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It was late, very late, but Zoro really had to go take a piss, so he got up, grabbed Sanji’s robe and got out of the bedroom as quietly as possible.
This big ass house and no private bathroom, just the logic of Judge Vinsmoke, "let's make a gigantic one, practically a mansion, oh toilets? I don't give a fuck, put them wherever." Zoro never met him really, he died when Sanji was 6, good fucking riddance.
Even after the Vinsmoke siblings all turned 21, they still share a house. Sora insisted, she wanted them all in one place as long as they were happy here, and well, none of them had the heart to say no to their mom.
So that's why Zoro has to go through a maze to find a bathroom in the middle of the night, instead of just finding one a few steps away from the bed in a hypothetical apartment they would own. Or, Sanji would own, he means. Zoro would love to move in with him, but Sanji might like to have his own place for a bit before that.
Ah, Sanji. He needs to hurry up so he can go back to bed. They had a little argument a week ago and now they were back, he was back in his arms. It was silly, so silly, they just needed to talk it out, and last night Sanji called him saying he missed him, so Zoro was throwing tiny rocks at his window 5 minutes later.
"Yeah that's definitely the bathroom," Zoro thinks when he recognizes the door. Just when he's aproaching it, another figure in a bright pink robe appears in the dark and goes to the door as well. Both in robes so clearly from their respective partners, they stop and stare at each other.
"Roronoa" she aknowledges, a bit irritated.
"Tash" says Zoro, trying to sound friendly.
…awkward.
"Made up with Blondie?" Tashigi asks with a teasing smile.
"Back together with Pinkie?" Zoro answers.
She smiles. "Why else would I be here?"
"I don't know, maybe you were seeing one of her brothers."
"Ew."
"Or maybe you sneaked in," Zoro shrugs.
"Yeah right, cause I'M the one who climed through Sanji's balcony like three hours ago." Look at that, now she was teasing in a friendly way. Zoro can never tell if Tashigi is a friend or an enemy.
"How do you even know about that?" Zoro asks, suddendly worried the rest of the house heard him too.
"Sanji's room is right on top of the library, we literally saw you the whole time. You know you can just use the door, right?" she asks him like he's dumb.
"It's more fun this way" he says, trying to look nonchalant.
She pauses and then asks: "You’re scared of Zeff?"
Caught.
"...maybe, so what? He's intimidating" Zoro admits, because really, would anyone blame him?
"He's an old chef with one leg," she says, leaning on the wall and crossing her arms. "Besides, he likes you more than he likes me and I'm allowed to use the door."
"Yeah well, I've never broken up with *my* Vinsmoke," Zoro says, but then he feels that maybe it was a bit cold, so he adds "no offense."
"It's fine, it is what it is" Tashigi says, now seeming a little sad.
Zoro knows why Tashigi broke up with Reiju a couple times in the past. Reiju and Sanji are pretty close, and naturally, Sanji tells him everything. He doesn't wanna get too involved in other people's bussiness, but at least he can offer some advice.
"Hey, so...I don't know much about your relationship but...I often think I don't deserve him either, you know?"
Zoro tells her, carefully.
Tashigi looks at him, she seems to be paying real attention now.
He continues "and that's ok, it's ok to feel unworthy sometimes, but just...try to trust that she thinks you actually are, that you do deserve her and trust her judgement. It's her decision to be with you, to choose you, you know?"
A few seconds pass, Zoro starts fidgeting with the fabric of his yellow robe.
"Huh...and here I thought Blondie chose you only because of your boobs" Tashigi says, now fully on her feet, with her hands on her hips. She smiles. Zoro mirrors the smile.
"Thank you, Zoro" she says and bumps his shoulder softly with her fist.
"You're welcome" he says and does the same to her.
Just when they finish talking, the door to the bathroom opens.
A VERY tall guy with purple hair comes out wearing a red robe. He stands in the middle of Zoro and Tashigi, looks between them and says “all yours” as he walks away.
The other two stare at each other surprised.
“…was that Charlotte Katakuri?” Tashigi whispers as she looks at the red robe dissappear in the hallway.
“I can’t believe it” Zoro says, finally closing his mouth. “Did he not completely hate Ichiji?” he adds, whispering as well.
“Right, cause two people can’t hate each other but also want to fuck” says Tashigi and gives Zoro a pointed look.
“…ok, I get it” he answers and looks around a bit embarrassed.
“They are way more controversial than you two though, both captains of rival teams” she half whispers as she gets a bit closer.
“The Charlottes are gonna hate us even more” says Zoro.
“Us?”
“Well, yeah, we’re part of the Vinsmoke clan, aren’t we?” Zoro asks with a frown.
“I guess, yeah, I never thought about it before”
A moment passes.
“Hey, look at us gossiping” Zoro laughs. “Guess now I have a friend in this house” he adds as he opens the bathroom door.
“Hey ‘friend’, why do YOU get to go-“ but the door is closed to her face.
The end.