Work Text:
‹┈❀°•✮•°❀┈›
大好きだよ、黒足のサンジ。
ㅤZoro had volunteered to the night watch once more—as he did in the past three weeks.
The moonlight gleamed in recognition—the sun resting as the moon shone a similar hue. Stars scattered the sky, like the freckles of the night. Today was a crescent shape—a day indicating a time of surrender.
Zoro had turned into a tiger again, his paws making no sound as he walked around the ship... He grumbled—sitting obediently as he gazed up to the skies. No cook. No rubber man. No skeleton. No witch.
A pair of eyes were watching him intently—and Zoro let out an agitated growl as a warning.
ㅤ"It's me, Mr. Bushido." Robin's clone then appeared from the floor—her upper body only showing. The feline let out a friendly chuff, as if an apology. "It's alright, Zoro."
He laid down infront of her, presenting his head for a pet.
She let out a chuckle, proceeding to oblige.
Robin's gentle hands felt warm, another purr being worn out the domesticated cat.
"You've become more expressive, hmm?" The olive-skinned woman smiled.
"I've just come to check up on you. You've been quite grumpy lately."
"Grahhff." Zoro let out as a retort, eyes closed as he relished in the affection.
"You know... They'll always come back, right?" She mused, her tone calm and reassuring.
ㅤ"You're always brushing the topic off—and saying they'll be okay. However, I don't think you're sure of that yourself..."
Robin was always so calculating—and quite observant. She could notice there was a shift in the air—even if it was subtle, and it made Zoro himself feel quite tense around her sometimes. Especially when there's an issue. "They'll come back, Zoro. They always do. They're our friends—dependable and strong." Robin spoke with such certainty, it made Zoro feel guilty for even doubting them.
Of course they'll come back. They'll come back—and they'll have some sort of party afterwards. As usual.
ㅤ"You should rest. Usopp has shown worry for you. He can handle the night watch tonight." The petting stopped, and Robin gave him a stern yet humble look.
Yeah... Perhaps he should take her advice.
"Goodnight, Zoro. I'll be in the girls' room with Franky if you need further comfort."
She winked, and her clone melted away into petals..
Somewhere nearby, blue eyes blinked open—one of many still hidden in the ship’s corners, watching Zoro. Robin couldn’t help but ensure he’d follow her advice. He was quite the stubborn man, after all.
The green-furred tiger let out a yowl in protest, but did what any friend did.
Follow her tip.
Zoro stood up on his four legs, stretching before walking away from his previous spot.
ㅤ"Psshh... Why do I have to do that... I'm perfectly fine..." Zoro internally muttered, yet a gruff sound only came out.
Eyes were still following him each step he took... Goddamnit.
The cat had walked into the kitchen, deciding to doze off somewhere there.
Zoro laid on the tiled floor, finding a familiar comfort.
Robin was still observing him by multiplying her eyes and spawning them in places the swordsman couldn't spot.
ㅤIn the girls’ quarters, the soft sound of Franky’s snoring filled the room. Robin smiled faintly as she turned her attention to him, gently brushing a hand through his hair. "I suppose, if that’s the only way he’ll sleep," she thought, finally dispelling the last of her watching eyes.
The tiger curled up comfortably—letting out a purr in response.
The guy was either dreaming of swords—or having a duel with the cook and winning in the end... Or perhaps, both.
ㅤ"Yosh! Time to draw!" Usopp sighed in relief, both happy that his friend was now having a break—and the fact that he'll have some of his time to himself. However... He does feel extremely paranoid at times. Not to be cowardly. He was did have 8,000 men on his side after all.
‹┈❀°•✮•°❀┈›
ㅤFour weeks passed in quiet patience.
And then—one by one—they returned.
Luffy. Nami. Brook. Even Sanji. Their scents filled the ship again, familiar and grounding.
However—the cook's scent felt... Wrong. A hint of guilt. Regret, too.
A day after the events, there was still that lingering smell of penitence and shame.
