Archive of Our Own

“Did you bring snacks?”

“Yes, we brought snacks.” Nami replies. “And no, you can’t have any yet.”

“Boo!” Luffy pouts.

“Don’t be sour, we’re here to support Usopp,” the redhead reminds him primly.

Zoro yawns, feeling his jaw stretch as he trails after his friends.

Even for that he’s lived in the East Blue his entire life, Zoro doesn’t recall ever visiting the Sambas Bay Aquarium.

The attraction is impressive, he has to admit. A sprawling complex of interconnected buildings on the coast of the city. The interior is a modern mix of pale beachwood and teal accents.

Shouts and chattering voices bounce off a towering atrium with glass skylights as visitors scamper around with excitement. A woman with a navy polo is waving her hands to guide a group over for a guided tour.

Zoro’s eye travels across bold signage tacked around the walls and beside archways leading further into the building. Caricature depictions of sea creatures direct visitors to the themed tanks around the attraction.

It's exceedingly vibrant; with all the obnoxiousness a tourist trap can offer.

Nami halts them in the center of the atrium, taking far too long to stare at the map on the brochure. Luffy is rolling from heel to toe, his wide eyes following the color fish darting about a floor-to-ceiling tank on the far side of the space.

Zoro hasn’t ever held much of an impression of waterlife. His world revolves around kendo, and kendo alone. His routine path scarcely treads further than the walls of Shimotsuki’s Dojo.

The ocean was just there. Zoro could admit the view was nice- Especially so when he could enjoy it with a drink in hand. But he didn’t hold interest in fish beyond how they were served in his meals.

Had Usopp not been hired as the aquarium's herbologist, Zoro doubts he’d have ever stepped foot in the place.

“Usopp said he can meet us for lunch at the cafe,” Nami mutters.

“The cafe! Let’s go!” Luffy cheers.

Zoro snorts, “she said at lunch, you dolt. It’s like ten.”

“Boo!” Luffy gives them both a thumbs down this time.

Nami rolls her eyes so hard it moves her entire skull, “Let’s start with the tropics and we’ll work our way there. If we miss any we can just catch them afterwards.” She decides, folding the brochure back up with a press of her lips and shoving it into her back pocket.

Zoro shrugs. “Whatever.”

“To the tropics!” Luffy agrees with a pump of his fist.

Nami snorts and begins to lead them off into the attraction. Her direction taking them towards a brightly colored path to the left.

As they make their way to the first exhibit, Zoro lets his eyes wander to take it in. The hallways are tall and rounded, the lighting dim so as to highlight a series of shallow tanks along the pathways.

There are brightly colored signs posted along the corridor in order to spark interest before the upcoming exhibit. Even the minor displays are accented with bold eye-catchers and educational details for those who would pause to read them.

A grab for attention that caters to curious minds.

It’s probably effective against children, but it’s a bit too scripted for Zoro’s tastes.

The swordsman would much rather know how they hunt and what eats them, but the kids visiting on their field trips probably wouldn’t appreciate having that information on display.

It’s at least a relief that the marine life itself is more interesting than the factoids. If the rest of the exhibits are as impressive as the main entrance, Zoro feels he can expect them to be reasonably exciting.

“Oh! There it is!” Luffy cheers, pointing ahead to the entrance to their first exhibit.

The archway is framed by two bends of wood, joining at the apex in the curve of a bowsprit. The signage glints metallic gold.

“Ohhh,” Nami awes, slowing her step in wonder as they step inside. Luffy, meanwhile, races ahead in a sprint towards the glass.

Zoro choses a moderate approach, walking over to a near column as he takes it in.

The tank in the exhibit is huge. At least two stories tall and wrapped around a pirate-themed viewing area.

The decor is structured as if the visitors are standing among the seabed, with seating molded to the shape of broken barrels and faux treasure. The walls are decorated with ship ropes and netting.

The tank itself houses the entire stern of a ship- the structure jutting from the sandbed. Its foremast is still attached, though it’s been snapped halfway up- likely to fit it within the tank. Barnacles and starfish decorate what is left of the hull, while schools of fish twist in dance in and out of the exposed wooden ribs. The decaying remains of a cannon rest at the seabed and an octopus’s curious tentacles curl out from the barrel of the iron.

“Zoro!” Luffy gasps, shoving his finger against the glass so hard it bends backwards. “Look! Look at the figurehead!”

The swordsman swivels his gaze to the bowsprit, raising an eyebrow as he takes in the ship's unusual figurehead. It’s a sheep Or… maybe a ram? Because of the horns? The design is rounded and sweet, a smile across the creature's wooden face.

“Huh,” Zoro remarks.

It’s actually quite.. endearing.

“Awe, how cute,” Nami decides.

Luffy beams. “It’s awesome!”

“Sure,” Zoro snorts,” I like it too.”

The exhibit houses an admittedly impressive variety of shapes and textures within the water. Nami oohs and awes at the smallest fish, pointing them out as she spots them, her nose nearly pressed to the glass as her eyes crinkle in amusement.

Luffy races from one end of the glass to the other, cackling as he inevitably gathers a few curious fish at each tank to follow him to and fro.

Zoro finds himself most intrigued with the creatures with spikes and gnarled forms, impressed by the way they’re built to defend themselves.

Once they’re able to pull themselves away from the smiling figurehead, they wander as a group from the tropics to The Shandora Reef.

The entrance to the coral reef includes a glass tunnel, providing a large arched view of fish traveling to and from sections of the tank on each side of the path.

It’s fantastic, watching lazy sea turtles and manta rays glide overhead. The seabed below, meanwhile, is brimming with colorful swaths of coral and lush strands of kelp.

The main exhibit is at the end of the tunnel, consisting of a rotunda of glass centered around a seating area.

The decoration within the tank consists of what appears to be stone ruins nestled among the sand. Sections of temples, carved geometric patterns on craggled portions of structures. The surfaces of the stone ruins are covered in flourishing coral and sea flora. As if repurposed for new life.

Nami tilts her head back in awe of the towering coral structures.

Zoro squints at the ruins to try and spy any predators lurking beneath the sections in shadow.

Luffy does his best impression of a horseshoe crab, hunching his back and pinching his fingers together as he scuttles across the carpeted floor of the viewing room. The moron even manages to get a gaggle of children to follow in his idiotic methods before Nami balks and drags them all onwards, apologizing profusely to the children's snickering parents.

The trio pauses at the hallway sign directing them towards “Laboon’s Tide Pools - A touch friendly exhibit!” before Nami yanks Luffy in a different direction entirely.

“Aw come on, Nami- I wanna get in the water!”

