Chapter Text
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Luffy finally became pirate king and now the question is what do they do now? Sanji went on to open his own restaurant in all blue of course, it was all he ever wanted. Everyone else was insistent to stay for a few years but one after another they left, in pairs or alone to chase the remainder of their dreams or back to their loved ones.
Of course it didn't make Luffy happy at first. What is a pirate king without his crew? So the remainder that stayed continued to venture without the rest, visiting families, friends and causing ruckuses as seen on the news. Even if they're not together they are still a crew and they promised one more time that they will come back to their king in 2 years time.
So, holding up to their promise they once again gathered together in a bar for a drink in an old town Luffy liked.
Sanji lets out a puff on the community boat, using his orange colored glasses and a purple collared shirt, his black jacket on his arms. His cut was fresh just how he used to look when he first set out into the grand line. But there was a way on how he learned and composed himself, one that exudes wisdom and knowledge after years of adventure.
He set his foot on the dock looking around until he spotted the girls, notably Nami who was smiling, hugging Robin.
Heart eyes popped out, "Mellorine!!"
Nami was equally enthusiastic to see him, "Sanji-kun!"
Nami reached out for a hug which was returned as Sanji melted into her embrace.
"Oh i'm being hugged by an angel"
The cat burglar snorted, seemingly fond and annoyed of his antics, "Oh stop it you"
Yellow lights then flickered on, giving the city a warm look, standing out in the deep blue sky. It also casted a shadow on Robin's face beside them, wearing a similar purple hat when they first met in Alabasta.
"How have you been cook?"
Sanji then faced her, almost bursting into tears.
"I'm doing fine Robin-chan! Oh how I missed you both!"
Robin smiles at him calmly. And Sanji bursted into tears.
"I'm so glad you're both alright! I hope the years haven't been a pain to you beautiful ladies!"
Both of the girls giggled.
Sanji then blinked trying to recall something.
"Oh yeah, is everyone here?"
They both nodded, "Yeah you were the last one Sanji-kun"
"Ah darn it, then marimo..."
"Yeah she got here before you", Nami chuckled.
He can't believe it. He lost to a person with no sense of direction.
Robin pipes in, "Actually you were the last to come, Cook. Everyone is already here"
Damn, that's another blow to his ego. Sanji comically buckled down holding his heart.
"Dammit, oh pardon my language ladies. I shouldn't have cursed in front of you, angels"
"Idiot"
Sanji's eyes widened looking at the ground. He turned his back looking up to see Zoro with booze. But that wasn't what he was focusing on.
She was wearing a white dress. Which first of all if you know her, is pretty uncommon of her. She smiles instead of her usual grin when they bicker on the Thousand Sunny all those years ago, like it was genuine that she was happy to see the blonde guy sprawled on the floor. Her hair was longer than it was before, almost medium length compared to the pixie cut she was sporting for a long time.
Sanji didn't think any of this, his heart thumped again for the first time in a while. He thought he had gotten rid of it. Who was he kidding?
Then he heard girls giggling which snapped him back to reality.
Sanji took in a huge breath, realizing he was still on the floor with his hand still over his heart. He scoffed with a smile.
"Marimo"
"Shitty cook"
Her voice was wondrous to Sanji's ears. It has been such a long time since he heard them. Contrary to belief Zoro was the first to leave the crew, going back to her home country in east blue after he had accomplished his promise to Luffy in becoming the pirate king and the strongest swordswoman.
It was something she needed to do, paying respects to someone he made a promise to. It took a while for Luffy to calm down back then, surprising enough, the king of all pirates cried that day.
Shocked Zoro to say the least. No. Anyone would've been shocked. Then, when they realized the weight of Zoro's actions, they cried too.
It left Zoro a little bamboozled as everyone held her into a hug. In the end, she stayed a bit longer before she had to leave, promising to return.
This was the first time he had seen Zoro in a while.
And oh the seas, she was still as beautiful as the day she left them. Sanji could feel his heart rapidly thumping at his chest. However, had been preparing to see her so he recovered swiftly as he stood on his feet.
