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“Marry me.”
You could hear a pin drop, the room which was full on with noise, laughter and dancing suddenly went quiet, the whole focus now directed to the two figures in the center of the room.
Sanji was pretty sure his jaw was on the floor, all his muscles locked up, his eyes never leaving the man in front of him, who kept looking at him, waiting for an answer, as if he didn’t just throw Sanji’s world completely off his axis.
“What?” He found himself saying dumbly.
Zoro didn’t miss a beat, “Marry me.” He repeated, his face the perfect picture of seriousness.
Sanji felt a shudder go up his spine when hearing the words again. “Mosshead,” he started weakly. “We’re not even dating.”
“So?” Zoro said, shrugging his shoulders.
“What do you mean ‘so’?!” Sanji exclaimed, his voice shrilling to his own ears, he couldn’t believe this man.
“What do you mean you’re not dating!?” Usopp's voice yelled from the corner of the room, the way his hands went immediately to his mouth was sign enough that he did not mean for that to come out.
Unfortunately, Usopp’s unwilling participation seemed to break the vow of silence that had been unintentionally settled.
Voices started to ring from all over, some excited, some confused, he even heard laughter.
Despite it all, Zoro’s eyes never swayed, his gaze pinned on him, like he was the only other person in the room, the only one that mattered and maybe, in this particular situation, he was.
Sanji felt a storm of emotions raging on his chest, at the same speed, thoughts invaded his head, self doubt wrapping once again around his whole being.
How he didn’t deserve this; he didn’t deserve him.
He didn’t know what to do.
The loudness around him wasn’t helping him either, he was getting overwhelmed, anxiety pooling in the bottom of his stomach.
He needed to leave, right the fuck now.
He avoided Zoro’s gaze; avoided the gaze of everyone in the room.
“I- I need space.” He didn’t wait for anyone to reply, not even Zoro, but he could feel those eyes still pinned on him, still waiting for an answer.
And Sanji hated himself because he couldn’t give him one.
This wasn’t his proudest moment, not at all, hiding in a secluded room at the very back of the castle, sitting against the wall, legs brought to his chest and head hiding between his knees, Sanji could admit that this is the most cowardly he had ever felt in his life.
And wasn’t that saying something already.
But he needed to think about what the hell just happened back in the dining room.
There is no way Roronoa Zoro just proposed to him.
Alright, he would admit that there had been something going on between them, ever since they reunited back in Sabaody, stolen glances and light touches, nights spent in the galley washing dishes in comfortable silence, so unusual from both of them, yet they never spoke about exactly what they were and Sanji figured he went and screw whatever they could have been when he ditched the crew and got himself dragged into Big Mom’s territory by his bastards biological relatives to an arranged marriage and afterwards when the mosshead didn’t even utter a word about their whole situation a single time ever since they met again.
And yet.
Zoro asked him to marry him and he said it in such a serious voice, in such a sure tone, his eyes screaming nothing but sincerity, leaving no room to even doubt his word, not that Sanji would have anyways; there’s little next to nothing that would make Zoro do or say anything he didn’t want to.
Sanji didn’t know if that was the best or the worst thing about him.
Stupid mosshead, with his stupid straightforwardness, with his stupid unwavering voice, leaving him a mess because of two fucking words.
Sanji felt his hands going to his hair, tugging hard at the strands, as he tended to do when everything was too much.
He hated himself, he hated the part of himself that screamed ‘yes’ as soon as the words left Zoro’s mouth.
He didn’t deserve him.
Zoro, who was so loyal, who always protected his crewmates, even if they didn’t know it, Zoro who would drop whatever he was doing to help Chopper if he asked him too, who will accompany the ladies to act as their pack mule even if he complained about it, who would join in Luffy and Usopp’s games, who would be there at the drop of a hat if any of the crew needed him, that’s the kind of man Zoro is.
Zoro deserved someone better, deserved someone that didn’t doubt as much, deserved someone that didn’t put a weight as big as Sanji put on his back, someone that didn’t ask him to kill him if he ever lost himself, if he ever became a monster.
And even then, just thinking of the mosshead being in a relationship with another person, made his chest feel like it was pickled by needles. He didn’t want that.
He wanted Zoro.
So why was it so hard for his mind to accept what his heart already did?
“I told you we would find him here.”
“As usual, your navigation skills never fail, Nami.”
Sanji head shot up from where it was resting between his legs, his eyes blinking to adjust to the sudden light, looking up, he was met with the figures of Nami and Robin staring down at him, Nami with her hands on her hips and an eyebrow raised and Robin with a small smile in her face, hand on her cheek.
“Ladies,” Sanji started, albeit a bit nervous, he had a feeling he knew exactly why the girls were here. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“I don’t know Sanji.” Nami deadpanned, making him flinch a little. “Why would we be looking for you? At the far end of the castle, mind you, surely there isn’t a correlation with you running off the main hall after a literal bomb was dropped.”
Robin giggled. “Our dear swordsman for sure knows how to leave a room speechless.”
Sanji didn’t know what his face was doing, but he was almost sure that a grimace was adorning it, one that kept growing the more the girls talked. “I was an idiot, wasn’t I?”
“I’m very glad we agree!” Nami exclaimed, her voice coming back to a lighter tone, before sitting beside him, back against the wall, at his other side, Robin copied the motion.
Sanji took out his lighter, he wouldn’t light a cigarette right now, no matter how much he wanted to, because the girls were right next to him and he wasn’t a savage alright?
“I don’t know what you want me to tell you.” Sanji really, really wished the girls could just let this be, at least right now, because his head was a mess of thoughts and his heart was a sea of emotions all over the place, so he wasn’t confident on how to even begin to address his current situation.
“If I may, Sanji.” Robin intervened. “If you don’t know what to say, maybe we can ask some questions? You are allowed to tell us if we’re going too far or crossing any privacy lines you wish to not be talked about.”
Nami made a sound of agreement at his side and Sanji looked back and forth between the girls, biting his lip, before hesitantly nodding his head.
“Well,” Nami started. “I’m going to start with the obvious question here, are you and Zoro really not dating? You guys haven’t ever dated?”
Sanji felt a blush go up his face. “No!” He exclaimed. “We aren’t together and we haven’t ever been!”
“But both of you have been dancing around each other for a while, haven’t you?” Robin added, her voice serene, she wasn’t asking, not at all, she was stating a fact.