Zoro chuckles, “I don’t think you’re supposed to get in the water, Luff.”

“Why not?” Luffy scowls. “How else am I supposed to get friendly with everything?”

“He brings up a good point,” Zoro muses, a grin stretching across his face.

“And this is exactly why we will be skipping the tide pools.” Nami declares, her manicured nails latched onto Luffy’s collar.

She manages to corral them with a tease that they’ll be moving on to the main attraction;

The Grand Ocean.

With his impression of the aquarium so far, Zoro expects it to be monumental. The open ocean exhibit had been the most advertised by far. Every room had a sign pointing visitors in its direction; while its footprint takes up the center portion of the brochure's map.

And well- He’s not fucking disappointed.

As the trio is expelled from a walkway into the viewing area, all three of them slow in their pace to take it in.

The tank is absolutely massive. At least three stories tall and curving around three fourths of a room the size of a sports field. The viewing platform includes row seating and elevated ramps to offer different heights for visitors to gaze within.

The viewing area itself is dim and simple, left without any themed decorations in order to focus the eye entirely on the ocean before them. The floor and walls are carpeted, dampening the noise of the visitors, while every surface is thrown into ever wandering hues of blue from the glow of the tank.

The contents of the tank are minimal- rock formations existing only to provide root for towering boughs of kelp and lush sea grasses. Their flowing leaves throwing slips of green across the walls as fish wander between the stalks.

“Wow!” Nami gasps, breaking the tension as she rushes forward to the first row of the viewing platform. “This is incredible!”

“So cool” Luffy grins, pointing at the glass without distinction. “Hey- I bet Usopp grew that plant, right there!”

Zoro strides up to join the others without a sound, taking in the view with his mouth agape.

A soft whispering shudder of waves spills from surrounding speakers around the space. Creatures of all shapes and sizes wander within the expansive tank, weaving and bobbing around the lush sea flora and glittering under the false sunlight scattering through the water.

Zoro swallows as he takes it all in, and part of him expects to taste the salt of the sea on his tongue as he stands before the heart of the ocean.

“Good Morning,” a voice rings out. The tone is echoed and warbly, as if the words are following the ebb and flow of the water.

The swordsman’s breath hitches, and he pulls himself from the immersion as he scowls, searching for the source of the voice.

“Um…What?” Nami gapes. “Are the fish talking?”

“Fish don’t talk,” Zoro retorts.

“Show yourself! Talking fish!” Luffy demands.

A laugh trickles into the room, now clearly coming from the speakers.

Zoro crosses his arms, glancing over his shoulder to check for any employees of the aquarium sneaking up behind them- Because he wouldn’t put it past Usopp to pull that kind of shit.

But… there’s only the three of them in the viewing area right now.

Abruptly, a swell of bubbles arise from the movement of a larger creature in the tank.

The disruption of the water hides a clear view of what has caused it, but Zoro’s gaze is drawn to the glimpse of shimmering, blue scales he can spy from between the rough bouts of current.

A glint of gold draws his eye, and Zoro watches, transfixed, as an actual fucking mermaid swims into view.

The creature has blond hair that dazzles around his jawline and a bare chest revealing a remarkably athletic physique. His tail is exceedingly long, a few meters at least, and it shines a vibrant, cerulean blue; the scales reflecting hues of turquoise and sage. His split tail fins are nearly a meter long themselves, gauzy and soft. And they’re matched with a similarly delicate set fluttering away from a set of narrow hips, just below where human skin transitions into scales.

The mermaid swims up to the glass, climbing in the current until he reaches the third tier of the viewing platforms- right where Zoro is standing. Their faces align on opposite sides of the glass and Zoro feels his breath catch.

He's smiling. A charming twist of his lips as vibrant blue eyes gleam in the light of the tank. His hair halos his features, his bangs floating away and showing off an unusual set of curled eyebrows. His ears are pointed and webbed, and there's a smattering of iridescent scales across his cheeks that sparkle like freckled gemstones, accentuating the narrow cut of his jaw.

Fuck- He’s beautiful.

And then, the mermaid opens his mouth.

“I don’t qualify as a fish,” comes the voice again; and the words from the speakers match the shape of the mermaid's lips.

“What the fuck?” Zoro whispers. “What the fuck is this?”

Nami scoffs, scowling properly at the swordsman before she responds, “a Mermaid? How do you not know that?”

Zoro grimaces, not willing to admit this is way out of his comfort zone.

Weren’t mermaids in the ocean? Like, the actual Grand Line Ocean?

“Hi!” Luffy greets, waving his arms around from the first tier of the platform to gather the creature’s attention. “I’m Luffy!”

The mermaid smiles, his form sinking down towards the base of the exhibit to greet Luffy at his level. His shimmering tail twists, gathering up in a gorgeous coil as he tilts his head. His gossamer blond hair floating idly in the movement.

“Hello Luffy, I’m Sanji. An education specialist here at the aquarium,” The blond explains. He turns then, bowing at Nami and smiling ever sweeter, “it’s a pleasure to meet you all.” His tail flutters as he speaks, minute bubbles spraying from the movement.

His bangs shift in the water once more and Zoro catches sight of a one-eared headset hooked around the shell of his ear.

“Are you part of the exhibit?” Nami asks in awe.

The blond smiles in response, but his tailfin flutters in the same irritation one might find in a rattlesnake, “No, I am not.” He spins in the water, bubbles rising from his movement as he glides along the recumbent paths of the smaller fish. “Like I said, I am an education specialist. Do you have any questions about sea life here?”

Zoro watches, entranced as the blond swims along the currents, the scales of his tail shimmering as his skin reflects the hues of the tank in gentle swatches of aquamarine. The way his vibrantly blue eyes gleam and reflect in the water with the same brilliant shades.

Something horrible stirs behind the cage of Zoro’s ribs as he watches the man flit and flutter about the false waves. It’s enthralling- watching the obvious strength in the twist of the mermaid’s body as he navigates with the water with ease. His elegance rivaling those of the most skilled fighters Zoro’s known.

“Incredible,” Nami coos, “Oh I’ll just have to bring Vivi next time.”

“Oh! Oh!” Abruptly, Luffy raises his hand. “What do you eat?”

The mermaid smiles once more, idly drifting along the currents as he answers, “I eat anything humans can. Though I have a preference for seafood over livestock.”

Zoro shuffles awkwardly as he stands before the glass. Unbidden- he wonders if the creature eats his cuisine cooked or raw.

The mer flicks his tail and effortlessly glides into place beside a grumpy looking fish with pearl-white scales.