"Did you get lost?", the smile never left green hair's face but neither was Sanji.
"Say for yourself, Marimo. You might win this time but don't forget all those times I saved you from your blindness", Sanji crossed his arms as he moved his cig to the other side. His eyes are looking at her playfully with his eyebrow quirked up.
Zoro returns the look in amusement before she huffs and rolls her eyes. She lifted the booze meeting her lips.
"Okay number 10th"
"Hey!"
Sanji still remembered those days on the Thousand Sunny. No, he remembered it all the time. Every hour, everyday, her smile, laughs, frowns, bad jokes and banters. All their bickering and small pokes and legs hitting under the tables. One they decided to settle on instead of fighting head on because Sanji doesn't hit women.
He remembers her fierce commitment to everyone and her loving gaze at the crew. Remembered how his heart first thumped at the sight and realized how screwed up he was. Sometimes he wondered if he had loved
It has been years since then. They are now 25. Living their best life. Where the world is at peace.
And Sanji hasn't confessed.
Well to be fair he wasn't sure how to do it. I mean.
He wasn't sure if he was the guy for Zoro or if he was enough for her.
She was the most beautiful, strongest woman he has ever had the chance to meet. Her smiles that reveals her dimples, to the soft snores she made when he was sleeping on the galley's sofa, when they went to shop for groceries and that she would get lost every time, to the small noises Sanji and Zoro would make when he cleans and she wipes off the plates when the crew was done eating.
She was more than a lady to Sanji, she was his equal, comrade, family, friend.
The love of his life that Sanii has deeply fallen in love with for the past 7 years of knowing her. Ever since he met her on the baratie.
Someone he fully trusts and in return her too. One he coincides in with all his deepest secrets and concerns. Well all except one that is always there, waiting for the words to leave his chest. But when he remembers all of her trust and camaraderie in him. The words locked itself up once again in the deepest part of his heart, always waiting for him to profess his love for almost a decade now.
It brings him such joy just to see her, just to hear her name being mentioned and being teased by the crew for always cracking the smile at her name.
Of course he hated her, because he couldn't hate her, he was head over heels in love with her.
Oh he was such a fool.
Time and time again he always tried to work it out with other ladies but he couldn't just forget Zoro the way she is.
He tried time and time again flirting with ladies to forget, only to end up breaking most of his relationships with a slap in the face. But it is better than a lady being entangled with a man who would never love her back forever. They deserve better. Does he deserve better?
Sanji looks at Zoro again, focusing on drinking her booze. For a while Sanji stole this moment to gaze lovingly at her. He did this for years to keep his emotions at bay as she worked out, as she slept, as she ate and fought. His eyes were always drawn to her.
Then Zoro lips parted from the rim of the bottle. All Sanji could see were her plump lips as alcohol runs down her angular cheek bone.
She then wiped it off and rolled her eyes back at Sanji.
Sanji closes his eyes and laughs.
"Hahaha, you never changed"
"So do you... I thought..."
"Hm?"
"I thought your hair would be longer"
"Ah this? Well I was planning to let it be but it would be fun to look the se
Zoro's eyes gazed on him (oh seas that's hot).
"Ah no wonder, you look similar to when we first met you"
"Mhm, ain't I a genius?"
Zoro rolled her eyes again.
"Though your hair has gotten longer. No more pixie cuts?'
"Ah this? Figured i'd go for a different look", Zoro played with her hair for a while.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Sanji's eyes gazed down her clothes, her big chest was prominent and showing with her cleavage. Sanji could feel his face getting hotter as he immediately looked away to maintain his composure.
"Hm I guess it's not bad"
"I guess that's the best compliment i'll get from you, curly-brows"
Sanji thinks but then waves all his thoughts away.
Nami then popped in, "Why don't you guys come in? Everyone would be happy to see you"
Robin nodded, "it's been a while since I met everyone"
"Ah you just arrived too?", Sanji asked. He thought she had met up with everyone already.
"I was here before you came, I suppose we are the last ones here. Why don't we go in together?"
Sanji beamed, "Of course Robin dear!"
He entangles his arms with Robin's as they walk to the pub. Nami and Zoro behind them talking.
