Chapter Text
"So... men?" Sanji turned his lighter on, the spark illuminating the dark corner of the of the Sunny they were sitting on. Still, it was nothing compared to the glow of the stars and the moon that reflected on the bast ocean. It was a lovely night, one made to be shared.
He took a drag, letting silence build up for a quick second.
"Really?" He finally responded, earning a frown from Zoro in response. Sanji hoped he was reading it right when he saw a touch of endearment in Zoro's expression "I can't tell you I'm surprised, you've always gotten a bad taste." Strong tasteless booze, black coffee, smelly old clothes he probably had since he was a child, Sanji guessed fancying men was just another odd preference— Though Sanji recognizes it was a little hypocritical coming from him.
He sighed in relief once Zoro blushed a little, rushing out a defense. "I mean, some of them are not that bad! I don't like every guy. I know it might be a hard concept to grasp for you, not falling for half of the population." Even after elbowing Sanji— unknowingly making his heart flutter— they both shared a brief lighthearted chuckle.
This was the odd moment where they shared a civiled conversation, one where Sanjj could pay attention to little details he'd usually miss, like the soft clinking of Zoro's golden earrings with each movement, which were only audible when the ship was this silent. It was so silent that Sanji could almost hear his own heart beat get faster as he braced himself to ask a bold question "What type of men do you like then?"
Zoro let out a delightful laugh. Not his usual cocky, mocking laugh. This one was low, maybe a little raspy, even. That was not something Sanji heard often, if ever.
"Well, maybe type is too broad, I've only liked one person." He took a deep breath. for a moment Sanji didn't feel like he was the only nervous one.
"It's someone in the crew."
Sanji's eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat "You're really are hopeless, moss" He chuckled incredulously. This was his lucky shot.
"Oh, stop it, it's complicated" Zoro adjusted himself a little with a cheeky smile, his whole face red adorably enough.
"Awe, come on" He rested a hand in Zoro's shoulder hesitantly "Too much for your fungus infected brain?"
"I'm not kidding, Sanji."
The blonde jumped at his name. Even though it wasn't said in a threatening tone, he felt his face heat up as he tried to suppress a consuming smile. Zoro really was trying to kill him tonight.
He took another drag of his cigarette and let the smoke out, hopefully along with his nerves. "Ok, ok. Who's the unlucky bastard, Zoro? I swear to god if it's Franky —I mean, I would get it— but he's Robin's." He said, trying to ignore the way his voice sounded shaky.
Zoro took a swing off his bottle and drank until there was nothing in left anymore, leaving some time for Sanji to concider that maybe he was the hopeless one because no sane person pays so much attention to the bobbing of someone's addam's apple.
Zoro avoided eye contact, looking around for an answer somewhere in the sea or in the sky, but he was the one holding it and Sanji was more than eager to hear it. He was hopeful, leaning in slightly towards Zoro.
Zoro rewarded Sanji's attention with a mesmerizing lovestruck smile once he finally turned his gaze to look at Sanji.
"It's Luffy."