“This little bugger, though, a West Blue Codfish-” Sanji smiles, brushing a finger along its fin before it darts between the coral, “he prefers to eat the mollusks in the sand.”

Zoro snorts, “Luffy can relate- He also eats trash.”

“It’s free food!” Luffy yelps, throwing his hands up.

“It’s disgusting,” Nami snorts, “but that’s neither here nor there.”

Sanji laughs, his form twisting in the mild current until he’s resting on his front towards the edge of the tank, lithe fingers finding purchase on the edge of a rock shelf to keep himself steady. When the mermaid grins, Zoro notices how his canines hook over his teeth in a pinpoint of fangs.

It probably shouldn’t be more attractive that the mer holds a mouthful of deadly teeth- But Zoro works with weapons for a living, so he opts not to think too hard on it.

“Might I direct you to the freshwater exhibit?” The blond offers genially, “you might find interest in the catfish there.”

Luffy hums loudly in consideration, “Are they furry?”

“Absolutely not,” Sanji laughs, his form tilting in the water as he makes eye contact with the swordsman.

Zoro freezes, crossing his arms as the blond peers across his form. The mermaid smiles, seemingly pleased by whatever’s he found.

“Catfish are a creature commonly used to clean refuse from a tank,” Sanji explains lightly. His eyes bright and his smile crooked. “If it is fur you seek, however, I believe you already have a Marimo in your midst.”

“What’s a Marimo?” Luffy asks.

In reply, Sanji grins. And with a flutter of bubbles, he darts down to the very bottom of the tank. The mermaid fusses around in the pebbles for a moment before he rises once more with something clutched delicately between his palms.

And as the breath of his hands part, a delicate sphere of green fuzz is revealed.

“A Marimo!” Sanji declares, closing one eye and holding it up to silhouette Zoro’s hair.

Immediately,so-called friends laugh at his own expense.

“Oi!” Zoro snaps.

“Pfff-!” Luffy guffaws, “Zoro that’s you!”

“It’s uncanny,” Nami awes.

“No it’s not!”

“Marimo’s are green algae that has broken loose from its growth on rocks. It thrives at the waterbed, tumbling around and over the rocks. Which helps keep its perfect little shape,” The mermaid informs them, gently tilting the plant around in his palms as his tail slowly adjusts to keep him in place.

“Oh!” Luffy raises his hand before immediately asking, “Do they bounce?”

“They can be rather delicate, I wouldn’t recommend it.”

Nami elbows Zoro in the ribs, making him grunt.

“Hey- The fuck was that for?” He hisses.

“Whoops,” she smirks, speaking aside only to him, “sorry, I forgot how delicate you are.”

“I will cut you,” the swordsman growls back.

“Can you eat them?” Luffy asks.

“That wouldn’t be appetizing. And some might consider the idea offensive.” He says, cupping his palms gently around the mossball. “You see, Marimo’s are also known as a symbol of everlasting love,” the mermaid explains, flicking just the tip of his tail as he dives back down. Carefully, he tips the mossball back onto the rocks, his scales reflecting like sapphires as he moves in the waves. “In some cultures, they are gifted between lovers as a sign of eternal commitment.”

“That’s kind of sweet,” Nami hums.

Zoro crosses his arms and clears his throat, turning his head away, “gross.”

“What’s this fish, Sanji?!” Luffy interrupts, racing along the edge of the tank as he points to a sleek silver fish darting away from him. “Sanji! This one!”

“That’s a yellow-fin tuna,” the mermaid says, fluttering his fins as he glides alongside the two and making Luffy grin. “They never stop swimming and are incredibly quick.”

“I’ve eaten tuna before!”

“Yes, I would imagine you have. Tuna is a popular fish in cuisine because of its high protein and mild flavor,” the blond smiles.

“Nami! Zoro! Let’s go get sushi!”

The redhead immediately frowns, “We’re having lunch with Usopp!” She retorts.

“This cafe better have booze,” Zoro grumbles under his breath.

“You’re friends of Usopp?” Sanji grins, floating down within the tank and curling his tail up like a fern until he’s level with the three visitors. His gleaming eyes dart over to catch Zoro’s gaze as he smiles, “Of course, it’s only natural that our wonderful herbologist would befriend a marimo.”

“I’m not a marimo!” Zoro snarls, rolling his hands into fists.

The handsome bastard just grins back at him, his pointed teeth shining. The waves tug his bangs aside and Zoro lifts his hand to point at the fucker.

“At least I don’t have a face like a sea shell- Curly brows!” Zoro sneers.

Sanji gasps, a furious stream of bubbles trailing from his open mouth. He frowns then, his curled eyebrows twisting low in a furrow as he opens his mouth to retort-

When suddenly, a child shrieks- “Mermaid!”

“Ohmygod! Look! Look!”

A cacophony of voices abruptly bounce around the room as a gaggle of children spill into the exhibit. The group quickly takes over the space, a scattering of exhausted adults at their heels.

Sanji shoots Zoro a final glare before he flicks his tail, twisting his way elegantly over towards where a group of young girls have pressed themselves flush to the glass, chattering and squealing away.

“Good morning,” Sanji greets them, turning on his charm once more. “Welcome to the Grand Ocean Exhibit, I’m so pleased you’ve come by to join us today!”

“You’re so pretty!” A young girl shrieks.

“Are you real!?”

“Yes,” the mermaid laughs, pulling his tail up to wave at them with his shimmering tailfins, “I’m very real.”

The girls squeak in excitement before there are suddenly too many questions to distinguish a single word. Sanji takes it all in stride, letting the chatter simmer down before he can guide them into taking turns.

“C’mon,” Nami nudges Luffy with her elbow. "We can still catch the freshwater tank before it’ll be time to meet with Usopp. And if we don’t dawdle, we’ll have time for the penguins, too.”

“They have penguins!?” Luffy asks, immediately hooked.

“That’s a dumb looking fish!” A child exclaims. And Zoro finds himself lingering. Watching as the blue tailed mermaid glides over to a massive, flat fish meandering slowly in the water.

It is dumb looking, as if someone had taken a regular fish and squished it between the flats of their palms on the sides.

Sanji does a glimmering twirl around the creature before reaching out to gently guide its path closer to the glass. “This is a sunfish,” he explains to the children. “The sunfish has an incredibly strong stomach.”

The dumbass flat fish takes its meager pace towards the children as they laugh and hover at the glass.

“-ro?”

“It can eat and digest jellyfish that would sting other sea life if they tried!”

“oro…”

Sanji tilts his head as he glides a pointed finger along the ridge of the fish’s dorsal fin, his cerulean eyes alight as he continues explaining something or other.

“Zoro!” Nami barks.

