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Leaving Laughtale was almost a dream. Everyone felt slightly in a daze as the last three members jumped onto the deck and the Sunny moved out from port. Luffy had officially been deemed the King of the Pirates. Though that was barely at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Leaving the island with no destination in mind, not even Nami cared at the moment. Everyone could feel their skin crawl with overflowing happiness that had been unfamiliar to all of them until now. A different type of joy wrapped around each and every one of them like a shield. Allowing them to fully feel their achievement.
That daze was broken early for everyone but Zoro and Sanji. As once Sanji, who was grouped with Usopp and Chopper, jumped onto the deck, he and Zoro were in each other’s arms in an instant. Sanji might as well have jumped into the arms that were holding him up.
It was their kiss that put a crack into the moment.
The crew had stopped their cheering and loud voices while watching their resident “rivals” kiss. Sanji had both his hands on Zoro’s cheeks. Zoro spun the both of them while they laughed, not noticing that they were the only ones still in the afterglow of victory.
It was like a wedding kiss. The couple completely enthralled with each other while everyone was stunned and started to twitch awkwardly.
Luffy was the only one that didn’t seem surprised but was quiet alongside everyone else. He smiled at Zoro and Sanji being happy out in the open.
Then their bubble burst. They realized that the rest of the ship was quiet. Zoro put Sanji down on his own feet, but kept his arms around his waist, while they looked at the several stunned looks of their crew.
“Is everyone okay?” Sanji asked, sliding his arms to hang over Zoro’s shoulders. “Why’s it so quiet?”
Zoro kept himself quiet from the blunt response he would have given. More confused on why everyone was looking at them rather than still cheering and talking. They had gotten to the first step of the end of their journey, which was a big deal. He thought the rest of them would have been more excited, or that excitement would have lasted longer.
After a second of silence, chaos erupted.
Chaos was fairly normal on The Thousand Sunny. It was loud again; everyone’s voices, shouts, and screams rivaled the sounds of nature that had fought them along the way. In particular, Nami and Usopp started badgering the couple with questions. But since they were speaking over each other, trying to be louder than the other, their words were incomprehensible.
“Ah, young love. Did no one else know?” Jinbei asked Robin. She was comforting a crying Franky, who was going on and on about love and how super their relationship was.
“Something like that.” Was Robin’s only response. She just laughed and kept her knowledge about their relationship to herself. She knew not to badger them. The same way they didn’t push when they found out about her and Franky. She also liked seeing everyone else be oblivious to the knowledge that was clear as day in hindsight. Even though their relationship was obvious, this was the first time she had seen them show such affection so openly. She was quietly proud of them for doing so.
Chopper was cheering and dancing with Luffy, who didn't know what they were cheering about now. He was just happy to be loud again. Brook was babbling and laughing, possibly on the verge of tears about how romantic it was that they were finally showing off their relationship.
“HOW LONG HAVE YOU’VE BEEN TOGETHER?? WHAT THE HELL??!” Nami shouted at the couple that was now just standing hand in hand. Usopp had been manhandled under Nami’s arm, her hand over his mouth. Nami was able to get a legible question out without being talked over.
“Like forever.” Zoro shrugged. Sanji rolled his eyes at the blunt answer but didn't add anything to it. It was technically correct.
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'VE BEEN DATING FOREVER????” Nami shouted. Her entire face was red with anger. It looked like if anything else even thought of pissing her off, steam would blow out of her ears.
“Yeah.” Zoro glanced at Sanji, who only smirked at him. He rolled his eye at being the one kinda forced to answer. “Since Loguetown.”
“I confessed to you in Cocoyashi village.”
“THAT IS LITERALLY THE BEGINNING.” And with that, Nami sank to her knees, dragging Usopp down with her. Like she couldn't believe it and she almost couldn't. It wasn't unusual that someone ended up passed out on the ground, so no one really batted an eye at Nami fake passing out at the new information.
“I thought everyone already knew.” Zoro looked around at everyone’s faces, then back at Sanji, who looked as confused as Zoro felt. Time froze for a moment while they watched each other point at everyone with their eyes and shake their heads.