Sanji sighed, not even bothering to deny anything, because he was sure they wouldn’t believe him, even if he tried; the urge to light a cigarette grew stronger by the minute. “Ever since we reunited back in Sabaody but there just wasn’t enough time to talk about whatever the hell was happening and well, you know us, the mosshead and I aren’t exactly number ones in having good communications skills.” He said in lieu of an answer.
Nami snorted. “No shit.”
Sanji felt a little smile start forming on his face before it went away as quickly as it showed up. “And then,” his voice caught a little tremble in it and he was sure that both Nami and Robin noticed, the way they straightened up was enough of a telling for him. “You know, Whole Cake, and all the bullshit that happened and when we met again he didn’t say a word about it and you know, I figured, that given the whole situation, maybe he should be the one to bring it up first.”
He didn’t know when exactly he stood up, but now he was walking from side to side in the small room, his voice getting higher the more he spoke.
“But he never did! And well, I guessed that meant that whatever was supposedly going on was over before it could even begin and I had no one to blame but myself.” His hands went to his hair, tugging, not once he stopped walking. “Let’s be honest, I can’t blame him, by all means I betrayed the crew, I wouldn’t want me either.” He felt his throat tighten at his own words.
The girls kept watching him, not uttering a single word, he continued.
“But then! I made him promise me something, something horrible, something awful and he promised! Because that’s the kind of man he is, he keeps his fucking word and that it’s so fucking infuriating as it’s so fucking attractive of him.”
“And if that wasn’t enough already, he comes and does this! He just fucking proposes to me! Out of nowhere, he just drops a ‘marry me’ so fucking sure of himself, not a single trace of doubt behind that singular eye of his and I don’t deserve this, I don’t deserve him! He deserves better than me, he deserves better than this stupid, disgraceful failure that I am and-”
A hand on his shoulder made him stop, he raised his head, noticing for the first time that the girls were no longer sitting against the wall, but were now standing in front of him, Robin’s hand still on his shoulder, while Nami produced a tissue out of her kimono before taking it to his face and delicately wiping away the moisture that had gathered on his eyes and were it a normal day Sanji would have swayed at having these two goddesses so close to him.
But not today, because he got so worked up in his little rant, he didn’t even notice he started tearing up.
As if this wasn’t already humiliating enough.
He took the tissue offered to him once Nami finished with it, keeping it carefully folded in his hand.
Nami was the first to break the silence. “Do you feel better now?” She asked gently.
Sanji nodded, his throat still far too tight for him to talk again without crying again.
“You can light a cigarette by the way, lord knows you clearly need to.” Nami, the goddess that she is, added.
Sanji did so immediately and as stupid as it sounds, he felt like he could breathe a little easier.
“Now,” Robin started, her eyes soft. “Let’s start again, shall we?”
“Do you even think before you talk?” Usopp questioned their resident swordsman, dragging a hand through his face. “I’m serious Zoro, didn’t you think of doing it, I don’t know, when you were alone at least?”
Zoro shrugged, cleaning his swords; as both Nami and Robin went looking for the cook, the rest of the guys stayed behind in the room they were given, right now, all of them sat in a circle around him.
“I’ve never seen Sanji go so white in the face and that’s saying something already.” Chopper added from where he sat beside Zoro. “I was scared he was going to faint!”
“And!” Usopp chimed in again. “The bottom line here, that still hasn’t been addressed, what do you mean you’re not dating! Why would you propose to him if that’s the case?
That did make Zoro pause his movements, looking up to the faces of his crewmates, all watching him with intense stares.
Why, indeed.
He doesn’t think there is a big, complicated reason why he just blurted out what he did, it just felt right to do so, he doesn’t regret it, not at all.
At the same time, Zoro is not stupid and he knows exactly what his words must have done to the cook, the way his eyes widened and his stance tensed, he could see the gears turning in his head.
And yet.
Having been swirling around whatever the hell was going between them for a while now, and at the risk of losing it all before it even started, Zoro could pinpoint exactly what led him to propose right there.
Sanji was an annoying, complicated mess, someone so needlessly perplexing; he wore his heart on his sleeve but what many people may not know and less of all notice, is that despite doing that, the cook only allowed others to see what he wanted them to; keeping the most inner of his thoughts, the highest of his fears, all to himself.
Zoro wanted to be the person Sanji came to when he needed to let it all out, when he needed to just rant, when everything was too much, even if it was to fight, he wanted Sanji to come to him and he also wanted to be able to do the same in return.
He thinks that maybe, in some kind of twisted way, Sanji was already one step ahead.
If after the battle, I’m not myself, you must kill me.
Zoro remembers the moment the damn transponder snail started to ring inside his haramaki, he remembers, even in between fighting Kaido’s right hand man, listening to the cook’s request; pain clearly in his voice, regret lacing his tone, almost as if he was apologizing for putting the heaviness of this oath on Zoro’s shoulders.
He promised, back then, that he would do as Sanji requested, if the moment arrived.
And Zoro is someone that keeps his promises, he always has been, but this one…
He made that promise, knowing that the cook would never change, of that he was sure.
He can’t say he understands enough of what Sanji was going through, but what he can say is that the promise he made is one he’s certain he would never have to fulfill.
(A small part of him wasn’t sure if he could get himself to do it, shall the time ever come and he hated himself for it.)
After the fight, after they won, once he woke up, well, everything was just so clear.
He wanted Sanji and he knew Sanji wanted him too, of that, he was completely positive.
Now he just needed Sanji to meet him in the middle, as he always does.
A laugh startled him out of his train of thoughts, looking up to locate the source, not being surprised in the slightest that the sound was coming from Luffy, who, different than the rest of the guys, was smiling at him, not saying anything, as if he just knew everything and given their captain’s insanely accurate intuition, Zoro wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case.
The rest of the people in the room were still looking at him, waiting for an answer, Usopp in particular looked ready to explode if he didn’t get one.
Zoro shrugged his shoulders. “It felt right, it felt like us.” He offered as an answer, his tone letting everyone know that he won’t be accepting any more questions regarding this situation, at least not now.
By now Usopp has taken a cushion to his face, to muffle his scream of frustration.
Luffy laughed harder at the image, before gazing at Zoro once again.
“Zoro knows what he’s doing guys!” Luffy exclaimed. “Let’s just trust him!”
Zoro smiled at his captain, grateful that he always understood him, even without him needing to say anything.
“So…” Franky’s voice rang through the room for the first time. “Does this mean I have permission to make both of you rings?”
The room soon descended into another fit of mayhem, everyone trying to talk over the other, during the chaos, Luffy stood from where he was and took a place beside Zoro, his smile so big it could lit the room.
