Chapter Text
When his head started to hurt, Zoro didn't think much of it. After all, his entire job was to stare at the screen all day (three of those, to be precise). His eyes would often get dry and painful, which in turn could cause headaches. Zoro also probably needed glasses at this point, if the blurring numbers were anything to judge by.
After pushing through the last hour of his 9-5, Zoro felt at least three years older than he actually was. Silently praying to get onto the right train on the first try, he walked to the underground. He also hoped to not fall asleep there, because no way in hell was he going through the hell of asking Curly to pick him up from a different town.
The usually scalding hot underground was surprisingly chilly. Cold even. Did they finally install AC in these chambers? Interesting. Zoro shivered as he listened to the familiar female voice announcing the next stop. Oh, he got on the right train. Must be his lucky day.
Forty minutes later, Roronoa Zoro was reconsidering his previous assumption, his head pounding with each step he took . Their apartment wasn't too far from the station, but today it felt like travelling from China to Europe by foot. The cook must be home already. Zoro's stomach grumbled from the thoughts of his husband's cooking. Honestly, even after two years of marriage he still couldn't decide what he wanted to eat more: Sanji or his food? Never mind, Curly was and always will definitely be the best meal in Zoro's life.
Okay, it's time to stop. I don't need a boner on top of a migraine... Although, they say sex is helpful with that type of thing...
By the time, he was climbing the stairs to their flat, Zoro wasn't horny nor was he hungry anymore. He wanted to die. Well, maybe not die die, but like...temporarily leave the living abode. For a solid twelve hours at the very least.
His brain was hurting so much. He didn't know he even had so much of it to hurt in so many places at the same time .
"I'm home," mumbled Zoro, shrugging his coat off.
Sake, their cat, patted her way over, brushing her furry body against his legs. He found this creature on the street when he and Sanji had just started dating, hence the name. Although, technically, Zoro was her owner, Sake soon became very fond of the cook.
The hand that feeds, I guess...
Giving Sake a few quick scratches behind the ear , Zoro headed towards the kitchen .
"You're home early. Did you finally learn your way home?" Not turning from his cooking, greeted Curly.
"Mmm... Lucky guess," his husband sighed, flopping down onto the couch, Sake following right after.
Sensing something amiss, Sanji turned to look at Zoro from behind the kitchen island. "You look tired."
Running his hand through the black and white fur of his pet , Zoro shook his head: "Just a headache."
"I told you to get those blue light glasses."
"Mhm..."
"The dinner's ready."
"Mm...just a minute..."
The next second, Zoro's eyes snapped open when a cold hand touched his face. He jerked awake, only then realising that he might have dosed off.
Sanji was studying him intensely. "You're warm," he said, frowning.
"I'm fine," after kissing the palm that cupped his cheek, Zoro got up. Virtuously ignoring the dizziness, he headed to the dining table.
"So you say," Sanji mumbled under his breath.
The dinner went by quietly. They usually didn't. Don't take him wrong, Zoro enjoyed their usual banter , scratch that, he genuinely loved it. But today he just felt so tired. And Sanji knew that, he always knew what's on his husband's mind, even if Zoro himself didn't. That's just how smart Curly was.
So they ate their food in silence, Zoro complimenting the dish before getting up to clean the dishes. That's how it always was: Sanji would cook and he would wash up. Perfect, in Zoro's opinion.
"I can do that if you're too tired," the cook suggested, hugging him from behind.
"No. This is my husbandly duty."
Sighing in defeat, Sanji left the kitchen area. "I'm going to the shower."
"Can I go with you?"
"And what about your husbandly duties?"
"They can wait."
"Eyes on the prize, Marimo. No dishes — no sex."
"Aw," Zoro pouted but went back to cleaning the plates.
***
After taking a shower himself , Zoro felt mildly refreshed, although still drained. Upon entering the bedroom with a towel around his hips, he promptly fell face-first onto the bed, snuggling his husband immediately.
"Ow, hey! Get off me, Marimo!" Sanji tried to wriggle out of Zoro's hold. "At least dry your hair , you're gonna wet the sheets!"
The only answer he received was a mumbled "don't wanna" and an even tighter embrace around his waist.
"Zoro, please. It's winter , you're gonna get sick at this rate."
"I don't get sick," was grumbled into the cook's belly.
"That's exactly what you told me when you had COVID!"
"Touche."
Pulling the towel from his hips, Zoro draped it over his head to dry off his hair.
"Gross," Sanji grimaced.
"It's efficient."
"At least wear something," Curly pleaded.
"And since when do you not want to see me naked?" Chuckling, he got up.
Although Zoro was feeling quite chilly, he wouldn't admit it out loud . Especially , not to the cook of all people. So, after hanging the towel to dry and putting on the first pair of boxers he could find , Zoro crawled back under the covers. Clinging with all his limbs to his husband, Zoro tucked his face into the crook of Sanji's neck and closed his eyes.
"I guess people are right about pets and their owners having the same personality," Curly said, running his fingers through Zoro's green hair. "You are as clingy as Sake."
"You're her owner too, now," Zoro grumbled, not having enough energy to lift his head anymore.
"Yes, but you were the one to adopt her. And to give her that terrible name."
"What's wrong with the name?"
"Sake? Seriously?"
"I love Sake."
"Arghh never mind," groaning, Sanji gave up and reached to turn off the lights. "Honestly though, are you alright? You're very warm ."
Ugh, here they go. Zoro made his husband worry again. He hated when Sanji got worried because the man had a tendency to overthink things. And when he did, he would eventually spiral and worry himself to the point of insomnia.
"I'm fine. Don't worry," placing a kiss on Curly's cheek, Zoro assured. "Love you."
"I love you too," Sanji didn't need to finish his sentence though , because his lover was already out cold.