“I knew you were together, but I thought you guys didn't want to tell everyone yet.” Robin butt in, breaking them from their silent communication. She was surprised but delighted by the fact that there was something she didn't know. That only meant she had more things to learn about the people she was going to spend the rest of her life with.
“I didn't think we had to tell everyone since you all knew.” Zoro scratched at the back of his neck with his free hand. He tightened his grip on Sanji’s hand, who did the same in return, sending a wave of comfort across Zoro’s skin.
“I’m going to kill you.” Nami, like a fucking demon or something, sat up and titled her head. Usopp stayed on the ground, no longer in Nami's hold, but too scared to move since he was in closest proximity to the angry Nami.
“Please don't kill my fiancé, Nami-dear.” Sanji put his hand over his heart and moved in his normal exaggerated way of responding to women.
“What did you call your idiot?” Nami’s voice had a venom that quieted everyone’s noises. It was eerily quiet while everyone waited for something to drop or for Nami to snap. They all heard Sanji and were also curious about clarification. They were also scared of Nami’s wrath at the same time.
“Fiancé.” Zoro held his and Sanji’s intertwined hands up and shook them. Sanji rolled his eyes at the action but didn’t stop it. There was a particular lack of jewelry on either hand. But the few who noticed didn't comment on it. “We’re engaged.”
“WHAT???”
While Robian sat next to Nami and comforted her by petting her hair, Zoro and Sanji answered any questions, within reason. Brook got a glare from both of them before he could even open his mouth. Whatever joke or quip he had was put away, for now.
“We actively tried keeping it a secret until after my little fiasco at Whole Cake Island.” Sanji had his head resting on Zoro’s shoulder. Their hands were still held together and now rested in his lap.
Everyone was sitting on the deck, in a semi-circle around the couple sitting against the railing. They still had no course set, but that was only a secondary issue in Nami’s mind. She kept the weather on the back burner of her mind in case something came up, but they could discuss that later. Probably after dinner, when everyone had calmed down, would their next course be set. Luffy was the King of the Pirates now and they were his crew. They were still reeling from that, as well as their little "secret relationship" predicament. Nami had mentally decided to figure out where they were headed later, and if anyone noticed that the calm weather had them barely moving, they didn't say a thing.
“You all started figuring it out around then.” Zoro’s eye was closed. He was laid completely relaxed against Sanji while nonchalantly talking about their relationship. “It was easier to just stop hiding it.”
“Our relationship had become our normal so easily, even after we dealt with everything.” Sanji rubbed his earlobe with his free hand. A pained look was quickly fixed to his normal smile, but Robin caught both. She offered a comforting smile. The small action intrigued her, but she decided that now was not the time to ask Sanji about it. “Especially after Wano.”
“I knew the whole time.” Luffy said, surprisingly not talking about food. He was purposely holding back for the moment, but the second they were done talking about this, he was demanding a feast. His nakama's marriage was definitely something they could have a feast over, but he was able to read the room enough to just listen right now.
“Why were you hiding it in the first place?” Usopp asked, glad to get a question out without being interrupted or manhandled. He kept Nami, who was still splayed out on the ground in the corner of his eye.
“We didn't know if we would work out.” Sanji stared down at their intertwined hands. The feeling of dread that came anytime he thought they would break up rushed through his veins. He hated thinking about it but was comforted by Zoro laying his head on Sanji’s. He didn't care if everyone was watching their nonverbal communication, he was just glad to have that comfort. “If it didn't work out, we didn't want to mess with the dynamic of the crew.”
“But you never announced that you were together either…” Nami said, now sitting up and looking at them. She seemed calmer, but Robin still kept a hand on her back.
“I assumed you were still waiting to tell everyone.” Robin said. Her voice was gentle but had a hint of confusion.
“Didn't think we needed to say anything.” Zoro shrugged, visibly moving Sanji’s and his own head. “You and Franky didn't tell anyone when you got together but we all know.”
“Okay but like, Franky and Robin don't fight the way you two do.” Nami pointed at Zoro and Sanji. She looked so tired, like they had just gone on another adventure and dismantled an entire government (again). “I thought you were just dancing around your gay thoughts.”
“I kinda was.” Sanji’s face erupted in red. He couldn't move his head to look away, Zoro's big head keeping his in place. So, everyone could see the embarrassment splayed on his face. Everyone looked at him with visible exasperation at the confession.