“I get to officiate, right?” He asked, the playful tone in his voice making Zoro roll his eyes.
“Duh.” He said as an answer. “Wouldn’t want anyone else.”
“Good!” Luffy replied back. “I wonder how long it will take Sanji to come find you, he can get caught up into his head a little, he’s silly like that.”
Zoro nodded, he was very aware of that.
But Zoro knows he will come and he’ll be waiting, however long he has to.
Sanji was not avoiding Zoro, he wasn’t.
Alright, maybe he has been turning the other way whenever he saw the mosshead walking in the same direction he was in, maybe he has been going out of his way to not be in the same room as Zoro alone, maybe this has been the case for the past three days and maybe-
Who was he trying to fool? He was avoiding the mosshead.
Like the coward he was.
The worst thing? Is that Zoro acted like he knew Sanji would be doing this, like he was expecting it and the absolute cherry of the cake was that he was allowing Sanji to do so.
He didn’t call him out, he didn’t follow him, he didn’t try to get him alone.
He was giving him space. One he very much needed and Sanji didn’t know how to feel about it.
Even after his talk with the girls, Sanji still was unsure, he didn’t quite know what to do next and he hated himself for it.
Why was this so complicated? Why did he make it so complicated?
Listen Sanji, the situation at matter here is that Robin and I can say so much about why everything you said is just wrong and that you should really stop putting yourself down like that, but in the end, we can repeat it and we can make the rest of our crew tell you you’re incorrect, but until you fully believe that everything you just said is crap, then nothing’s really going to change.
Nami’s words were as beautiful as they were painful to hear, because she was so completely right, but even though he would like to believe he was better now than when he was in Whole Cake, it was still hard to fully let go of things you have believed about yourself for 21 years.
Our dear navigator is right and if I may be so bold to offer my advice, the first step to healing is to start working on fully stop believing what people from our past said we were, to realize that we were always meant to be more than what others expected us to be, that we can be better because no one can define who we are or who we’re going to be but ourselves.
The talk he had with the ladies lasted for hours, by the time they realized, the sun had already set and Sanji was not going to lie, voicing his thoughts, however unintentional it was from his part, felt liberating and even though it didn’t lift the weight he felt on his chest whenever he thought about it, a part of him felt a bit lighter after doing so.
And yet, that was three days ago and Sanji was still avoiding Zoro, because he still didn’t know what the fuck to say or how to say it.
Or rather, he did know what to say, but a part of him still didn’t believe he deserved it; and that fucking part was the one that clouded his mind, cementing his doubts and holding him back.
He groaned, thumping his head against the wall, why were feelings so fucking hard.
“If you keep doing that, you’re going to make a dent in the wall.” A deadpan voice came from behind him making him jump, he was so distracted he didn’t feel anyone coming, he turned, being met with both Usopp and Brook, both of them leaning against the doorframe and Sanji had a pretty good feeling about why they were here.
He sighed, before returning to his forgotten chore of washing the dishes, doing his best to ignore the small tremble in his hands that had started.
“Is your turn now, I suppose, is this some kind of intervention? Am I gonna be ambushed by the rest of the crew too?”
“Well, you’re in luck, because Usopp and I come in representation of the rest of the crew, I told them that I didn’t think it was for the best if we all came.” Brook added and Sanji hummed, a part of him relieved to hear that, he didn’t think he would have liked it if that was the case.
“Though of course, we don’t count Luffy here, because you know how much of a wild card he can be.” Usopp said, his voice gaining a nervous tint to it.
Sanji snorted, trying to make Luffy agree to a plan is futile, they all know that first hand.
The room descended into silence not long after that, the air thick and uncomfortable, but Sanji knew that he was not the one meant to break the silence and he would also like to add that if he could avoid this little intervention altogether he would, thank you very much.
Unfortunately, fate did not grant him mercy.
A bony hand made its appearance, taking the plate he kept scrubbing forcefully from him, while another tan hand turned off the tap.
Sanji didn’t lift his head from where it was looking downwards, not wanting to meet neither of his crewmates’ gazes.
“One of the things I like the most about you is the way you always look out for others.” Usopp started. “Even when you complain about it, you take care of us; be it during a fight or when you cook for us, you’re always looking after the crew.”
Sanji didn’t say anything, biting his lip.
“You give and you give parts of yourself, every single day, Sanji-san.” Brook continued. “But getting you to take in return is almost impossible.”
“Don’t you think it is time for you to be selfish?” Usopp said. “I may not know much about you and Zoro and I will admit that hearing that you weren’t together did throw me out of the loop; but one thing I’m certain? Sanji what you two have? That’s not something you can take for granted and is not something that is going to come knocking on your door again if you let it go; and we all know you don’t want to let it go, so what are you waiting for?”
“And don’t start saying that you don’t deserve it.” Brook piped in before he could do exactly that, Sanji looked at him, surprised at the way the skeleton basically read his mind, Brook’s face almost looked like it was sending him a wistful smile. “Your mind is a terrible companion to be alone with for 50 years, my dear boy, I am well acquainted with oneself being their own worst enemy.”
Sanji felt his eyes start to mist over, he was so sick of crying, for fucks sake.
If either Brook or Usopp noticed, they thankfully kept it to themselves and for that Sanji was grateful.
“What we’re trying to say,” Usopp started once again. “Is that we know what it’s like for your brain to whisper mean words to you, to make you feel like you’re not worthy of love, but Sanji, you are, you deserve to be happy.”
“And if that happiness lies with Zoro-san, then by all means, go after it, don’t let something beautiful slip away, you have to hold on tight to it, you need to fight for it.”
“You really think so?” Sanji asked, voice small and throat tight.
Usopp smiled, nudging him in the shoulder. “Go talk to him, he’s been waiting.”
Sanji felt the weight on his chest lift even more, it was not completely gone, not yet, but it was better.
He gave a smile to both of his friends, now, more than ever being grateful for destiny being kind enough to give him the crew he had, he wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.
“Thank you.” He said and he meant it.
“Don’t mention it.” Usopp waved a hand. “You’re our friend.”
“Now,” Brook added. “I believe it is time for you to go and have a talk with our dear swordsman.”
Sanji sighed, knowing they were right.
Time to face the music.
Sanji walked through the streets of Wano, half of him still thinking if he was really doing this at last and the other part of him was screaming at him to turn around and run away.
He refused to listen to the cowardly part of himself anymore.
And truth to be told, even if he wanted to turn around and run, he wouldn’t have been able to; not with his crewmates stares coincidentally following him around, scattered in different parts of his path.