“What!?” Zoro hisses. He pivots to curse at the woman but halts when he’s surprised to find her glaring at him from beneath the archway to the next exhibit. Luffy evidently already waiting a meter ahead, bouncing on his heels impatiently.

“Stop staring at the mermaid and come on.” Nami orders.

Zoro bristles, tromping towards her with a clench to his jaw. “I wasn’t staring!”

Nami smirks, “Oh? So you’re just suddenly interested in learning school facts about the sea life?”

“Shut the fuck up.”

“We can come back,” she offers, falsely sweet. “If you need to see him again?”

Zoro shoulders her as he passes, earning a smack on his arm for the effort.

“Didn’t get to finish saying my piece, s’all.”

“I’m so sorry the children interrupted your spat with a mermaid.”

“Not a fucking spat, I gotta tell’em why he’s wrong.” Zoro grunts, resolutely stomping away from the witch. “What the fuck does a fish boy know about me, anyway?”

“Ugh,” Nami groans. “Are you going to get a complex about this?”

“Zoro doesn’t need another apartment,” Luffy chimes in from down the hall. “He’s got the one with me an’ Usopp.”

“Shut up, both of you.”

The freshwater exhibit is as impressive as the rest, although far greener than the saltwater exhibits. Astutely named The Freshwater Cascades, it’s a seven tiered series of tanks with waterfalls connecting the ones above and below each other.

Many of the tanks house trees. With hollow trucks and branches coated in shuddering vines and swathes of moss- while exposed roots offer a myriad of pathways for earth and gray-tone creatures to meander around in the water.

There’s no mermaid.

Nami helps Zoro determine the name of a brown toned fish with a long nose that they’re sure to tease Usopp about later.

Luffy snickers at the catfish’s long dangling whiskers and chomps his teeth at a tank of piranha.

They end up having time to check out the penguins on their way to the cafeteria.

There’s no mermaid there either.

Drum Island Cove is bisected into two viewing areas, one above and below the waterline of the tank. The railed section above provides a view of rounded, false rock formations surrounding a faux coastline. While below, a lower section below the waterline provides a stretch of glass where the penguins can be seen darting through clear blue seawater.

It’s a nice exhibit, Zoro can admit that much.

But the swordsman doesn’t take much interest in watching flightless birds take turns diving and chasing air bubbles arising from the bottom of the tank.

Also- no mermaid.

Zoro doesn’t find much of anything exciting after running into that damn mermaid, which in itself is just as frustrating. He tells himself it's so he can continue to argue with the bastard, but the twisting coil of his chest says otherwise.

Nami coos at the dumb birds as they waddle and splat into the water. Luffy once again gets a few of the creatures to chase him along the glass as they dart alongside him beneath the water.

They manhandle Zoro into standing beside the glass, attempting to coax a bird over to try and nip at his green crop of hair through the grass.

Luffy nearly has one of the bastards convinced when Nami checks the time and begins to fret about their deadline for lunch.

Thank the fucking seas.

The aquarium's eatery, aptly named The Galley, has a cafeteria layout. There are stalls of varied cuisine surrounding a single seating area. Beechwood dining tables and booth seating along the outer wall of the space accommodate varying sizes of groups, many of them already occupied with chattering visitors.

Next to the dining area, a massive, open mouthed fish head leads to a play area for children. A few young screams echo out from alcove with joy.

“The food smells great!” Luffy gushes.

“Not bad,” Nami comments, “Could be worse for sure.”

Zoro grunts in agreement. The individual stalls are all clean appearing, with bright pictures of their meals beneath themed titles and decor. Despite the kitschy motifs, the entire space is still rather sleek and modern.

“Neptune’s Feast, Red Line Grill, Tonnata Treats…“ Nami mutters to herself, looking around at their options.

“I want to try The Red Line Grill!” Luffy declares.

Zoro spies a neon sign for “The Calm Belt Lounge” in a dim corner of the cafeteria. Though he frowns as he realizes the solid wood doors to the separate establishment are closed with an uninviting loop of tied rope around the handles.

The gold framed sign by the door, however, looks particularly promising for listing the hours of operation. He can’t make out the text confidently, but it might be a twelve?

“Oi, Nami-” Zoro asks aside. “What time is it?”

The witch glances at him with growing skepticism before following the swordsman's eyeline.

“No.”

Zoro scowls, “I was just asking the time-.”

“Still no.”

“Hey guys!” A familiar voice hollers across the cafe, cutting off the scathing retort gathering at Zoro’s lips.

“Usopp!” Luffy whoops, scrambling across the final distance and launching himself into an excited hug with the other man. “Hey!”

“Usopp, you already have a table, thank goodness!” Nami grins, trailing after Luffy with the hem of Zoro’s shirt clutched in her claws.

“Best seats in the house!” Usopp boasts, withdrawing Luffy from his torso after a squeezing hug. With a wide grin across his features, he guides them to a booth seat.

Their table is snug up against a shallow tank of tiny coastal fish happily darting between vibrant sprigs of coral. Luffy practically shoulder checks Zoro to sit next to the glass.

“I’m glad you all made it,” Usopp continues. “Are you hungry?”

Immediately, Luffy throws his fists up into the air, whooping loudly. “Yeah!”

It’s so boisterous that it echoes off the rafters of the room and a wash of silence momentarily overtakes the cafeteria.

Nami hides her face behind her hands from onlooking gawkers while Zoro outright laughs.

“Sooo, how did yo’ like tha’ exhibits?” Usopp asks, excitedly speaking around a mouthful of fish curry.

“They were incredible,” Nami grins, her round face smushed into the palm of her cheek as her other hand remains occupied with a fork skewered into her salad. “The fish all seem really healthy.”

“I got some to follow me!” Luffy adds, waving his hand up in mimicry of a back-and-forth, “we raced along the glass, and they won!”

“Naturally!” Usopp laughs, thumbing at the buttons of his polo as he leans back into his chair. “Our fish compete in the national fish athletics competition. I train them myself!”

“Really!?” Luffy awes.

“No, dumbass, he’s lying.” Zoro chuckles, making Luffy pout.

“I didn’t know you had a mermaid here!” Nami gushes.

Zoro coughs on a slurp of his ramen, the broth splattering on his cheek and the back of his hand. He’s pretty sure he inhales an entire noodle.

Usopp grins, “You met Sanji, then?”

“Yeah!” Luffy snickers, “He’s so cool!”

“I didn’t even know there were mermaids outside of the Grand Line!” Nami adds.

Zoro nods, fucking relieved he’s not the only one to think it.

“Its not that uncommon,” Usopp brushes her off. But he’s clearly bluffing, if only to be contrary.