“Yeah, while we're dating.” Zoro pushed his head into Sanji’s, letting up when he got a wince in response. “You, and your whole not gay thing.”
“I am bisexual and shut up.”
“And I’m demisexual and have only ever loved you. You shut up, shit cook.”
At some point, they all migrated to the galley. Nami had set them on a temporary course to where one of the log pose’s needles was pointing. She smiled at the sky that had been kind enough to let them have a moment of calm after all the years of chaos and fighting. All of that adventure was not over for them, but the weather had given them today.
Nami slipped into the galley behind Jinbei. She was the last one in and everyone, but Sanji and Zoro sat at the table. Zoro was standing in the kitchen, out of Sanji’s way, who was already cooking. It wasn't late enough for dinner, but a single glance at the table showed that there were already platters of snacks lined up. It was almost normal seeing everyone stuffing food into their mouths while asking questions.
There was still no talk about what the next step in their journey was going to be. Which made Nami laugh under her breath while she sat in her designated seat and swiped a cracker from the closest platter.
“As long as you two are happy. That's all that matters.” Luffy’s words reverberated around the room, silencing everyone else's questions and quips. The words were calming, especially for the couple who discreetly smiled at each other, though half the crew saw the looks. “Sanji will find the All Blue and Zoro will be the Greatest Swordsman in the world. You two being married doesn't stop your dreams. And there’s still everyone’s dreams to achieve. We have a lot more to go.”
“Yeah.” Sanji’s movements, along with the chopping sounds, slowed. Everyone watched Zoro and Sanji look at each other with so much admiration on their faces. The way they did was so natural. The fact that everyone was silently watching them didn’t hinder the nonverbal love they shared in those few seconds. Proving that they never were hiding their relationship. It made some of the crew wonder how they hadn’t noticed the relationship with how obviously head over heels the two were for each other.
“Speaking of.” Robin broke the gentle silence of the room. Most heads turned to her. The kitchen sounds slowly returned as well. She smiled at Zoro’s gaze staying on Sanji as the cook turned back to whatever he was cutting. “When did you two get engaged?”
“I would like to know as well.” Brook said, looking like he was about to pop out a joke, but was interrupted.
“Now that you mention it.” Ussop rubbed his chin and looked at the ceiling like he was thinking really hard. “You guys didn’t say earlier.’
“In Wano.” Zoro sat at the table, his eyes still on Sanji who was still bustling in the kitchen.
“WHAT!!?” Nami shouted, shooting up from her chair and hitting her hands on the table. She felt like she was going to lose her voice with how much she was shouting. Her body felt extremely tired all of the sudden. She sighed and dropped back into her seat. She put her face in her hands and tried to calm down. Her heart couldn't take this anymore. She was so happy for them, but also so riled up with conflicting emotions. “When in Wano?”
“Literally the second we were left alone together after the battle.” Sanji sat in his seat, placing down the last platter and sliding it to line up with the others. He seemed entertained by the glare he got from Zoro right across from him. “In the most unromantic way possible.”
“Oh! Do tell.” Robin had the familiar all knowing smile on her face while her face rested on her open palm.
“Robin...” Zoro threatened, though she never fell victim to his glares. She wasn't scared of him, which was partially since she could be just as frightening.
“I feel like either way it will have been super! Especially as an official calm reunion for the two of you! After Zo-bro woke up from being terribly injured! That sounds so romantic.” Franky shouted while wiping tears away dramatically. Robin giggled at his antics.
“Get this.” Sanji’s grin could rival a devil's. “The second everyone else left the room, to do something. I don't remember what. I had something else to focus on.”
Zoro and Sanji stared at each other for a moment, though it was more glaring. Usopp and Chopper slightly freaked out at them looking like they were about to fight. Sanji’s grin curled the more Zoro squinted. However, there was no spark that indicated they were going to fight. It was something else emanating from the two that was almost new but also familiar.
“Literally that second.” Sanji smiled as he turned to everyone, gesturing to Zoro. “My mosshead here told me to marry him.”
“And then you kicked me.”
“I did do that.” Sanji rested his cheek on his hand, looking at Zoro with such a deep tenderness in his eyes.