They may have thought they were being subtle, but his observation haki never failed him.
He kept walking, he had a pretty good feeling about where Zoro would be, and of course it had to be in the outskirts of the capital.
Not that he can blame the mosshead, he also wanted privacy for this conversation.
Sanji was going through all he wanted to say in his head, trying to organize his thoughts to form a coherent sentence.
Does he apologize first? For how he ran out the other day?
Shall he ask Zoro what the hell was he thinking, dropping that bomb out of nowhere?
Does he give his answer? Just like that?
What if Zoro was mad at him?
Alright Sanji, that last one was stupid, if the mosshead was mad at you he would have gone and found you immediately.
“You’re thinking too hard, Sanji.” A playful voice startled him from his thoughts, lifting his head from where it was looking at the ground as he walked he was met with Luffy’s smiling face.
Sanji frowned, a scowl ready at his mouth but his captain beat him to it before the first word even left his mouth. “Sanji thinks too much and that can make your head tell you mean stuff, and those voices are loud and can be scary but you need to know that those voices are wrong.”
Any remark Sanji may have thought of died in his mouth.
“You deserve happiness, you do and I know that sometimes you don’t believe it but that’s what we’re here for, to tell you that you do, you deserve to have the freedom to choose happiness if you want to and fuck your biological family for ever making you think that you didn’t.”
That did gain Luffy a snort coming out of him, however involuntary it was.
Luffy’s smile turned even bigger. “What you and Zoro have, that’s something special and something that cannot be replicated, you’re Zoro and Sanji, you may fight a lot, but you also trust each other so much, you watch each other’s backs and I know that I can trust both of you as well as the rest of the crew to watch mine.”
“What if-” Sanji started, nervousness starting to travel up his spine. “What if I fuck this up?”
Luffy’s smile turned serene, his eyes going soft. “You won’t, but even if you do, I know the both of you together will be able to figure it out.”
“How are you so sure?” Sanji asked him.
Luffy tilted his hat, his smile full of teeth now. “Future King of the Pirates, remember? I know everything.”
That made Sanji roll his eyes. “Of course you do.”
“Shishishi, go find Zoro, Sanji, I know you know where to find him.”
Sanji finally smiled, some of the tension in his body dissipating after this impromptu talk with Luffy, his captain always knew what to say.
He bid goodbye, knowing he had a mosshead to find.
He directed his gaze towards the hill at the end of the cliff.
Here we go.
“I was wondering how much longer you were going to take, shit cook.” Was the greeting he was received with, Zoro leaning against the tallest tree, his arms behind his head and his eyes closed.
Sanji scowled. “Not my fault you chose a place so far from the main street.” He diverted, knowing exactly what Zoro was asking.
Zoro opened his eye, his posture still relaxed, but a glare was now adorning his face. “You know that’s not what I meant, don’t act dumb.”
Sanji sighed, “I don’t know what you want me to say.”
“Wow, cook,” Zoro deadpanned. “I knew you could be a moron but this is a whole new level of bullshit.”
Zoro quickly took one of his sheathed swords, putting it up in time as a leg met it in a clash.
Sanji glared at him. “Stupid mosshead.”
“Dumb cook.” Zoro snapped back.
They glared at each other, a tense silence surrounded them, Sanji with his leg raised and Zoro with his sword at the ready, both of them waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Thankfully, or not, depending on how you saw it, Sanji relented, his shoulders dropping as did his leg, like all the energy left his body, he plopped down next to Zoro.
After another brief period of silence, Sanji finally spoke.
“You’re confusing, you know.” Was what he decided to say.
Zoro raised an eyebrow, asking him with his expression what he meant.
Sanji rolled his eyes.
“For the record, if you repeat what I’m going to say to anyone I will deny with my life that it happened.”
Now it was Zoro’s turn to roll his eye. “Just get on with it, shit cook.”
Sanji sighed again, lowering his gaze. “I mean, you’re Roronoa Zoro, you’re the future King of the Pirates' first mate, everybody knows your name and your reputation is feared across the seas.”
“You’re not making any sense here, cook.” Zoro added, even more confused.
Sanji kept going. “What I’m trying to say, is that there’s a shit ton of people out there that would die to be with you, hell, even here, the most beautiful woman in Wano is smitten with you, Zoro, you could have anyone you wanted, you could choose anybody, you-”
“And out of everybody in the world, I want you.”
Sanji’s mouth snapped shut real fast, his gaze snapping to the swordsman once again, who was looking intensely at him.
Zoro didn’t let him get a word in before he was talking again.
“I would have thought that the rest of the crew already drilled it into your head this, but I guess your brain is really full of bricks, so in case they didn’t or something got lost along the way-”
“That’s rich coming from you.” Sanji couldn’t help but tease, albeit weakly.
Zoro glared at him and Sanji closed his mouth, in any other situation he would have fought back, but not this time, Zoro clearly had something to get off his chest.
“I don’t know exactly what happened with your fuckass biological family, Luffy only told me the basics and then in all the shitshow that we got into in this country there just wasn’t time for me to ask, not that I care that much or at all about where you come from or who you were, I only care about who you are now.”
Sanji felt a lump forming in his throat at those words.
“You and I have been squirming and dancing about whatever the fuck is happening between us for a while now, and I know you are aware of that.” Zoro continued.
Sanji nodded his head, still not saying anything.
“I guess I just had enough of wandering around.”
Sanji finally found his voice. “How so?”
“You asked me to kill you,” Zoro’s words felt like a bucket of cold water dropping directly into his head. “You asked me to put my swords through your heart, don’t apologize.” He added, when it seemed that Sanji was about to do exactly that. “After that and after having been at hell’s door, I figured enough was enough, this life we lead is too fucking short to doubt and too fucking short to hesitate.”
“One would think that the normal thing to do would have been start dating first.” Sanji said.
“And since when have you and I, or anyone from our crew for that matter, adhered to normal standards?” Zoro questioned.
Sanji didn’t have a reply for that and it seemed that Zoro noticed.
He smirked. “That’s what I thought.”
Sanji scowled. “So that’s how it is? You just want to get married without giving our hand at dating first? What if we’re not as compatible as we think.”
“Cook,” Zoro started again. “I don’t need to date you to know I want to be with you for the rest of my life.”
Sanji’s breath hitched.
“And every problem that may arise, we can solve them, we always do.” The complete tone of certainty in Zoro’s voice was making Sanji dizzy.