There were sounds of laughter from the pub. Binks no Sake playing in the background. Their eyes saw their musician playing the piano with people holding their shoulders swaying left and right, singing. People clapped and stomped sitting on their table. There were a lot of familiar faces they encountered from their journey years ago.
Ussop was in the dancing line, Law sitting in the corner with his crew nodding, Bonney and Yamato sat together talking with Franky.
But their eyes only searched for their captain. Currently dancing on the table with a spotlight on him as he sings with his friends.
The four people who entered broke into a smile.
“Luffy!!”, they all said in unison.
Brown eyes met four. The straw hat eyes shone and glimmered, almost teary eyed.
“Zoro! Nami! Sanji! Robin!”
Luffy immediately stretched himself and plunged himself onto them. Long limbs tightening them into one big group hug.
“Yokatta, you’re all here. I missed you all so much”, Luffy was getting teary eyed.
“Hey you know the pirate king isn’t supposed to cry right?”, Zoro teased but his wide smile and fondness in her eyes said otherwise. Luffy locked his eyes with her and actually broke into tears.
“ZOROO!! I MISSED YOU”, Luffy hugs her tighter, her face suddenly pales into a blue hue, hands rapidly slapping Luffy’s hoping for air.
“Oi– you idiot!”, She squeaked. Luffy just kept on laughing and placed his cheek with hers, grinning ear to ear.
“Luffy, you should give her some space to breathe”, Robin spoke in her motherly tone, as if she was talking to a child. Humming as she broke into a wide smile when Luffy eyes went wide and nodded.
Luffy then released them. Zoro was holding her diaphragm gasping for air.
“Oh I ought to kill you”, Zoro barked.
“Shishishi~”
Sanji watched Zoro stretching Luffy cheeks as she yelled at him, feeling himself melt away. If he were to pick the two people he loved in the entire world. It would be them.
One who saved his entire existence to give him another chance, another shot at his dream. One who entirely loved him, his nakama.
Another one that made him realize his dream once more. One that was his equal, his other half and could handle whatever he throws at her. One that made him want to try harder, for each other, for others.
Nothing will ever show how profoundly grateful he was to these two.
He then was brought back to reality when Zoro patted his shoulders. When did she get here? Nami and Robin were talking to Luffy with a surprised face, seemingly talking about their own journeys.
“You okay cook?”, Zoro asked with concern but her face was one of teasing.
“Ah yeah, just– Realized how much I missed everyone”, Sanji gave him a shy smile, later scowling before she got any funny ideas.
Zoro then hums, face dropping into something dark before returning his smile.
“Hm yeah”
“So how do you do?”
Zoro perked up, a little taken aback by the question, “Ah it’s been fine”
“You said last time you left for a promise”
“Ah yeah finished it”
And then they both fall silent.
Something was a little odd. Even if they are at odds, Sanji and Zoro usually carry their own conversations naturally. For it to fall into an uncomfortable silence–
Sanji doesn’t like that at all.
Is it because it’s been a while? Must be.
“So where’s my “How about you’, Marimo?”, Sanji tries to revive their conversation.
“Oh sorry, how are you, shithead?”
“Shithead?”, Oh Sanji was heating up.
And so they grinned at each other.
“You’re fighting me, cook?”
“Who's asking?”
Ultimately they don’t fight because of Sanji’s code but it does get them riled up and ease the tension between them. Then it just became a blur, everyone just drank and partied the night away. Their crew took a circular table in the corner talking about and laughing. That’s until someone pointed out something.
“Hey, Zoro. What’s with the ring on your finger?”Ussop asked, a little red in the face. Zoro perked up and looked at his golden band, with a white gem in the middle. Nami eyes glimmered at it.
“Oh yeah, I've been meaning to ask that too. Where did you get it? You didn’t seem like the type to wear rings”
Nami was right. Wouldn’t it hinder her swordsmanship?
Zoro, the person in question, looked at it as everyone stared at her waiting for an answer. Suddenly her face shifted into something fond and she smiled.
“I’m engaged”
Sanji's heart dropped.