“You two were already fighting when we left you alone.” Nami rubbed her forehead while eyeing the orange jam on one of the platters. She felt the start of a headache at just the thought of remembering the whole fiasco in Wano, especially with knowledge that Sanji and Zoro were in fact dating at the time.
“Well, he freaked me out.” Sanji pointed at Zoro with full vigor. The familiar tension of their bickering filled the room. “I expected our relationship to fall apart completely. I wasn't expecting that!”
“Well, YOU went off to marry someone else.” Zoro returned the tone, leaning into Sanji’s space as much as he could with the table still in between them. A quick flash of hurt flickered on Zoro’s face, barely noticeable. “That scared ME. I’M the only person you will ever marry, and I didn’t want to lose you. I was just making sure of that. You said yes, didn't you?”
“Yeah. I did.” Sanji melted back into a loving gaze. Their hands folded into one another. They looked into each other’s eyes like they were the only people in the world.
“Ew.” Nami held back from making a fake gagging sound because she was happy for them. Even if she was mad about not being the first one to know that they got engaged so long ago. They were being cute and sappy and that was enough she guessed. She ignored Franky and Brook singing about how that proposal was romantic and fit them perfectly.
“So, I can assume he didn't have a ring.” Nami shifted the subject a little; she looked at their intertwined hands and saw no ring on either. There was no way Zoro had enough money nor the time to buy a ring during their whole fiasco from Dressrosa all the way to Wano.
“Hell no.” Sanji laughed.
“I didn't think that far ahead.” Zoro moved their hands, so he was holding Sanji’s hand in both of his. He rubbed his thumbs against the back of Sanji’s hand while he continued. “I just saw him when he came back and… When I got him alone after everything…”
“There was no way.” Sanji’s voice didn't hold any venom in the insult. The look on his face refuted the snarky meaning of the words. “He can't afford it.”
“But that's why your ears are pierced,” Luffy spoke up, still shoving food in his mouth.
“What.” Nami glared at her captain, who was apparently withholding information about their current topic from all of them.
“Sanji's ears are pierced.” Luffy said slightly louder and when there was no food in his mouth. He didn't notice Nami’s clenched fingers in front of her face.
“I'm surprised you noticed.” Sanji held his hair behind his ear, showing off the small teal gemstone in his earlobe. “I got my ears pierced when I was on Momoiro Island, but I haven't been wearing anything in them until recently.”
Zoro hummed when Sanji let his hair fall back into place.
“On that one island a few months ago.” Sanji rolled his eyes at Zoro with a small smile forming on his face. “The one that ended up being a really calm trip, I picked out this pair. I’ve been wearing it since. We’re gonna exchange earrings so we each have a piece of each other.”
Their voices were overtaken by the congratulations and crying and talking and singing all at the same time. Nami, Chopper, and Usopp asked even more questions, mostly about money and costs from Nami. Franky and Brook were singing and crying with joy; they had pulled out their instruments at some point. Robin was sipping from her tea while giggling. She sent a knowing wink to Jinbei, the only other person not shouting. Luffy was eating, but he was also watching Sanji and Zoro laugh and answer the few questions they could hear.
“We got caught up in everything.” Sanji answered when someone asked why they never said anything about their engagement outright. “There was never any time either. Something was always happening.”
“I know. Don’t worry, we still have time.” Luffy said as he comically swallowed all the food in his mouth. Bless his heart, he looked like the sun with how big he was smiling. Somehow, he knew about their relationship and the engagement when no one else knew. He thought everyone else knew, but that's just Luffy. He could read people so easily sometimes and was always so supportive of his family.
“How did you know that Luffy!!!” Nami shouted, even more tired than she was earlier.
“It was obvious.” Luffy gestured to Zoro and Sanji with one hand while he shoved food into his mouth with the other. The way Sanji and Zoro had instantly clicked was obvious, to Luffy at least. He knew that the way they acted and treated each other was love. Even though they fought and sparred, Luffy always saw the way they looked at each other. There was a fondness he knew was different from the way he loved them. It was always there and Luffy was always happy to fan that flame.