“Do you know any others?” Nami retorts.

“...No,” Usopp admits. “Just Sanji. He’s lived here for a long time, from what I’ve heard.”

“I guess I can see why,” Nami concedes.

Silently, Zoro agrees. He can’t imagine it’s that easy for a mermaid to make a living in the East Blue. Here, the landscape balanced land and sea. Unlike the Grand Line, where the ocean had swallowed all but a scattering of islands.

One of which was rumored to be entirely underwater. Zoro’s relatively certain that's where the mermaids lived- but doesn’t feel confident enough to bring it up.

“Food’s good,” Luffy points out.

“And the aquarium seems like a great place to work,” Nami concedes. “It’s beautiful here.”

Luffy slaps a hand on the table, “Usopp! The plants were all great!” He declares.

“Thanks!” Usopp smiles, pride clear on his features. He turns to Zoro then, who hasn’t made time between noodles to join the conversion outright. “How about you Zoro? Did you enjoy yourself?”

The swordsman swallows his current mouthful and shrugs, “Sure.”

“You can do better than that!” Nami goads, playfully kicking him in the shin. “What was your favorite fish?”

Zoro thinks of golden hair and shimmering, sapphire scales.

Not a fish… He reminds himself.

“Uh- The swordfish was cool, I guess,” Zoro grumbles.

“You would say that,” Nami sighs, as Luffy bursts into laughter.

“Shut the fuck up,” Zoro defends, scrambling for a thought. “Be neat to show the kids at the dojo, you know.”

“Oh man, that’s such a cool idea!” Usopp grins, before throwing finger guns in excitement. “You know- I could get you a discount!”

Bringing his beginner kendo class to the aquarium was, in fact, a horrible idea.

The worst idea, actually. Zoro’s lucky he at least had the forethought to bring Tashigi with him because the brats were impossible to control.

It was as if, suddenly, all of the zen and maturity that they’d cultivated within the walls of the dojo no longer existed. Even his most well-behaved students were now screeching down the hallways and shoving their noses into glass.

Fuck discounts.

“Pepper! Get back here!”

“But Carrot-”

“Has anyone seen Isa!?”

“Zoro-Sensei! I need to use the bathroom!

“Tama, look at this! It’s so ugly!”

“Awe, Rika don’t be mean. I like it!”

“Zoro-Sensei!!”

The Shandora Reef is as impressive as Zoro recalls from his first trip, and he momentarily regrets that fact that he has to count heads instead of enjoy it.

The encompassing sensation of the water is mesmerising. The rhythmic shifting of the light with the ebb and flow of minor waves is calming. It would be a perfect place to meditate, if it weren’t for the screaming children.

Might be a good test of focus, though.

Taishigi slumps onto one of the benches as the kids orbit the glass, tugging out a cloth for her glasses. Zoro counts heads a final time before following her lead. The seating is a round set of bench booths, and Zoro takes a seat opposite of Taishigi’s back so as to cover a full view of the room.

A tactical decision.

“We’re bringing Johnny or Yosaku next time,” Taishigi decides aloud.

Zoro snorts, “They’d be as bad as the students.”

She sighs, because it's only mid-morning and they’re weary.

He doesn’t know why he agreed to this.

A misguided attempt at being a good teacher?

A bout of insanity?

Suddenly, Zoro’s eye catches a dash of scattered blue as the shine of it reflects across the carpet.

A familiar voice on the speakers follows it.

“Good morning~”

Tama shrieks in excitement.

Zoro curses under his breath.

He watches the heels of his students as they all rush up to the glass, following them to find the source.

He already knows who it is and his stomach does a flutter that feels eerily similar to the bubbles that are trailing behind Sanji’s incredible tail.

The blond glides down from above with a smile, swimming until he reaches the lowest point of the water and nearest the children.

“Welcome to Shandora Reef,” he greets. His tail drifts across the reef as he pauses, the winding length of it bending and whorling between the arms of the coral.

All of the students begin talking at once.

“Are you a mermaid?”Where do you go to school!?”Do you have a bed?”Can you talk to fish?”

“Hello, yes I am a mermaid.” Sanji laughs and the bubbles that spill from his mouth tousle his hair as they scatter. “I am an educator at the aquarium, do you have any questions about the fish in this exhibit?”

“That’s so cool!”

“Hi! I’m Tama!”

“Weird.”

“Isa!” Rika shrieks above the rest, “Don’t be rude!”

Zoro smothers his palm to his face to catch his laughter.

“Mr. Mermaid, what’s that!?” Carrot shoves his finger against the glass.

Zoro follows Carrot’s direction and watches as- from beneath an outcrop of stone and rippling seaweed- a blue eel creeps from within the confines of its shadow. It slithers along the waves as the frilled fins on its sides flutter in the waves, its path nearing the area of the exhibit where Sanji is.

“A snake!” Tama cries, “Mr. Mermaid look out!”

Zoro leans forward, a furrow drawing at his brow in concern.

He hadn’t considered it before, but how safe was it really for a mermaid to be in these tanks? Were there precautions for this kind of shit?

“Not to worry,” Sanji assures, looking down as the creature as it meanders near him and curves its path alongside the length of Sanji’s tail. “This is Nola, a sharptail eel. She’s quite docile, and loves music.”

“Oh!”

“Wow!”

“Hi Nola!”

Zoro leans back against the benches in relief as Sanji grins, guiding Nola closer to the glass for the children to see the pattern of her scales. The eel seems to almost grin as it follows the slender guide of Sanji’s hands, allowing the mermaid to brush the edge of her fins and arch its side fondly against the mer’s lengthy tail.

The students continue a line of questions on Nola, Sanji, and the surrounding sea life. The blond guides them with practiced experience, always attempting to lead them back to a discussion with educational purpose.

“Do you get cold?”

“The water is quite nice in the ocean, but all sealife has their preferences. The polar salmon, for example-”

“Have you seen the bottom of the ocean?!”

“I haven’t. But there are lobsters who have.”

“What’s that?”

“That’s a grouper.”

“Can you control water?!”

“No, next question.”

“What is that!?”

“That’s a rock.”

It’s commendable, if not maddening.

And incredible entertainment.

Zoro grins. He takes it back. This trip was entirely worth it. In fact, the entertainment gives him an even better idea.

“Oi, Rika,” Zoro prompts, keeping his voice low as he garners the young girl’s attention.

She turns, trotting over to him. “Yes, Sensei?”

“Can you ask the mermaid somethin’ for me?”

Rika grins, “awe Sensei, are you shy?”

Zoro balks, “No!”

