry too much. Now rest.”
Sanji closed his eyes and fell asleep hearing his nakamas leaving the boys' room.
— — —
When he woke up, the sun was high in the sky. Sanji left his bunk and went to his closet, he needed to change his clothes. He didn’t hear any sound so they must’ve arrived at the new island.
Sanji looked and only saw his suits, but he was too tired for that. He wants something casual and soft. Then he saw his blue hoodie. He hasn't worn his hoodie since Thriller Bark. Sanji took the hoodie and put it on.
His blue hoodie was special. He was wearing it when Sanji realized he was hopelessly in love with Zoro. He realized soon after the swordsman had woken up, fille with bandages, reassuring Chopper. The only thing Sanji was thinking about at the moment was I love Zoro so much that I don’t want to live in a world where we are not together .
He left the boys' room and saw they had arrived at the island. Sanji wondered how long he had slept.
Luffy had a very strict policy about mental health and rest so he wasn’t surprised that no one woke him up. From what Sanji understood, Ace had depression and anxiety so Luffy took it very seriously. He would always make sure no one would overwork themselves and take breaks. Zoro and Sanji were always the two Luffy would watch the most. It wasn’t unusual to see Luffy dragging Zoro out of the crow’s nest because he claimed Zoro had trained too much.
Speaking of Zoro. Sanji wondered where it was. Maybe he was walking around the island and got lost.
Sanji lightened a cigarette and went to the galley. He entered and saw Zoro wearing his pink apron, cooking.
“What the fuck?”
Zoro jolted “Oh it’s you. Got all the sleeping beauty you needed, love cook?”
“What the hell are you doing in my kitchen?”
Zoro looked at Sanji, the plate, and back to Sanji “What do you think I’m doing?”
Sanji raised his curly eyebrow “Why are you cooking?”
He shrugged “Luffy said you were having a bad day so we needed to leave you alone. We arrived at the island and the others went to town. Witch and Robin took your weekly menu and went to do the grocery. I told them I would stay and watch the ship. You missed breakfast and lunch so I thought you would be hungry.”
Sanji looked at Zoro. He had a frown between his eyes. The tension in his shoulders was back again. He kept clenching and unclenching his hands. Zoro was either nervous or stressed.
Did Zoro worry about him? Why?
It wasn’t like Sanji was important in his life. They’re nakamas and friends obviously but why would Zoro do that? Why would he cook for Sanji?
Why would Zoro give himself so much trouble?
Or maybe he was missing just Hiyori and kept himself busy to not think of her. He should probably call her.
“Oi Cook you’re good? You need to sit?”
Sanji shook his head.
Zoro frowned deeper. “You’re freaking me out, shitty cook. What’s going on?”
He walked toward Zoro and looked at the plate.
Zoro started to blush. “I tried to find the recipe in your book but I can’t read shit. Your handwriting is shit shitty cook.”
It was seafood pasta with spicy sauce. Zoro had made his favorite meal.
“But you managed to do it.”
“Because I called your old man. He explained everything.”
Wait a second.
“You fucking what?” Sanji looked at Zoro “You called Zeff? Are you insane?”
“Of course, I called him. You needed to eat and I couldn’t read shit so I had to. Also, Old man says you need to call more than once every two weeks. Apparently, he needs to talk to you about Patty or something like that.”
“Why did you do that?”
“I told you why.”
“No, you’re not.” Sanji sighed “Why are you giving yourself so much trouble?”
“You know why.”
“No, I don’t.” Sanji passed his hand in his hair. He didn’t want to start a fight with Zoro. He was too tired for that. “Look, thank you for the plate. I appreciate it.”
He took the plate and sat at the dining table. Sanji started to eat and at his fourth bite, Zoro spoke again.
“Is it good?”
It was fucking good. Not as good as him thank you very much but for an idiot Marimo who never cooked it was great.
“Yeah, it’s good marimo.”
“Good. Because Old man said he would gut me if I screwed up.”
Sanji chuckled, “Of course he said that.” he swallowed “You should call Hiyori before the others come back.”
