Chapter Text
Sanji almost wished the New Year hadn’t rolled around. Where Christmas had been a rather small affair, New Year’s Eve was another giant party hosted by one Monkey D. Luffy. He’d personally received the invite this time, along with a plea for hors d’oeuvres that he simply couldn’t deny. If he didn’t know any better, he’d almost believe that he’d been asked to cook for the event simply to ensure his attendance.
What a silly thought that was.
Either way, he felt strung out and overwhelmed by the once again large gathering of Luffy’s friends, partially convinced at this point that this man knew at least half their city in passing. He’d lost Zoro more times than he could count, searching desperately for his roommate turned friend as he wandered through yet another throng of guests.
He was stopped several times as said guests expressed their thanks for what he’d made for this event, and he eventually opted to accept one of the many champagne flutes that were being offered at the party. It was far from his first choice in terms of methods of calming his nerves, but he’d unfortunately forgotten he’d been down to his last cigarette when coming out to the Monkey mansion. So, this was all he really had.
One glass of champagne left him floating. He’d never exactly had a high tolerance, and his inability to eat while so wound up wasn’t exactly doing him any favors. He felt better though, and that was all that mattered to him in that moment.
Well, that and finding where that damned mosshead of his had wandered off to.
The thought suddenly struck him that he might have better luck checking in the garden like he had at Friendsgiving. With as much grace as he could muster, he made his way to the side door of the large ballroom, slipping out into the cold winter air.
His breath came out in white puffs of air and he immediately shoved his hands into his trusty puffer jacket. He really hoped his dumbass friend hadn’t come out here. At least he’d worn a jacket this time.
Dead grass crunched beneath his feet as he walked towards the benches he’d found the man at last time. The blond couldn’t help but sigh as he noticed a familiar head of green hair, a few colorful curses in mixed English and French falling from his lips as he approached.
Zoro didn’t even spare him a glance, instead staring up at the star-speckled sky without a care in the world. Sanji tapped his friend’s shin to gain his attention, sitting on the cold concrete bench beside him seconds after. “I’m not c’rrying you inside,” he grumbled softly.
His friend chuckled at his declaration. “Wouldn’t ask you to. Why’d you come outside?”
The blond tilted his head back, staring at the sky as well as his already flushed cheeks grew darker. “‘s it so wrong I want c’mpany?”
Zoro was quiet beside him for a long moment. “There not enough people inside for you?”
“Don’t know ‘em like you.”
The mosshead had the audacity to bark out a laugh. “Yeah? Miss me that much curls?”
Sanji knocked his shoe into Zoro’s as a means of deflection. He would not honor that with a resp-
“You can just say it. I don’t mind blondie.” Sanji chanced a glance at his roommate and found him smiling back at him. It was soft, barely there, and aimed at him like it was only for him.
His heart fluttered in the slightest at the sight.
“Jus’ don’t like big crowds,” he muttered.
“Sure.” The mosshead’s tone told him he didn’t believe him, not completely at least. “It’s not ‘cause you’d rather be home watching movies with me?”
“You’d fall asleep.”
“That’s not a no.”
The blond looked towards the sky again, avoiding a mirthful gray gaze. “So. Why are you out here?”
Zoro hummed softly, and Sanji shoved his hands deeper in his jacket pockets. “Didn’t feel like being alone for the countdown. It’s never serious, but Usopp and now Luffy and Nami too like to tease me about it.”
Curly brows raised at this revelation. “D’dn’t think you cared ‘bout that sort o’ thing.”
“Guess I’m full of surprises.”
They sat in silence for a long moment, the softened sound of the party slowly drifting towards them. It was comfortable, if still rather cold. Sanji chanced a glance down at his lap, sliding out his phone and checking the time. Ten minutes to midnight.
He spoke before he could think through what he was about to offer. “What ‘f you kissed me?” As the silence between them grew once more, he hurried to add, “So they d’n’t tease! An’ you’re not catching a cold. D’sn’t have to mean ‘nything.”
Zoro sighed. “It’s- yeah curls? I think they’d know if we faked it. And that’s pretty dumb and cliché.” He paused, and the two of them looked at each other almost in sync. “And you don’t sound sober.”
Sanji rolled a shoulder, sliding his phone back in his pocket. “Wha’s it matter?”
“You’re my friend. I can’t just take advantage of you like that.”
The blond’s heart skipped a beat with some unknown feeling. “S’not taking advantage if I offer. An’ it’s just a kiss.”
Zoro looked over him, gray eye dark and calculating. “They’ll assume things y’know.”
Sanji laughed at that. “Law already does.”
His companion blinked in surprise, then snorted. “What’s he know?”
“Jack shit.” The blond checked his phone a second time. Five minutes to midnight. “You gon’ take or leave it?”
“Your dumbass offer?” Zoro sighed, then stood. Sanji startled when he turned towards him, a hand outstretched. “Guess there’s no harm cook.”
Sanji let himself be pulled upright, nearly tripping over his own feet as he moved. “Careful mossy.”
“Careful yourself.” He huffed, looking around them.
The blond sighed, practically dragging his directionally challenged roommate the one hundred feet to the side entrance. “You’re h’peless.”
“Says the moron about to kiss me.”
Sanji didn’t honor this with a response, instead pushing into the warm ballroom. A large screen on the far wall displayed the countdown, showing they’d made it with a minute to spare.
Perhaps twenty-five feet ahead of them, Luffy hollered, gathering everyone in attendance’s attention. “It’s almost time!”
Heads turned to the screen in unison, the anticipation near palpable at this point. Sanji maneuvered them closer to where Luffy, Nami, and Usopp, along with their respective partners, had all gathered near each other at some point during the night. If he looked close enough, he could even spot Franky’s large figure close by, an arm slung around Robin, yet another friend of Zoro’s he’d come to adore.
Luffy suddenly caught his gaze, lighting up when he noticed Zoro with him. “Zoro! C’mon, come count down with us!”
As they closed the distance to stand near some of the only people he knew in this building, his roommate leaned closer to whisper, “Last chance to back out.”
“You j’st don’t wanna kiss me,” he hissed back.
He felt his companion shrug, a calloused hand still carefully gripped by his own. They came to a stop beside Luffy and crew with fifteen seconds to spare, and the blond turned towards his roommate. Friend? Yeah, friend.
Zoro simply raised a brow in amusement, gray eye unblinking as he began to count down with the rest of the crowd.
Sanji realized he still had yet to release his grip, cheeks flushing anew as he did so.
The mosshead had the audacity to smirk as he mouthed, “Five.”
He squared his shoulders, whispering the remaining numbers. He could do this. It was just to help a friend.
Zoro leaned in, the hand that had just been holding Sanji’s raising to cup his cheek. Sanji inhaled sharply in response, closing the distance quickly to get this out of the way.
It was hurried and rough, but Sanji still felt his stomach flip at the brush of chapped lips against his.
The mosshead pulled back just as quickly as he’d leaned in, mouthing the word, “Thanks,” as their friends cheered and fireworks exploded outside. Only Usopp had seen from what Sanji could tell, if his expression was anything to go off of, but it was enough. Suddenly the group turned to them, a few of the members shoving or patting Zoro on the back. Luffy cheered the loudest, clinging to his friend like it was the most natural thing in the world.
And Sanji? Sanji watched it all, cheeks a soft pink and lips still tingling. He caught Law’s gaze, flushing darker at the knowing smirk he received.
It was all just to help a friend!
So why did it feel like something monumental had shifted?