“He’s really nice!” She assures him brightly.

The swordsman drags a palm down his face.

He’s asking Onion next time.

Fuck- Why is there already a next time?

“Look,” Zoro exhales tightly, “when you get a chance, can you ask…”

“Have you ever fought a swordfish?” Rika asks loudly.

The mermaid presses his lips into a tight smile. “Please keep your questions to the creatures in this tank.” he tells Rika politely.

Zoro rolls his eyes. Lame.

Rika pouts. “But you’re in the tank,” she debates.

Sanji’s mouth falls ajar with bewilderment and Zoro has to slap a palm to his mouth in order to smother his laughter- pride bursting at the seams for his rascal student.

“Oh! Oh!” Pepper voraciously cuts in, “Have you ever fought a shark?”

Carrot gasps. “Who would win in a fight between a shark and a swordfish?”

“The swordfish, obviously!” Rika snips.

“No, the shark!” Pepper retorts.

Sanji visibly wilts in exhaustion under the barrage. “Educational questions only, please.” He encourages, the tips of his gauzy tails fluttering with irritation.

At this point, Zoro is laughing out loud, brashly watching the entire interaction with a shit-eating grin and his cheek pillowed in his fist. He also sees the moment Sanji’s eyes raise and catch sight of him at the rotunda’s benches.

At once, the loose draw of the mer’s shoulders snaps to rigidity. His curled brow drops into a furrow as suspicion fills his face.

Zoro smirks.

The mer presses a flutter of bubbles from his lips and his tail flicks sharply, drawing swirled currents in the water as he darts through the water.

The children shriek in excitement and Zoro feels his mouth fall agape.

Because- Damn, Sanji is fast. The narrow set of his shoulders streamlines him as he dances elegantly through the gaps in the coral, soars over the glass tunnel and spins to a halt in arc of the glass closest to Zoro’s seat.

Entranced, Zoro gets to his feet and walks to meet him at the glass.

A coy grin stretches across the blond’s face.

“What brings you here today, Ma~ri~mo?” He asks, drawling his vowels over the nickname with saccharine sweetness.

The kids have reached Zoro at this point and gather around his legs with a natural familiarity. Tama reaches out and snags a handful of his trousers while Isa shifts to place him between her and the mermaid.

Sanji’s attention flits down to the clutter of children gathering at Zoro’s waist, and by way his eyebrows raise in abject confusion make it clear he’s already nearing some strange, incorrect conclusion.

Zoro clears his throat. “These are my students,” he explains, raising his voice over their beginning chatter.

And he can only hope none of them know what a marimo is or he’s never going to hear the end of this.

“You’re a teacher?” Sanji parrots, his voice pitched upwards with some emotion Zoro can’t name.

“A sensei,” he clarifies with a grin, his tone bold with pride. He gives Tama a pat on the head where she’s tucked at his side. “This is Shimostuki Dojo’s beginner kendo class.”

At once- the mermaid’s face softens. A kind smile blooming as he appropriately awes over their young faces, “ah, budding swordsmen and swordswomen?”

The kids cheer, some of their small fists raising high in celebration. Zoro grins, bemused that their public exuberance extends to their kendo.

“That explains the swordfish questions,” Sanji laughs with amusement and bubbles trickle from the corners of his mouth. “Would you like to know more about those?” He asks.

“Yeah!” Their young voices holler in tandem, making Zoro chuckle.

“Very well, then. Let’s start with…”

Taishigi gives Zoro a side eye from behind her glasses when she leads the kids on towards the Grand Ocean exhibit without him. It’s a moment of grace that Zoro’s sure to pay for later if she has any trouble with them, but he can’t help that his feet feel as though they're glued to the carpet of the viewing area.

“They seem like a good group of kids,” Sanji tells him, waving a third time to Tama as she finally darts out of view from the doorway.

“They’re not usually so loud,” Zoro grumbles.

“The benefits of volume control,” the mermaid teases, flipping his hair with emphasis to show off his waterproof earpiece. Zoro pinches his lips tight, his gaze lingering on how the blond’s locks gleam under the lights as they flutter and float around the lean line of his jaw.

Nola, the something-or-other eel, glides around the edge of Sanji’s hips, meandering through the current on her way back to her shadowy shelf in the ruins. Despite the reassurance that the eel was harmless, it didn’t put off the itch of concern.

Zoro briefly follows her path before speaking up. “Do you swim in all of the exhibits?”

“Most of them…” Sanji hums. His voice trailing off with an air of nonchalance. “Some are easier to traverse than others.”

The swordsman chews on his words before finally asking. “Because it’s dangerous?”

The blond huffs, “I mean the freshwater doesn’t do any favors to my scales- but it’s not like I… wait....” Sanji halts, his lips curving into a smirk. “Marimo~ Are you worried about me?” He teases, his tone smooth despite the static edge of the speakers.

“Tch- No,” Zoro spits out with a grimace.

“Don’t fret, Mosshead.” The mermaid grins, his fangs glinting with the curve of his lips. “I assure you… The most dangerous creature in this aquarium- is me.”

Zoro swallows around a dry throat as his brain screeches to a halt. Frantic, he scrambles for something to distract from the heat gathering at the back of his neck.

He shifts his eyes aside and points to the nearest fish.

“That guppy looks tougher than you,” he blurts out.

“That’s an angelfish,” Sanji corrects him flatly.

Zoro scowls. “I don’t know what that is.”

“I literally just told you,” Sanji scoffs. “It’s an angelfish.”

Zoro glares at the angelfish and considers it.

“That angelfish looks tougher than you,” he decides.

The mermaid sneers, the narrow of his blue irises piercing and the light of the exhibit highlighting the sharpness of his jaw. “I will throw you in with the sharks.”

Zoro grins, “I’ll fight a shark.”

Suddenly, a series of shrill voices holler from the hallway,

“Marimo-Sensei!”

Zoro’s mouth falls agape.

“Come on Marimo-Sensei!”

“Marimo-sensei!”

“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” the swordsman groans, smothering his curse with his palm as Tama and Onion wave at him from the doorway to the exhibit.

“Aha-!” Sanji openly bends at the waist with the force of his laughter, his tail shuddering and bubbles spewing from his mouth. “Ohmygod- Marimo-senesi!” He echoes, the syllables fumbled through the speakers from his movement.

“This is your fault,” Zoro spits, running a hand roughly through his hair.

Sanji lets out a final heaving grin, “I’m honored,” he assures him.

What a dickwad.

“Marimo-Sensei!” Rika is at the doorway now. She’s got her nose scrunched up and is looking fit to come drag him away.

Which is absolutely something she would do if Zoro doesn’t head their way.