Dinner was as cheerful as usual, Luffy stealing food—everyone having a conversation with one another.
The cook was quiet. Or atleast—he spoke whenever he was being spoken to.
Zoro couldn't help but be observant this time after Nami had filled the rest of the crew with the details...
No wonder why that damn dart-brow looked like he had a stick up his ass!
ㅤSanji still didn't feel deserving to be a part of the crew. Not what he did to Luffy—not what he did to everyone. He betrayed them.
Now, they were talking about throwing a party for Sanji's return? For him—him?
He felt as if his loyalty was questioned, and his self-worth lessening by the minute. Why did they still talk to him like he was apart of this? As if—his wrongdoings were forgiven just like that?
The person that gave him the opportunity to be the happiest—he had hurt in return.
How can Luffy be so forgiving for a betrayal like that? How could they still act so kind—after he hid such a thing from his past? It gnawed at him...
The blonde tried to match the energy around them, chuckling awkwardly—occasionally berating Luffy for stealing the food.
At this point—nothing would be better than to just crawl into a hole, and simply hide there for the rest of eternity.
‹┈❀°•✮•°❀┈›
ㅤLater on that night, Zoro finally gave in.
Face flushed with something between frustration and embarrassment, he gently discarded his swords onto a futon nearby—carefully draping a blanket over them like they needed tucking in.
This would've been better if he was in his tiger form—really. But he can't. He needed to say a few words as well.
Muttering to himself, he padded silently toward the sleeping cook, each step heavy with hesitation.
“Should’ve never done this…” he grumbled, jaw tight—with a face red like a fool.
ㅤZoro towered over the sleeping blond—before lying down next to him with hesitation, as if he wasn't sure if Sanji wanted it. "Maybe the cook needs space..." Zoro's mind screamed.
However his body yelled louder. The green-haired man slipped under the blanket, muscled arms now wrapping around his toned body. Cold. As usual.
The green-haired buried his face into his neck—the embarrassment washing away as he relished in the presence of Sanji.
"Mmf... Zoro..." The blond murmured, his voice groggy and eyes still shut. He'd always been a light sleeper—always waking up to the slightest touch.
ㅤBut it was the fact he knew it was the swordsman immediately just flustered him further. "Missed... Missed you." The words fell heavy in the air—short, but meaningful, considering it came from Zoro—of all people.
Sanji may have been sleepy—but he couldn't ignore that. That—that fucking sentence. Zoro, the shitty mosshead, missed him? "... What?"
"... I missed you, dumbass." Zoro's voice muffled, hands trembling.
ㅤHe said it twice, at that. So this was serious—huh? The blond couldn't tell whether to mock him, or start sobbing on the spot. He was too tired—too exhausted to be crying actually.
Sanji only snuggled closer, being enveloped by the moss's body heat.
The blond was never a touchy man. He simply wasn't used to it—being treated gently. He'd rather express using words or gifts, even.
His crew was an exception though...
"Are you the reason I saw claw marks on the black tiles?"
"No."
"I'm gonna beat your ass tomorrow.
For now.... Just hold me like this, algae-head..."
His voice raspy—eyes barely opening.
"Night, Sanji..."
"Stop actin' sweet when I'm fallin' asleep... I'm gonna forget about this shit in the morning..."
"Good. Then I can pretend I never said it."
"Mmf... So nice to me..."
Zoro smiled, carving the moment into memory—because that’s all it would ever be. A stolen night. A silent apology for the words they never said. And by morning, they'd go back to being what they always were—enemies.
Zoro pressed his forehead to Sanji’s shoulder, eyes shut.
"If you forget… maybe it’ll hurt less."
He didn’t say it out loud. He never would.
But Sanji remembered anyway.
‹┈❀°•✮•°❀┈›
Je t'aime, Roronoa Zoro.
I didn’t forget.
Even if you wanted me to, Marimo.
–S
I still remember.
Even if I wished I had forgotten, Curly.
–Z