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It drives Sanji crazy. The stolen kisses, late nights filled with their bodies' sounds, the warm mornings in hotels filled with soft touches. Everything should be perfect but… it isn’t. Not for Sanji. He loved ladies. Since he was little, he imagined a beautiful wife and happy kids, all living together in a house with a garden that’s filled with all the spices. But the reality with Zoro… it’s none of it. This was never in the picture. His head says no but whenever Swordsman looks at him this way after a tiny resistance he falls for it, over and over again.
He needs to stop it…right?
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Nami stumbles upon Sanji in the kitchen because where else? Even for her, it is hard to say what is going through his head Is he happy? He seems to have this weird roller coaster. One time, he is shining bright, and the next, he is rubbing his head like he is trying to get things out of it. She did come here to get some tea, but well, guess she is going to do a quick therapy session—for everyone’s sake. She will be kind enough not to charge him for that.
- Okay, speak. - She says, sitting down in front of him.
- Ah my beautiful Nami-san! – Cook jumps and puts his lovey-dovey face - What can I help you with? A tea, a midnight snack?
- I will do tea for myself but you speak. What’s on your mind? You have been on and off nowadays.
- Ah…It’s all goo-
- No. I will not leave until you speak to me Sanji. What is going on?
- Ah…..I…I am just confused. I don’t know what to do.
- What to do with what?
- With um…..
- If it’s about you and Zoro, I know. – She can see Sanji’s face turning red as a tomato. It is cute actually. The “secret” they thought they had now exposed and being said out loud.
- I…. cannot be with him.
- Because?
- Because he is a man.
- Did it stop you before?
- HUH?!
- I mean, you had sex. It doesn’t look like it stopped you before. – If before Sanji’s face was red as a tomato, now it probably reached burgundy.
- But he is a MAN. I cannot be with him. I always dreamed of having a beautiful wife and having a happy ever after like in the fairytales. And Zoro is… a man and he is rough and he drinks, and he argues with me and he doesn’t bath too and he is al— Nami cannot take it anymore. She slaps her hands on the sides of Sanji’s face and makes him look at her directly.
- Honey, you can write your own fairytale. There are no rules over what makes you happy, it’s just important that it IS making YOU happy. – She can see his teary eyes. His head is a mess, she just knows it.
- Okay, how about we do a little exercise? – Nami says as she takes a piece of paper and a pen. She opens the pen and divides the card into two. On the top corners, she writes “YES” and “NO”. - Write down your reasons. Why you should be with him and why you shouldn’t. I will leave you alone now but if you need to talk more, just… come to me, okay? - Sanji nods, slowly taking the pen from her.
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When Nami leaves he starts to write. Smooth movements note down all the reasons behind “NO”.
- He is a man
- He doesn’t bathe
- He is annoying
- He drinks too much
- He makes fun of his eyebrows
- He sleeps all the time
- ….
The list keeps going. Sanji thinks that maybe there will be not enough space to write it all down. He looks at the “YES” side. It feels like he is going to drill a hole in the paper with his eyes. His hands get shaky and his ears feel hot again. The pen slowly writes one sentence: “Because I love him”. Actually he can put much more into it, Sanji just now realizes. He is caring, he makes him feel safe, he protects him, he helps him improve… Cook drops the pen, stands up, and starts to run to Crow’s Nest. When he opens the door, he sees Zoro standing next to the dumbbells and he just jumps on him, wrapping his legs around the waist and arms around Swordsman neck.
- Cook, what the hell? – Zoro asks in shock, he holds Sanji tight and close.
- Okay, let’s do it. Let’s be together. – Blonde says dropping kisses all over his face.
- I… thought that we already are?
- Huh?!
- I love you. You love me. We are together. No?
- I love you… - Sanji says slowly looking at Zoro, he can see the man smile as he connects their foreheads together.
- This may be the first time you said it out loud but you were showing it with your acts, idiot. You know I can read you like an open book.
- Yeah.. yeah you can.
Of course, Zoro knew before Sanji realized that. Nami was right. Some fairytales have a prince and a princess. But his fairytale is about Cook and Swordsman and that happy ever after is what they make of it.