“Sensei!”

“I heard,” he calls back, his voice rough.

With a groan, Zoro drags his heels away from the glass, snarling over his shoulder as he throws out a last ditch, “I hope Nola eats you.”

“You remembered her name!” Sanji brightens. “You’re a big softie, aren’t you?” He coos, waving the swordsman off with a flutter of his fingertips. “Bye-bye, Marimo-sensei!”

Zoro’s return to the aquarium two weeks later is Nami’s fault.

And Usopp’s, but Nami specifically is to blame for Zoro’s involvement.

Usopp had left his favorite goggles at her place over the weekend while working on her bathroom. And he’d also had the grace to only realize this early Monday morning.

Therefore, since Zoro’s first class wasn’t until mid-afternoon, Nami had asked him to deliver them to the panicking herbologist.

To which Zoro had kindly replied; “Hell no.”

To which Nami had politely suggested; “Do it- or I’m raising your debt another hundred berri!”

Because she’s a blackmailing witch.

Zoro truds to the entrance of the aquarium with the enthusiasm of a condemned man; glaring at the glossy blue floor tiles when he finds they too closely resemble the shimmer of blue eyes.

The swordsman had managed to keep Nami from increasing his debt, but he’s not yet sure what the full cost of this decision will be.

Zoro’s used to feeling surefooted, his decisions solid and his emotions constrained. That damn mermaid just sends him off-kilter. Even thinking about the blond makes his heart tighten and his skin feel staticky.

It’s either rage or attraction.

Or, even more concerningly, both.

Zoro shakes himself off his wandering thoughts.

If all goes to plan- he’ll just drop the goggles off with the staff at the entrance. There’s no reason he needs to actually enter any exhibits.

Absolutely no reason for any mermaid encounters.

The swordsman stomps up to the administrative booth with his fist tightened around the straps of Usopp’s goggles.

“Welcome to the Sambas Bay Aquarium, “ A teenager greets him, her customer service smile so bright it makes Zoro squint.

“Roronoa Zoro,” he announces himself with a drawl. “I have a drop off for Usopp.”

“Ah, I heard we might be expecting you! Just a moment!” She tweets, smiling up until the moment steps out of sight.

The time Zoro waits is damning. The longer he exists within these walls, the higher his chances of running into the blond bastard.

It’s just statistics.

Finally, after what feels like forever, but what might only have been a handful of minutes, an elegant woman is sent out to deal with him. She has raven hair that neatly aligns around her shoulders and eyes as sharp as a blade.

“Good morning,” She greets, “My name is Nico Robin, I’m the Conservation Director here. Usopp mentioned you might be coming by today; let me escort you to him.”

“Uh,” Zoro grimaces- because this is the opposite of what he wants. “It’s cool, you can just send’em back,” He offers, holding out the googles.

Robin doesn’t move, “It would be unkind of me not to allow Usopp to offer his gratitude in person.”

Zoro clenches his jaw. “I don’t want to take up your time,” he insists.

“It’s no bother, I assure you.”

Zoro scowls.

Robin smiles in reply.

She doesn’t even blink.

“Fine.”

“Of course, Sir.” Robin replies, as if she’s relenting to his request. “Follow me.”

She leads him through the cafeteria, and then down a few dim hallways. Passing supply closets and restrooms before they end at a hefty metal door which reads EMPLOYEES ONLY.

Robin enters a code out of Zoro’s eyeline and the latch of the door thunks open.

“Please keep your hands to yourself,” she orders, her tone polite and her eyes slanted with the hinge of a threat.

“Sure,” Zoro swallows.

Robin leads him through a series of corridors. The walls and floors are stark white, steel beams are braced at occasional intervals and exposed pipes that snake into the rafters above.

The metal surfaces of the pipework dewy with condensation and the scent of brine overtakes Zoro’s senses, the air taking on weighted humidity.

“Usopp’s been quite distraught today by the lack of his equipment,” Robin shares idly.

Zoro chuckles at the verbage, “So he’s been whining?”

Robin glances over with a faint smile, “Quite.”

After a few further turns, the woman halts them at another metal door. “Here you are,” she says, turning the hefty latch and holding the door open for Zoro to enter. “Feel welcome to have Usopp send for me when you depart.”

“Thanks,” Zoro grunts.

He steps in, and the brightness of the space makes him blink.

It’s a set of connected rooms- holding the ambiance of a laboratory, but the contents of a watery greenhouse. Exposed tanks are scattered across clean white tiles with a variety of contents.

Most of the tanks are shallow and wide, but there are others tall enough that step ladders have been set up at their sides.

At the noise of their entry, a head pops out from behind a towering tank housing a twisting height of waxy, green kelp.

“Zoro!” Usopp cries in excitement at the sight of him, “Oh my god, do you have-”

“Right here,” the swordsman cuts him off; lifting the goggles up for him to see.

“Thank you!” Usopp lifts his hands up in praise before rushing the distance.

Zoro waits until the other man is a few steps away before hucking the object at his chest. Usopp yelps as they crash into his arms, fumbling for a moment before he gets a better hold.

“You owe me,” The swordsman growls.

“You have done a noble deed today!” Usopp gushes. “My dear Eriocaulon cannot thank you enough!”

“Your eunuch can repay me by slimming my debt with Nami.”

“Ugh,” Usopp visibly wilts, shoving his goggles into the pocket of his cargo pants as he grumbles about the penance of knowledge or some shit.

“Yeah,” Zoro agrees with a snort. He crosses his arms and leers about the room, frowning as he takes in the odd setups of the tanks.

They appear closely tended. A few even have dark canvases draped over their glass shoulders or extra lamps pointed into the water.

Each individually adjusted or coddled in some fashion or other.

“So do you just like… babysit water plants all day?”

Usopp gasps at his statement and Zoro briefly wonders if he’s going to regret voicing it aloud.

“Zoro! My friend! My confidant! I’m not a babysitter! I am nurturing! I am the bringer of life to brine! Let me show you what incredible specimens I have in-”

An hour later, Usopp finally runs out of breath and Zoro cannot fathom there is a single new fact about sea flora he could possibly ever need to know in his damn life.

“Usopp,” The swordsman finally interrupts, watching the hour hand on the clock. “I’ve got a class at two,” he gripes.

“Ah, you’re right, sorry.” Usopp nudges him with his elbow, “I’ll get you back to the entrance, c’mon.”

Zoro follows his friend with lazy steps. He’s led once more through a series of twisting employee tunnels. Occasionally, Usopp points out the door to an exhibit or another.