“Zoro…”
Zoro continued. “When Luffy becomes the King of the Pirates, when we get him to the top, when I beat Mihawk, when you find the All Blue, when our friends achieve their dreams, I want you by my side.”
Zoro was starting to smile, those smiles that he reserved only for his crewmates. “And even after that! When you finally build your restaurant, right in the middle of that ocean, I want to be there, I want to wait there for the rookies that will come to find me to try and take my title.”
“That sounds terrible for business.” Sanji tried to joke, but there was a hitch in his voice and he knew Zoro noticed, because his gaze softened.
“We can have a life together, cook, we just have to take the leap.” Zoro offered his hand. “What do you say, curls, are you in?”
Sanji stared at the hand extended towards him, knowing how easy it would be to just take it, so why didn’t he?
What do you want, Sanji?
And wasn’t that the million berry question.
Even then; right now, here at the end of this damned cliff, under this tree and with the soft breeze swirling around him; after the last couple days of being attacked by his own doubts, by his own fears and by his crew coming together to take him out of the abyss he threw himself into.
The answer was just so clear, it has been from the very start, he was an idiot for trying to convince himself otherwise, when his heart had already spoken even when his mind was slow to catch up.
He had always known, since the moment he first met him, when he saw him trying to take on one of the biggest fishes on the sea, back when he was just a rookie, when it was clear he didn’t stand a chance, he always stood tall, taking that bitter defeat and turning it into determination, into a promise, into an oath.
I will never lose again!
And he hasn’t, he has kept his word, because he always does it, that’s just the kind of man he is.
Zoro was an assortment of complexities, even if the naked eye didn’t see it and probably never would; the swordsman was like an ocean, simple on the surface, his intentions clear, his drive well known, and yet, just like the great blue Sanji loved so much, he had layers upon layers of something deeper to him, something wonderful that he didn’t show to regular people, something reserved only for the ones he cared about.
Zoro looked out for them, even when he didn’t have to, nobody asked that from him but he did it anyway, under all that bravado and roughness he puts as a front, he was as selfless as they came. He loved them all and he may not say it out loud, but he didn’t have to, not when he showed it every single day in so many different ways.
Roronoa Zoro, this world definitely didn’t deserve you.
Not to say he didn’t get on his last nerves pretty often, a part of him hating to admit that it was part of his charm, he was sure he would think the same about him; because they would bicker and they would fight and they would disagree in so many meaningless things.
But when it came down to it, when it really mattered, they were always on the same page, ready to take on whatever came their way.
The mosshead really had made his way into his life, first dropping unannounced and uninvited into his old home along a misfit group of dreamers and then proceeding to sweep him off his feet more times than he cared to admit.
He thinks this must be the ‘love’ he heard Zeff once speak about, the one he has read countless of times on the novels he keeps hidden in the pantry, the love that is real, the one that is pure, the one that is fierce, the one he needs to hold on.
He felt the voices that have been following him around for the past few days finally quieting down and in his wake, his body felt lighter and his heart felt calmer, his mind finally at ease with it.
And wasn’t it funny? How at the end of the day, even as he was known by many as the love cook, he still missed something so obvious.
Love isn’t something you find, rather, it's something that finds you.
And when it does, you ought to do everything in your power to keep it with you.
It was so simple , yet it could seem so hard and sometimes you just needed a little push to realize what has been right in front of you all this time.
‘Marry me.’
‘Are you in?’
Sanji smiled, finally ready, he was an idiot for waiting this much.
He took the offered hand and used it as leverage to pull the swordsman towards him, wrapping his hands around his waist, smirking when Zoro startled, confused at the sudden position, his cheeks reddening a bit.
Sanji didn’t miss a beat. “Yeah, you stupid swordsman, I’m in.” And he closed the distance between them.
If Zoro was surprised by the sudden kiss, he sure as hell didn’t let that show, one hand going to Sanji’s cheek so he could deepen it; as far as first kisses go, they both would agree this one must be the best, it felt like victory, it felt like them.
They broke the kiss too soon for their liking, but their faces were kept close, their noses touching, their eyes still closed.
The air around them softly touched their hair and danced around them, almost as in a spell, one that they didn’t want to break.
Nonetheless, they had to, for the conversation still wasn’t over, there was one last thing to say.
They opened their eyes, keeping their gazes on the other, small smiles on their faces and cheek dusty rose thanks to the kiss they just shared.
Zoro was the one that broke the silence, the corners of his mouth quirking. “So, does that mean…”
Sanji rolled his eyes; this ridiculous, ridiculous man, he flicked Zoro in the forehead, earning him a glare, but he still smiled.
“It means exactly what you think, yes, yes mosshead; I’ll marry you.”
The way Zoro’s face lit up could probably be noticed all the way down in the capital’s main street, he tightened his arms around Sanji.
“Took you long enough, cook.”
And Sanji heard the teasing tone on his voice and he knew the mosshead was just joking but he could not help but feel bad, for making him wait so long when he could have gotten his head out of their ass sooner if it wasn’t for his own fucking brain.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized, sincerely, Zoro raised an eyebrow, Sanji shrugged his shoulders. “I’m sorry for making you wait this much and for taking so long to find you.”
“It’s okay,” Zoro replied, making Sanji give him a doubtful stare but the swordsman just kept smiling. “I knew that you would need time to come to terms with everything, I know exactly how into your head you can get, besides, I knew you would come and find me, you always do.”
The way he sounded so sure when he said that, like there was never a single doubt about him showing up, like it was something he always expected.
It made Sanji feel warm inside all over again.
And what else could Sanji do but drag him into another kiss?
This ridiculous, unbelievable man; his fiance, how crazy was that?
A crazy idea came to mind and the words were out of his mouth before his brain could even process it.
“Let’s get married.” Sanji started again once they broke apart.
Zoro blinked at him, confusion clear in his eyes. “I thought we already agreed that we will, cook.”
Sanji rolled his eyes, but there was no heat behind them. “No, you dumb mosshead, I mean let’s get married, right now.”
Zoro’s eye went wide, clearly he wasn’t expecting that, but he didn’t seem opposed to the idea, not at all. “You sure? I always thought you would like to plan your wedding, like in those novels you read.”
“How do you know ab- you know what, it doesn’t matter right now.” Sanji stopped himself. “Yes, mosshead, right now, I don’t need a fancy wedding, I have enough right here, in this country, I have our crew and I have you and that’s all we need, so what do you say mossy?”
Zoro smiled, teeth and all.
“Like you would even have to ask, let’s do it, let’s get married right now.” He declared, making Sanji smile at those words.