Luffy watched Zoro and Sanji look at each other with love written all over their faces. Nami and Usopp shouted at him, but he just watched Zoro pull Sanji’s hand to his lips. Zoro had closed his eye while Sanji’s smile was all wavy and melty. Luffy watched Sanji place his hand on Zoro’s cheek. He wondered how anyone could miss that. There had been many times where he saw them touch each other all gently like that. In between their fighting and shouting, they were soft sometimes. That’s how you were with someone you love; you find that balance. Zoro and Sanji had been in that balance since they first butted heads.
Luffy laughed as the volume of the room went up again. Everyone talked over each other, some shouted. Questions were still rolling in. It was the start of the end for them. They were ready to fucking go.
----------
“It's nice to not have to cook for a change.”
Zoro watched Sanji slide down the wall across from him. It was just the two of them sitting in the alley away from Cocoyashi’s celebration. The mood calm, almost buzzing like both of their minds were from the booze.
“How are you feeling, Zoro?” Sanji watched the swordsman look into his drink then towards the party. Sanji noted how Zoro avoided eye contact but didn’t comment on it. The tenderness of the quiet slightly to the left of all the cheering was nice. It wasn't something he wanted to mess with. He was also in a particularly giddy mood from all the different drinks a couple of ladies had given him.
“I’m good.” Zoro looked into his almost empty mug. He would have to get up soon. “I think all I'll need is rest.”
“That's good.” Sanji couldn't tell if the streaked blush on the other man’s face was from the alcohol or a reflection from the surrounding fires set to keep the party alive. Either way, it was a sight Sanji let a small part of himself fawn over.
When Zoro looked back at the newest member of the crew, he saw a gleam of something. Something he couldn't identify shot through Sanji’s eyes. The rest of his face didn't give away what it was, but he was looking at Zoro adamantly, waiting for a response.
They talked. It had been three days since Luffy beat Arlong. The whole town was still celebrating and praising the crew for freeing them. This was the calmest moment the two had gotten to themselves since meeting. They basked in the almost quiet of the alley way and their full bellies. Each other’s presences only contributed to the calm mood away from the music and off-key singing.
Then Luffy showed up and asked Sanji about food. Zoro didn’t take in any of their words, but he watched the cook. Zoro watched the way Sanji’s face lit up at being able to talk about some of the food made on the island. Giving a genuine answer to Luffy, Zoro couldn’t help but enjoy Sanji's presence. But then Zoro saw Luffy run off out of the corner of his eye while listening to the baritone of Sanji’s voice.
“He’s gone.” Zoro answered in the silence that followed Sanji’s words.
They watched the party for a moment. Time seemed to slow as the two watched everyone dance and sing and eat. They were both still buzzing, most likely from different things. Their first huge victory being one of the main things. But also, from just sitting with someone the same age, who happened to be one of the strongest fighters both had seen– in each other.
“I admire you.” Sanji broke the silence between them, confidence flowing in his veins.
Zoro looked at the cook, who was looking at the crowd of people beyond the alley– away from their little bubble. He couldn't see the look on Sanji’s face, but the small hint of a smile he could see sent an unfamiliar fluttering through his skin.
“You're loyal and ambitious. I wish I was like that. I like you.” Sanji stood up while Zoro's face contorted into a stunned look. Zoro was watching him when their eyes met. Sanji held his confused emotions off his face for another second, hoping the confident aura would last for at least another minute. “Now that my stomach is full. It's time to dance.”
As Sanji pranced away, he felt his whole face erupt into a blush. He had just admitted to liking Zoro, which was something he wanted to push far away into the back of his mind. That was something he didn't even want to think of, let alone say out loud. There was a group of women up ahead calling for him, which he tried to focus on instead.
“Do I like him? Like like him? But women? Should I have said something else?” Sanji muttered while running off to the group of women that had hopefully not seen the surge of emotions he was feeling. For now, he let himself fawn over the feeling of admiration he got from those women.
Meanwhile, Zoro was still frozen with his mug halfway to his face while he stared at the place Sanji sat. His own thoughts ran a mile a minute, trying to interpret the confession from their resident lady’s man.
‘The hot boy likes me? In a gay way? There's no way. I can't assume he's gay but like… Was that a confession? He is cute. The way he was fighting and trying to save Luffy was so hot. I haven't liked anyone like this in a while and he said something first. What does this mean?’ Zoro pondered for the remaining time he stayed in that alleyway. He kept his thoughts in his head while trying to sort them. Hoping the booze would help, he forced himself to get up and get more.
