Work Text:
The first time he called Sakazuki Sweetheart was in his office.
It was not meant romantically, Borsalino knew that Sakazuki would not be comfortable with him showing any signs of a romantic relationship with him during work, even if they were alone together.
Borsalino had occupied the couch in Sakazuki’s office as he did so often, sitting there silently and reading the newspaper while the other was brooding over some reports he had gotten.
They all seemed to be full of bad news because Sakazuki’s foul mood had the whole room in a tense atmosphere.
After Sakauki’s third pen broke, Borsalino put the newspaper aside, he had finished the interesting parts anyway, and got up.
Casually he half sat down on Sakazuki’s desk, which usually offered enough space for him thanks to the other admiral's tidiness, and reached for one of the broken pens.
With a furrowed brow he watched the vein on Sakazuki’s forehead pulsating and his fingers dangerously clenching around the pen in his hand. The poor pen was cracking already and Borsalino reached forward and covered Sakazuki’s hand in an attempt to save it from breaking.
Sakazuki exhaled through his nostrils angrily and looked up at him.
“What?”
Borsalino knew the only reason he was not threatened to be melted by magma yet was that he was the one who calmed Sakazuki down after work.
„Sweetheart, why don’t you have a cup of tea with me?“
Borsalino just said it, in a casual teasing way like he did with many people but there was something in Sakazuki’s eyes for a moment. His pupils reacting and widening and the way his lips twitched.
He had no time to analyze what the reaction had meant because Sakazuki had been up faster than he could process it and passed him with long steps. He was out the door without muttering another word, before Borsalino could process what had happened.
Tilting his head in wonder about that odd reaction he followed Sakazuki to make sure he would not turn an unlucky soul passing his way to ash.
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The second time was when they were at home, preparing dinner together.
For days Borsalino could not forget the reaction Sakazuki had when he called him Sweetheart in his office. The more he analyzed the situation, the more he was sure that the fleet admiral had blushed. Not in anger, because then he would just have shouted at Borsalino, but because he was flustered.
Deciding to investigate further, Borsalino was simply waiting for the right moment to do so.
They had a day off today, something very rare. The truth was, the free day was forced on Sakazuki by Sengoku. He loved his work way too much to take a break from it, which was why Sengoku told Borsalino to make sure he would not be there.
Trying to distract Sakazuki, Borsalino somehow managed to convince him to try out making Pasta.
He glanced over to Sakazuki and watched him cut red peppers in very exact same-sized cubes, while he got the water ready for the pasta.
The salt was placed next to Sakazuki on the other side from where Borsalino stood.
Borsalino opened his mouth to ask for it but then stopped himself, remembering the odd reaction a few days ago and declaring this the perfect moment for his investigations.
With a smile now tugging at his lips he looked over at Sakazuki who was still fixated on his task.
„Can you pass me the Salt, Sweetheart?“
Borsalino made sure to make a short break before saying Sweetheart, glancing over and watching the other closely when he did.
Sakazuki flinched, and the next row of onion cubes was anything but cut even, the knife went so deep into the cutting board that it almost broke in half.
Sakazuki’s cheeks were colored in a beautiful rich red.
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The third one was the first time he felt that sweetheart did fit Sakazuki very well. His Sakazuki that no one else was allowed to see.
They shared a quiet evening, Borsalino reading a novel he had started weeks ago but had barely managed to finish the first five chapters of, and Sakazuki was cutting his Bonsai carefully.
Every time he did it was like a ceremony. Borsalino had seen it many times over the years. And despite being so familiar with it, he caught his thoughts slipping and his eyes drifted over the edge of his book to Sakazuki.
After reading the same paragraph four times and still not knowing what the main character had been wondering about, Borsalino gave up. He closed the book and put it on the armrest next to him while watching Sakazuki openly.
The other did not even notice that he stared at him. He was talking to his bonsai like a parent to their little child. Telling it where he would cut next and that he would be careful and make it look handsome.
Sakazuki’s gaze was soft and so different from usual that Borsalino wondered if their subordinates would even recognize him. Most were afraid of Sakazuki and Borsalino had to admit that for a big part, they rightfully were. He was a very strict vice admiral in the past and had been even more as admiral now.
Borsalino did not mind them not knowing the other side of Sakazuki, he was fine with being able to experience it alone. Sakazuki only showed this part of himself to him because he trusted him with his life.
Slowly he got up and walked over to Sakazuki.
With a questioning gaze, Sakazuki looked up at him and Borsalino put his hand on his cheek. He traced his thumb over Sakazuki’s cheekbone and leaned down to kiss his lips.
Before he moved back up he whispered against his lips.
„You really are my sweetheart.“
He heard Sakazuki’s breath hitch and smiled at him, when Sakazuki quickly turned his head back down and collected the cut-off leaves and little branches on the table.
Borsalino could clearly see the flushed tips of his ear and chuckled.
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The fourth time was when Sakazuki was upset.
Already at work, his mood was awful, Borsalino had followed him to make sure he would not let out his anger on any poor soul crossing his way.
There was a reason why Sakazuki was never entrusted with a student. Borsalino was not either but simply because he did not want to. Akainu on the other hand was never even considered or asked.
Borsalino knew it was better like that, but mostly because he knew Sakazuki would struggle with the human interaction that was necessary for having a student. As long as that student was no plant Sakazuki would very much have no clue how to deal with them.