It was decided then.
Let’s put this show on the road.
“Don’t get me wrong, I am elated that both of you finally got your heads out of the gutter and realized what pretty much all of us noticed since the beginning, but did you really have to decide on now to get married, I think you almost gave Nami an aneurysm.” Usopp deadpanned, he was standing beside the soon to be wed couple, watching from the sidelines as their navigator shouted orders left and right, about table arrangements and seat placements, among other things. “Both of your debts are going to increase astronomically after this.”
“Your lives are not going to be enough for you to pay me back!” Nami yelled at them, not too far from where they stood. “No! That doesn’t go there, move it to the right!” She ordered Brook, who was about to put a vase of flowers down. “C’mon people, I want this done quickly!”
“Anyways…” Usopp continued, ignoring for the time being the scene happening in front of him, directing his attention to Sanji. “Shouldn’t you be cooking? I always thought you would want to cook your own wedding feast.”
Sanji bristled while Zoro snorted. “He is still kind of grumpy about that.” He replied. “But Momo offered to let the cooks from the palace take care of that.”
“You could have said no.” Usopp added, still confused.
Zoro smirked. “And he was about to do exactly that, but then Hiyori chimed in and said they would be honored if we allowed them to do this for us.”
“Ahhhh,” Usopp said, finally understanding. “Of course you wouldn't say no to her.”
“How was I supposed to say no to a lovely kind lady? Are you insane?” Sanji snapped. “I’m not a savage.”
“Alright…” Usopp put his hands up in surrender, this was not a fight worth fighting. “Well then, what are both of you supposed to be doing until the ceremony then? I find it hard to believe that you would readily agree to stay put, Sanji.”
That earned him another snort from Zoro and an indignant squeak from Sanji, who was about to reply, if it wasn’t for Robin interrupting them.
“Well, I do believe our soon to be wed couple were given strict orders by both our captain and our navigator to relax until everything is ready for this evening.” She said with a small smile from where she was fixing a flower arrangement.
“And to write your vows!” Franky added excitedly. “You need the most super vows to go with this super wedding so you can exchange the super rings I designed!”
“He’s really proud of that, by the way.” Usopp intervened again. “Also, where the hell did Luffy go?” He asked, looking around and finding no sign of their rubber captain.
“He said he needed to do one last thing before the wedding could begin.” Jimbei calmly piped in. “He didn’t give much information after that but I saw him dragging Trafalgar Law around a few moments ago.”
Everyone winced, poor Law, they all knew that Luffy would never really let him go, even now that the alliance was supposedly over; once their captain decided you were one of his friends it was pretty much impossible to get rid of him, no matter how hard you tried.
“Why are all of you standing around doing nothing!” Nami yelled at them, startling them. “Do you think everything is going to be ready if we just stay still? No! Move, help with the organizing. Not you two!” She exclaimed when she saw both Sanji and Zoro also starting to move to help. “You go and get ready! Momo and Hiyori said they would give you a room for that because I know you guys are not going to follow the tradition of not seeing each other until you get to the altar.”
“When have the cook or I done things the ‘traditional’ way, witch?” Zoro raised an eyebrow, gaining an elbow to the side from Sanji, but the cook still nodded, agreeing with him.
Nami sighed, looking up at the sky as if asking for patience. “I’m not even going to bother anymore, now get out of here and go get ready, if everything goes according to my plan, which is going to! Then everything should be ready in about an hour!”
“Are you sure?” Sanji hesitantly questioned, and he wouldn’t normally doubt a lady, but right this moment, nerves were starting to kick in again, it was getting so real and he didn’t know if the feeling inside his chest were from excitement or anxiety.
Nami, a goddess as always, seemed to understand given the way her eyes softened. “I’m positive, now can both of you please get your asses out of here to get ready! Time is running, go, go go!”
Sanji felt more than saw, Zoro’s fingers interlacing with his, tugging at his hand, he looked up at the swordsman, who was giving him a small smile. “Let’s go cook, before Nami here explodes.”
The aforementioned glared at him. “Just for that I’m raising your debt another 10%.”
Zoro rolled his eye, walking away with Sanji before his financial ruin could grow even more, leaving the rest of their friends behind taking care of the preparations; only when they were out of sight did Sanji speak.
“Mosshead, where do you think you’re taking us?” He questioned, planting his feet down on the ground and therefore stopping them midway.
“Where do you think, cook? To the room Momo gave us.”
Sanji’s voice sounded so tired when he talked next. “Zoro, the room is the other way,” and now Sanji started to pull him in the other direction, the swordsman letting him. “Why did I even let you guide us in the first place, you directionless moss?”
Zoro huffed and Sanji could hear the pout in his voice. “It’s not my fault the hallways move!”
“The hallways don’t mov- not worth it, I’m not even going to try.” He sighed. “We’re here.” He declared and then they stopped before a big door, Sanji proceeded to open it, expecting it to be empty as Nami told them but to their surprise…
“Luffy?” Zoro questioned, sounding very confused, pretty much a mirror of what Sanji was feeling right this second. “What are you doing here?” He then directed his gaze to the other person in the room, whose face screamed that he rather be anywhere but here. “Law?”
“Roronoa-ya, Blackleg-ya.” Law said in a tired voice. “First let me offer you my congratulations, even I was getting tired of your little ‘will they, won’t they’ game.’”
Both boys blushed, how obvious were they that even Law noticed?
If Law noticed their state, he ignored it. “Second of all, I was dragged into this.”
Now that piqued their curiosity, what did he mean by that?
Luffy’s laughter startled them out of their thoughts. “Shishishi, It was my idea! And since Torao was a warlord! I guessed he could have an idea on how to do it!”
“Though, Franky-ya also helped us a whole lot with this.”
Now Sanji was getting a little restless. “What did you do, Luffy?”
Luffy’s smile was as big as it was suspicious and even Zoro was starting to fear that smile right now.
But before they could question him more, two voices rang through the room that froze them to their core.
“I’ve heard you’re getting married, Zoro, I would like to offer my congratulations.”
“Eggplant, would you like to explain to me why I got a snail call from the chore boy telling me you’re getting married, today?”
“Koushirou?”
“Zeff?”
Both the men in question had a soft smile and a frown shown in their faces, respectively; to say that Zoro and Sanji were shock would be an understatement, because among all the craziness they foresaw happening with their impromptu wedding, seeing both of these men, projected in medium sized screens was the last thing they expected.