Zoro frowned “Why should I call her?”
He shrugged “I don’t know. Don’t you miss her?”
“No.”
“Oh.”
Zoro took the apron off and sat next to Sanji. “About last night, I think we should talk about it.”
Sanji winced “We have to?”
“No, but I think we need to.” Zoro brushed his earrings with his fingers, making them ring together.
Weird, Zoro only does that when he’s nervous.
Sanji started to play with his hoodie “So.”
Zoro cleared his throat “We can act like nothing happened.”
Sanji closed his eyes “Don’t say those words.”
“Right, sorry. I mean we can act like I didn’t drink that shot.”
“Look it’s fine–”
“No, it’s not. You don’t look fine, so it’s not fine. And it’s not fine since I drink that glass.”
“Hiyori flirted with you, you liked it, end of the story. She’s a princess, she knows how to fight with a sword. She’s great and smart. It’s fine and I will be fine. I will get over it.”
Zoro stood up “Why the fuck you keep talking about her Cook?”
Sanji stands up too “Because you like her and it’s fine.”
“I don’t like her! And if it’s really fine why are you fucking crying!”
“I am not!” Sanji wiped his cheeks. Fuck the Marimo was right. He was crying. He needed to leave the galley as soon as possible.
Sanji pushed the chair and started to leave when Zoro grabbed his arms and pulled against him. He took the cook in his arms and held him tight. “You’re not leaving. You’re not okay and we need to talk about it even if we don’t want to.”
“You’re fucking brute.”
“So. Why are you crying?”
Sanji swallowed. He clenched his fingers on Zoro’s haramaki.
“You’re wearing your blue hoodie.”
“I know.”
“You only wear it when you’re not okay. I like when you’re wearing your suits but you’re really cute with that hoodie.”
Sanji rested his head on Zoro’s shoulder and closed his eyes “Don’t say that.”
“What? That you’re cute?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
Sanji doesn’t respond. He knew Zoro would never return his feelings. He knew it. But fuck when Zoro was smiling at him, laughing with him, and calling him cute, it was hard to remember.
“You don’t remember who flirted with me and you think it’s Hiyori right?”
The cook nodded.
“You’re wrong shitty cook.”
“Who then? Do I know them?”
He heard Zoro chuckling “Bet you do.”
Sanji frowned. So it was after they met. That didn’t reduce the possibilities.
“Is it someone from the islands we visited?”
“Nope.”
He sighed “You won’t tell me right?”
“For once Shitty Cook is right. Now try to use your brain.”
Sanji angrily sighed. “I don’t know!” He doesn't want to know. “Someone close to you?”
“Definitely.”
“Someone from the crew?”
“Congrats you’re starting to get closer.”
Sanji closed his eyes. Robin and Franky have been dating since they got reunited. Usopp was waiting for Kaya. Nami-san was deeply in love with Vivi. And Chopper was too young.
He turned his head to look at Zoro “Stupid marimo, Luffy doesn’t even know what romantic love is.”
Zoro rolled his eye “Not Luffy idiot.”
“So it's either Brook or Jinbe. Is that why you blushed? Because they were in the room?”
Zoro blushed and muttered to himself “You’re really an idiot.” he spoke louder “You missing someone.”
Sanji frowned, “No I’m not.” He counted on his fingers “It’s not Luffy, Nami-san, Usopp, Chopper, Robin-chan, Franky, Brook, and Jinbe.”
“And?”
“And who ‘cause the last one is–” Sanji stopped himself and closed his eyes “oh fuck me.”
Zoro smiled.
“How many times-” Sanji swallowed “How many times did I flirted with you?”
“Every time we throw a party. You’re a fucking lightweight cook. You grow up with retired pirates, how can you be drunk after one beer?”
“Oh my god.”
Sanji wanted to disappear.
“After one drink, you would come closer to me. At the second you would start talking and making jokes. You start cuddling at the third and flirt at the fourth one. You horny flirt at the sixth. Fall asleep at eight.
Sanji widened his eyes “Horny flirt? What the fuck do you mean by that?”