Their subordinates were already enough. Shouting orders was fine for Sakazuki at least, people not following those orders, however, were not at all.
Especially if it were people Sakazuki had a hard time dealing with. Like Garp for example.
Not that Sakazuki would give Garp orders. But Garp had given orders to Sakazuki’s men, telling them to not go through with the operation but leave, flee to be exact.
Borsalino dragged Sakazuki away from his men, seeing how his anger was rising to dangerous levels.
“They followed orders, Sakazuki.”
“But not mine.”
Borsalino closed the office door behind them and watched Sakazuki angrily hitting the wall.
Watching the melting edges of the hole with furrowed brows, Borsalino walked over to Sakazuki.
He could feel the anger radiating off him in hot waves and while he wondered how to stop his bad mood, an idea came to his mind.
If it went wrong it could end badly, very badly. But he just had to try.
Borsalino wrapped his arms around and leaned up on his tiptoes Sakazuki. He brought his lips to the other’s ear and whispered.
“You need to calm down, Sweetheart.”
Sakazuki froze. His breath hitched and one hand reached up to hold onto Borsalino’s tightly.
He didn’t move, the only sound that filled the room was their breathing.
Borsalino was still alive and unharmed. And Sakazuki’s anger was gone. Instead, his ears had turned red and he had gone very quiet.
They were in the office and Sakazuki didn’t like affection at work but Borsalino couldn’t help himself but to smile and place a kiss on the other’s neck.
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The fifth time, Borsalino dared to do it while they were not alone.
They were in Sengoku’s office, watching the Fleet Admiral and Garp fight over the last Osembi while in an important meeting.
Kuzan sat unbothered on the couch opposite to them, while Borsalino could feel the annoyance within Sakazuki growing next to him.
They have been talking about matters concerning the seven warlords and additionally the new generations of pirates. Sakazuki wanted to take more severe steps to take the new generations down before they could grow stronger but neither Garp nor Sengoku agreed with his suggested measures.
Even worse, they both seemed to not take the topic serious at all.
A heated discussion between Sakazuki and Garp had been going on for a while now until the vice admiral had noticed that Sengoku already was down to the last rice cracker and had simply decided to ignore Sakazuki who was fuming already, completely to get the snack.
Garp and Sakazuki did not have the best relationship anyway.
Borsalino gazed at Sakazuki’s hands, noticing the dangerous glow and smoke forming.
His eyes met Kuzan’s who changed from lying to a sitting position, probably to get out of the way in case of Sakazuki exploding.
Garp may have been lower in rank than them but all of them knew that it was only on paper. Garp was not someone to attack. Sakazuki knew that too.
But Sakazuki was very tense lately and the matters they discussed had been brought up by him.
Borsalino noticed Sakazuki shifting, but before the other could get up he quickly reached for his hands. When Sakazuki turned his head to him, anger in his eyes very evident, Borsalino stared straight back at him and before he even thought about consequences, he used his sweetest voice, usually reserved for their more intimate moments.
„Sweetheart.“
Only that one word, not more.
The whole room went quiet but Sakazuki only stared at him and the look in his eyes changed instantly, the tension leaving his body.
There was a tint of red left on his before angry flushed face and Borsalino would kiss him right now if they were alone.
„I guess this meeting is over.“
Kuzan interrupted the quiet and got up from the couch, waving his goodbyes on the way out.
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The sixth time Sakazuki did not run anymore.
It had been a long day. They had been gone for a mission and while barely anyone really posed a threat to them this time it was close. A surprise attack.
Borsalino could not use his devilfruit powers to get away because the enemy had managed to cover the whole area surrounding him in fine seawater, making him unable to move.
It was Sakazuki tackling his attacker away in a blind rage that had saved him. And shortly after it was him saving Sakazuki who had gotten too carried away in his anger to be cautious about his surroundings.
Once the group of soldiers with them had managed to get rid of the seawater source it was easy to take the enemies down. He said nothing when Sakazuki ‘accidentally‘ eliminated the guy who had attacked Borsalino earlier. Their mission had been to get everyone alive so they could question them. Understandably Sengoku was not happy. Sakazuki took the lecture keeping surprisingly calm, and Borsalino could read very clearly on his face that he had no regrets at all. He would do it the exact same way again if they could reverse time.
Borsalino could not help but glance at him in between. Sakazuki always took his orders seriously, he would not have killed a guy he was not allowed to. And still, he did today. Borsalino also would not forget the look in his eyes when he went after that guy.
They were quiet on their way home but as soon as the door closed behind them Borsalino pulled Sakazuki into his arms and felt the other’s arms instantly tighten around him. He could feel Sakazuki’s hand brush over his back, where he was almost hit earlier today and realized with a shudder he could feel fingertips directly against his skin. He had not even noticed that his jacket and shirt were pierced.
„If I could I would kill that scumbag again.“
Despite his harsh words his fingertip traced softly over Borsalino’s skin, making him shiver.
Sakazuki could be so careful, his touch so loving and everything about him so calm and sweet.
„Sweetheart.“
He whispered against Sakazuki’s ear and felt the other shiver.
„You truly are that to me Sakazuki-chan.“
Borsalino kissed him right below his ear and blew against the skin.
„My sweetheart.“
He smiled at Sakazuki’s flushed face and kissed him.