Zoro and Sanji didn't talk about that moment until the crew was wandering around Loguetown. Somehow, while trying to accomplish their separate tasks, Sanji and Zoro ended up alone together. Somewhere on the island where they would not remember, they were left to walk side by side.
“You said you like me.” Zoro said, stopping in his tracks. That forced Sanji to stop and look at him. “What do you mean by that? What kind of “like”?”
“I don't really know.” Sanji rubbed his neck, itching for a cigarette at the nerves in his stomach. It was similar to the butterflies he felt when looking at a beautiful woman, but this was not a beautiful woman. This was another teen boy who was good at fighting, extremely loyal and determined to achieve his dream even at the risk of his life. Sanji, in all his confidence, considered running away and throwing these feelings and this discussion away. But something kept his feet glued to the ground and forced him to answer. “I thought I just admired you. But….”
His voice trailed off into the background of the bustling of the town. People passed by the two teenagers, completely unaware of the tsunami of emotions Sanji was experiencing. The doubt and fear threatened to shut down his brain, but he was still stuck. Something kept him from running away.
“In a gay way?” Zoro offered in a slightly joking but also clarifying way. The confusion of the cook’s words stuck to him like a leech, but it was more intriguing than painful. He wanted to understand, because if he knew what the cook actually meant, he could properly deal with his feelings.
“I don't know…” Sanji forced himself to make eye contact with the other. At that moment, he realized that they were almost the same height. The one inch he held over the other didn’t seem important right now. They could look into each other’s eyes without even trying. Zoro’s eyes were a shade of gray that reminded Sanji of the man’s swords. It was like Zoro himself was as sharp and beautiful as swordsmanship. The wave of calm that splashed around Sanji forced him to sigh in a way that sounded almost in love. “Maybe.”
A moment passed. They were both nervous. The unsaid words of confirmation and confession were as loud as the ocean. This was not something either of them had experienced. Whatever relationships or situationships they'd been in before couldn't compare in the slightest. They were pirates and serving under Luffy. That all went unsaid, but the tension surrounded them like air and was as easy as breathing. Something lingering that neither touched. Until they did.
“Do you want to try?”
“Huh?” Sanji felt his breath rise but tried to keep his heart from pounding too loud.
“We don't have to confirm anything or tell anyone. But we could try it.” Zoro looked away, unsuccessfully holding in his blush. He took an audible breath and turned back to meet Sanji’s gaze that was full of vulnerability that made Zoro’s face heat up even more. “I like you, but if you're not up to it, it doesn't matter.”
“I don't mind trying.” Sanji said without realizing. The gut reaction froze them both in time but gave Sanji the moment he needed to think through his answer properly. The one that seemed to come way too fast and strong. “I don’t mind dating you, but if this doesn't work out, we can't let it mess up the dynamic of the crew. I don't want to cause issues.”
“That's what I was about to say.”
They both laughed, realizing how easy it was to do so when together.
Zoro tucked a piece of Sanji’s hair away from his face, leaving the bangs in front of his eye alone. It was like lightning struck both of them in that moment and they were dipping into a world that was only them. They both froze in that simple touch, holding onto the place where they were connected. Zoro willed himself enough to pull his hand away and put on a shit eating grin. Pride swelled in his already racing heart at being able to make the cook freeze the second they started dating. Sanji was blushing so much that he could be mistaken for a tomato. The same could be said for Zoro, who felt like his own face was on fire.
“See ya back on the ship, pretty brows.” Zoro walked away, not having a clear direction of where he was going. He still had to find new swords, and he knew that the cook needed to restock food. They were on separate paths right now, but lucky to have crossed for a moment and started this new thing.
“Pretty!” Sanji was blushing like hell, his whole body burning. He had to force his lungs to work. He thought Zoro was going to kiss him and he wanted Zoro to kiss him. This was the most he felt for anyone ever, and for the kind of person he never thought it would be. Sanji eventually calmed himself and just rolled his eyes. They would figure it out as time went on. There was still a lot of food he had to get for the ship. Walking in the direction he was heading before he ran into the mosshead, HIS mosshead, he didn't notice the bounce in his step.