“Surprise!” Luffy cheered! “I figured you’d like to have them both present for your wedding! I wanted to bring them here but Franky said that he still hasn’t figured out how teleportation works, but he helped us to set the screens up!”
“How did you even get snails working this much distance to the East Blue?” Sanji questioned, still surprised by the turn of events.
Law cleared his throat. “Well, that’s where I unwillingly come in.” He added. “When I was a warlord I was required to have the means for the marines to contact me wherever I was, so they gave me a special transponder snail that is supposed to work regardless of the distance.”
“And Franky got another one to work the same way! And then we borrowed these screens from Momo, and Franky put wheels on them so we could move them! And Nami got a hold of the snail numbers, I don’t know how she did it and I was scared to ask.”
“That doesn’t seem like something to be done this quickly.” Zoro raised an eyebrow, questioning.
Luffy looked at them as if they were dumb. “Duh , we’ve been working on this for the past 3 days.”
Zoro smiled at those words, leave it to his captain to be able to pull this off, Sanji, from his part, was looking at Luffy with something akin to wonder in his eyes.
“B-But how did you even know that we would want the wedding to be this soon? ” He asked.
Luffy interrupted him, his ever present smile not fading at all. “Neither of you usually wait around after you get what you want.” Was the only thing he said in answer, which didn’t actually clarify how he knew and Sanji was ready to question him again, but another voice chimed in before he could.
“Enough of this chit chat,” Zeff grumbled, Sanji directed his gaze to one of the screens, noticing that whether in Wano was still broad daylight, the windows of the kitchen in the Baratie reflected the night light, he could also see the rest of the cooks behind Zeff and Sanji felt a pang in his chest, he really missed those bastards. “What do you mean you’re getting married? You finally got your head out of your ass? I have to say, eggplant, this happened way sooner than I expected and I guess having the Demon of the East as a son in law doesn’t sound too bad.”
Sanji felt a well known irritation swirl within him. “Damn geezer, what do you even mean by that?”
Zeff sighed, well accustomed to this behavior. “Don’t be dense, kid, I raised you for well over eleven years, I know you, and I know how you can get when matters like this one are involved and given that the chore boy told me that this has to be quick because you need to get ready for the ceremony, otherwise your navigator will come and kick your asses, I’m going to say one thing and ask you one question, are we clear? ”
Knowing better than to argue right now, Sanji nodded his head.
Zeff continued, “I don’t know exactly what you’ve been up to and I know better than to trust to the fullest the crap newspapers say, so we’ll have to leave that for another time now that I have a way to contact you, so first thing first, I need you to know that since the moment I took you in, you became my son,” Sanji’s breath hitched at those words. “And no stupid name on your bounty poster no whatever crap you got into is going to change that, got it?”
Sanji nodded again, his throat too tight to even attempt to talk, Zeff's eyes softened a little.
“Good, now, my question.” And for this he also directed his gaze to Zoro before returning to him. “Will you be happy, marrying him?”
The answer left his mouth before his brain could even process it. “Yes.” He said, he has never felt more sure of something in his life, his hand automatically went to find Zoro’s, interlacing their fingers. “I know I will.” He took a glance at the swordsman, who gave him a small smile, his cheeks a little flushed.
Zeff hummed, seemingly satisfied with the response. “Well, then that’s all I need to say on my part, I only ever wanted for you to be happy, kid, lord knows you deserve that.”
Sanji felt his eyes mist over this damn geezer, he was so, so grateful for him. “Thank you, dad.”
He noticed how Zeff’s eyes got a little sheen but he wasn’t able to dwell on it because from the screen beside Zeff’s, Koushirou’s voice rang through the room.
“Zoro.” He said again.
“Sensei.” Zoro replied, bowing his head a little. “It’s been a long time.”
Koushirou laughed softly. “That has been, but it seems that you have made good of your promise, your name has become quite well known among the blues, my students admire you, they want to be just like you.”
Zoro smiled at that. “Maybe one day I can meet them, and I wouldn't mind teaching them a few tricks.”
“They would be delighted to hear that.” Koushirou’s stance softened even further. “Zoro,” he started again. “Are you happy?”
Zoro squeezed Sanji’s hand. “I am, sensei.” He answered truthfully. “Getting conned into joining a pirate crew is quite simply, one of the best things that have happened to me.”
Luffy laughed at that, sending him a thumbs up.
Koushirou nodded. “And your goal?”
“Still the same, I’m going to be the world’s greatest swordsman.” He declared, not an ounce of hesitation in his voice. “I’m going to make Kuina proud, I’m gonna keep my promise, but I will do it with my crew by my side.” He glanced at Sanji, smiling. “As well as my husband.”
Sanji blushed, damn mosshead making him feel all mushy inside.
Koushiro smiled, looking satisfied with his answer. “Then I wish you all the happiness and fortune in the world and Zoro, never doubt for one second how proud Kuina would be of you, you have come so far and you still have a long way to go.”
Zoro felt his words caught in his throat at that, so many years have passed and he still misses her every single day, he felt Sanji tighten his hold on his hand, clearly noticing his current state “Thank you, sensei, it means a lot coming from you.”
At this moment, both Sanji and Zoro thought the same, that they were grateful that Luffy went behind their backs to do this for them, that even if it was through a screen, they could have these very important people present today.
“Thank you, Luff.” Zoro said, sincerely
“This was pretty nice of you.” Sanji completed, really touched that he thought of doing this so quickly for this very important day in their lives.
Their captain never ceased to amaze them. He really was the best.
Luffy laughed, waving his hands. “Well then!” He was vibrating in his place. “Torao and I are going to take both your sensei and mustache to the garden!” Law grumbled at being named again. “You guys should get ready! Before Nami comes looking for you!”
“You have a variety of options over there in those racks.” Law pointed to the corner of the room. “Momonosuke took care of that.”
“Let’s go, Torao!” Luffy was already starting to move the screens.
Law sighed. “What was it that I did to deserve this?” He questioned, before giving them one last glance and then using his power to move out of the room alongside their captain and the screens, leaving them alone in the room.
Sanji was already making his way towards the racks, tugging Zoro along.
“Well, mosshead.” He started, already picking up some outfits, “Shall we?”
Zoro smirked, eyeing a green robe at the end of the rack. “Let’s do this, cook.”
Curtain’s up.
Zoro and Sanji walked out hand in hand back to the room that was working as their venue, on it, everybody in the room standing up the moment they saw them pass through their doors, all of them smiling at them, some already crying.
“Franky, the ceremony hasn’t even started.” Robin giggled, passing their shipwright a tissue.