“One time you said you wanted me to choke you with my biceps and would thank me.”
Scratch that. Sanji no longer wanted to disappear, he wanted to die. He wanted to leave the galley and jump into the ocean.
“Another time you said that if you died between my pecs, you would die as a happy man.”
Sanji started shaking and pushed Zoro back.
“Oi, what are you doing?”
“I have to go.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know. Somewhere. Somewhere far.”
Zoro pinched his lips “Look I told you we can act like I didn’t drink that stupid glass and I didn’t say anything. It’s gonna be okay.”
“No! No, it’s not okay! None of this is okay because it’s not! I made a fool of myself in front of everyone. In front of the whole crew and nobody said anything. Why didn’t you stop me?”
“You know why.”
“You keep saying that but I don’t know! I don’t know shit! I-” Sanji was ready to shout out again when he remembered.
Zoro drank the glass.
Get flirted on and like it.
“You liked it.”
Zoro looked away “Of course I did. I mean.” he cleared his throat “It was like, I could pretend that for one night, you liked me back.”
Sanji’s hands were shaking “Liked back?”
“Yeah.” Zoro’s gaze got locked on Sanji’s “I like you Cook. I have loved you since Arlong Park.” he shrugged “I know you don’t like me back and that’s fine. This is why you’re so upset right? Cause I know you don’t love me and it’s fine. I’m not stupid. But if my feelings are upsetting you that much I can move to the crow’s nest for a couple of days. I just want you to be happy.”
Sanji feels tears coming “You idiot.”
Zoro tried to smile but it looked more like a grimace “Yeah, I know. Like you liking me back it’s stupid. I know I would never be good enough for you. I’m a brute. I’m not elegant or whatever. But like I said, it’s fine Cook. What we have is enough for me.”
Sanji grabbed Zoro’s face and kissed him. His lips were warm but dry. It took Zoro a couple of seconds before realizing what was happening and started kissing back. Zoro curled his arm around Sanji's waist and his left hand got lost in the blond curls.
Sanji parted and whispered “I love you too idiot. How can I not love you? I thought I wasn’t good enough for you so I gave up.”
“You will always be enough. I fell for your kindness, your humor, your passion. Also, not fighting isn’t your style, Curls.”
“I know. But if you're happier with someone else than me then I’m glad to not fight.”
“I’m only happy around you. When you were drunk, sit on my lap whispering into my ear ‘ When I am with you, hours pass like seconds; each second feels like hours when we’re apart ’ or ‘ For you, my love, I would do anything. My time on earth is better spent by your side. I would give up my dream to stay with you until the end of time ’.”
Sanji blushed.
Zoro kissed him “Please, never give up your dream for me. I will stay by your side and grow old with you at the All Blue. I dreamt about raising kids with you.”
“Me too.” Sanji smiled, “Can you imagine? Green-haired with curly eyebrows?”
“I just want them to have the blue of your eyes.”
Sanji chuckled “We are idiots.”
“Yeah. But we are each other idiots.”
“Definitely.”
Sanji smiled as Zoro started to kiss the cook's face and neck. “You should finish your plate, Mister Curls. We don’t waste food in this kitchen.”
Sanji laughed “Of course. Sorry Chef Marimo.”
After Sanji finished his plate, they washed everything and left the galley. The new couple went to the crow’s nest and spent the afternoon cuddling on the couch.
When the crew came, Sanji kissed Zoro’s cheek “Should we tell them?”
Zoro frowned “You want to hide?”
“No, no no. I’m sorry it's just, that I thought it would be funnier to not say anything and bet who figured it out first.”
“Oh,” Zoro smirked.
“Robin-chan is off bet.”
“Fuck. Okay. Sea witch.”
“First, don't call Nami-san that, and second I bet on Luffy.”
“Sure Curls?”
“Of course I am.”
They smiled at each other and kissed. Sanji whispered, “I’m so happy.”
“Me too. Even more when I’m gonna win.”
Sanji laughed. He knew he was going to win. He always had faith in his captain. After all, it’s thanks to Luffy that Sanji has met the love of his life.