“I’m just super happy to be able to witness this moment.” He blew his nose loudly, making a few laugh at the motion. “I feel like a proud big brother!”
“Alright everybody! Let’s get this started!” Nami exclaimed. “Brook, hit it!”
Their musician nodded his head, before starting to play a soft melody on his violin.
Zoro and Sanji took another look to the room, their friends surrounding them, both Zeff and Koushiro on the screens Luffy showed them and their captain waiting for them at the end of the altar.
They glanced at each other one last time.
“Ready, cook?” Zoro asked, his smile probably the softest one he’s ever mustered.
Sanji gave him an equally soft smile in response. “No need to keep anyone waiting, mossy, let’s go.”
They gave each other’s hand a last squeeze before starting to walk down the aisle, their crew smiling and eyeing their every move, along with the rest of their samurai friends and allies.
Luffy started once they reached the end.
“Nami told me I have to follow a script, but I think that’s dumb!”
Zoro snorted, across the room a facepalm could be heard and they didn’t need to turn around to know that their navigator was the culprit of it.
Sanji felt a little bad at that, but Nami knew as well as them that getting Luffy to follow a plan was an impossible deed, better to just go along with whatever their captain usually came up with at the moment.
“Anyways!” Luffy continued. “We’re here today because Zoro and Sanji love each other very much and they finally admitted to it! So now they’re getting married!”
Luffy’s eyes softened, alongside his smile. “Zoro and Sanji have always made a good team, they trust each other and I trust them, when Zoro gets lost Sanji will always find him and when Sanji gets trapped into his own mind Zoro would get him out! They will fight a lot, they will disagree a lot of times but what’s important is that at the end of the day they will always be on the same page, they look out for each other in their own ways.”
A sniff was heard again in the room and Sanji didn’t know if it came from Franky again or if it came from himself.
“And isn’t that what love’s supposed to be about?” Luffy kept going. “Knowing that there’s someone out there, that will be there for you when you need them the most, and yes, sometimes it will take time and effort to find it, we all know how long it took the both of you,” another laugh. “But in the end, you made it! And we’re here to celebrate that!”
Otoko came forward, a pillow in her hands where two simple but beautiful rings sat.
“Now!” Luffy clapped his hands when she stopped right before the couple. “It’s your turn! Take it away!”
Zoro and Sanji turned so they could be facing each other, their hands never leaving each other’s.
“Moss, mossy, Zoro.” Sanji started, just as they decided back in the room, his voice already having a tiny waver in it, he was going to be a mess by the end of this, he knew it. “You know me, you know how I am and how difficult I can be and I’m not going to lie to you, I can’t promise that I will change immediately, but I will try, everyday, for you, for me.”
He stopped, feeling a knot in his throat, his voice choked with emotion.
He took a deep breath before continuing. “You are always so strong, so ready to put yourself in the line of fire in order to protect the ones you love, I promise, right here, to always be there for the moments when everything is too much, for the moments where you feel tired, when you need a break, I promise I’ll never leave again, I’ll be there every morning, every night, ready to listen, to argue, to spar and to kick you out of my kitchen when I have to.”
That gained a snort out of Zoro.
“So, Zoro, I’m ready, for this next chapter of the rest of our lives, I want you, as my husband and come hell or high water, I will always be right next to you.” He concluded, taking one of the rings from the pillow and slipping it into Zoro’s finger, he knew his eyes were wet and given the sniffs that he could hear, he was willing to bet the rest of the room was in a similar state.
Zoro smiled at him, never letting go of his hands; he opened his mouth.
“Curls, Sanji.” He started. “We've been dancing around each other for a while, we both know it and now we know that our crew was aware of that too.” Sanji snorted at that. “And you know that I have been at death’s door a lot more times than I should have.” He got a squeeze of his hands in return. “After my last stunt, when I woke up, I knew that enough was enough.”
“I know I can be a lot, but I have always known who I am and what I wanted, and I want you, by my side, for however long we have left on this earth.” He took the other ring from the pillow. “I know I’m not perfect, I’m stubborn and I lose sight of time when I get too deep into my training, sometimes the buildings move when I’m trying to make it to the Sunny.” A snort again. “But at the end of the day you always find me, when I don’t notice the time or when I miss dinner it doesn’t even matter because you look out for me, you always do.”
Sanji looked ready to brawl his eyes out the longer Zoro kept talking but that didn’t deter the swordsman.
“So, with this ring, I promise that I’ll do the same for you, I’ll always make my way back to you, no matter how long it can take, I will always return to your side, I’m in for life, cook, and no matter how hard you may try, you’re stuck with me, the same way I’m stuck with you and that’s exactly the way I want it.”
He slipped the ring on Sanji’s shaky hand, before taking a good hold of them again, smiling at him.
There was not a single eye dry in the room, their simple but meaningful vows having reduced everyone to tears.
Luffy laughed, one hand coming to his face to wipe a tear. “Well, that was beautiful!” He exclaimed. “Now! You’re husband and husband! Finally! You can kiss!”
They didn’t wait a second after that, not knowing who moved first, their lips met in a sweet kiss, both of them unable to keep the smiles off their faces.
The room exploded in cheers, they even heard confetti being thrown around as well as the enthusiastic clapping that accompanied it.
It really didn’t get much better than this.
“Hey Nami, can we eat now? I’m starving!”
Their captain’s whiny voice finally made them separate, both of the newlyweds turning to look at him just in time to see Nami slapping him in the back of his head.
“Oh my god Luffy, couldn’t you wait a little?”
“But whyyyy,” he complained. “They’re already married and I’m hungry.”
“I give up.” Nami said, turning to Jimbei. “Where did you put the beer?”
Zoro let out a loud laugh at that, Sanji following him soon after.
“I wouldn’t change this for anything.” Zoro said, before looking back at him, his arms still around his waist. “Love you, cook.”
Sanji blushed, knowing he would have to work on that, otherwise Zoro would never let him live it down. “Love you too, mossy.”
A crash was heard this time, the culprit of the sound being once again Luffy who was trying to get to the banquet table, Usopp trying to stop him and saying he needed to wait a little longer.
Sanji sighed. “We better get on that before he eats it all alone.” He glanced at Zoro again, smirking. “Ready, husband?”
Zoro too, replied with a smirk, tightening his hold. “Ready, husband.”
They shared one last kiss before making their way towards the chaos, their hearts the lightest they’ve ever been.
This was really the start of the rest of their lives and they were ready to take on the challenge.
Together.
And what a mess it would be for whoever dared to stand in their way.