Most doors- Usopp explains, lead to the exhibits observation rafters. The metal structures that intertwine across each of the aquariums tanks for access to feeding, monitoring, or diving.

The swordsman briefly wonders how they tote a mermaid around between exhibits, but at this point he’s afraid of asking Usopp any more open-ended questions.

The next hallway they reach comes with a strange squeaking noise.

“The Sunken Tropics is my favorite exhibit…” Usopp chatters idly.

Zoro really does intend to keep this mouth shut at this point. But the errant screeching grows louder as they head down the hall and he really thinks the question is warranted at this point.

“Usopp,” he scowls. “The hell is that sound?”

“Squawking.” Usopp answers with a smirk. “We’re near the penguins.”

“Damn,” Zoro raises his eyebrows. “They’re noisy.”

“Yeah,” he laughs, “the visitors' glass muffles a lot.”

As they reach a door with a round glass porthole, Usopp pauses, pivoting to stand on his tiptoes and peer in. “Ah, no wonder they’re being talkative. Sanji is entertaining them right now.”

“What?” Zoro deadpans.

Usopp tilts his chin back, “Do you want to say hi?”

“No.”

“You sure?”

Zoro’s stomach flops. “Very sure.”

“Bidididi!”

Abruptly, Usopp’s watch pings a reminder. “Oh- shit- Shit-! I’ve got a meeting with the exhibit designers!”

“Take me to the entrance,” Zoro reminds him.

The herbologist grimaces, “I really gotta get to this meeting.”

“Then take me with you.”

“Are your shoes non-slick?” Usopp ignores him, looking pointedly down at Zoro’s boots before nodding to himself. “Yeah, they look fine.”

“Fine for what- wait-.”

Without any humane thought, Usopp opens the exhibit door and drags the swordsman through the entrance. A blast of chilled air and the sharp tang of fish overtake his senses as he’s tugged onto a false rock surface. “Sorry, Zoro, this is really important. I’ll be back soon.” Usopp assures.

“The fuck-!”

“You’ll have fun!” Usopp waves him off, already halfway back out the door. Then, as if in afterthought- he adds, “just watch your fingers.”

“The fuck do you mean- Usopp!” Zoro’s exclamation rebounds against the sealed metal door to the exhibit. He puts his hand on the lever and twists, irritation flaring as it doesn’t budge.

Surely, it wouldn’t be locked?

As if penguins can work a doorhandle?

Zoro looks down and groans in irritation.

There’s a damn keypad.

The swordsman pivots, grimacing as he takes in the exhibit he’s been forced into. He’d seen it before from the visitors area. About half the space was created to be the mimicry of rounded bluffs surrounding a moderately flat shelf of rock.

At the further end of the exhibit, the edge of the rock dips directly into the water, leading into what Zoro assumes is the underwater section of where the viewing area could see.

And damn, the glass really didn’t do the sound justice.

Penguins are noisy as fuck. Their flat webbed feet pattering around the faux stone surfaces and chattering with ever-constant noises from their small beaks.

And if that weren’t annoying enough, there’s a blond mermaid sitting at the edge of the rock, his blue tail stretching out into the water where it’s slowly drawing wakes across the surface.

It’s kind of jarring. Seeing the mermaid without a pane of glass to separate them. Logically, Zoro knows Sanji exists. The mermaid’s been haunting his thoughts to a ridiculous degree, for sea's sake.

But staring at him mere feet away, without the waver of seawater or the glare of glass between them- It’s a different experience entirely.

His smooth, pale skin is clearly defined beneath the lights. Zoro can see his bare back. His torso- shaped by the lean, muscular shoulders rising and the dip of a trim waist.

All of it feels real in a way that’s weighted.

Tangible.

Sanji’s blond hair is dry, falling in soft, fluffy waves. And with the way his chin is turned- Zoro can almost see the way it frames the line of his jaw…

Without thought, Zoro steps forward- and immediately catches his footing. The rubber-sole of his boot twisting on the false stone and letting out a high pitched glean that spurs Sanji to turn.

“Marimo?” Sanji's voice screeches, his eyebrows rising to his hairline as he stares- incredulous, at the other man.

It’s the first time Zoro’s heard the blond speak without the muffle of the exhibit speakers, so it takes him a moment to gather himself.

Once Sanji’s shock diminishes, however- He swiftly begins cursing.

“What the fuck are you doing in here?!”

Sanji’s cursing also feels very real.

“Uh,” Zoro processes, “Usopp.”

“That doesn’t explain shit!” The blond curses again.

Zoro clenches his jaw, glancing over his shoulder at the very-sealed door before continuing. “I was trying to get to the exit; Usopp was supposed to take me there but his alarm went off and he said he had to go and he shoved me in here and said he’d be back.”

Sanji stares back at him for a moment, mouth parted. Then, with a drop of his shoulders, the blond’s ire deflates. “You are fortunate, Marimo, that I know Usopp well enough to believe that stupid story.”

Zoro isn’t sure how to reply to that.

A penguin waddles near before he can think to continue the conversation, and Zoro diverts his attention to avidly watching the bird as it slaps on by, its useless wings held out as it balances.

He recalls Usopp’s warning and tucks all his fingers into his palms.

“...You seriously intend to stand there the whole time?”

Zoro frowns, looking up to the mermaid who smirks back at him and tilts his head in invitation.

“Shithead.” Zoro mumbles to himself. Carefully, the swordsman takes a few tentative steps forward, confirming the stability of his footing before he makes his way to the cusp of the water.

The mermaid tilts his head up from where he sits leisurely beside him, watching Zoro with an ease that's nearly unsettling.

“If you fall in, I’ll fish you out,” Sanji assures him, though his lips are crooked in an amused smile that makes Zoro question the sentiment.

“I can swim just fine,” Zoro grumbles.

Penguins squawk erratically in their surroundings and Zoro watches as a few of the birds glide beneath the water, twisting and darting in the currents.

There’s a beat of uncertainty as he stands awkwardly in the center of the exhibit. Though Zoro could admit, if pressed, that his attention remained solely on the mermaid in his periphery.

Beside him, Sanji is sitting with his glistening blue tail stretched out along the faux rock surface of the exhibit. About the point at which human knees might reside, his long tail gracefully dips into the water where the rocks end.

Zoro follows its path and watches as Sanji’s tail undulates shallowly in the water, the scales shimmering and his accessory fins fluttering in the light as he wavers it back and forth.

“If Usopp has left you until he finishes his meeting, you might as well sit down,” Sanji suggests.

Zoro grimaces, still feeling awkward from the environment and the presence of the beautiful creature beside him.

Also, he’s not sure how great he feels about getting closer to the beady-eyed birds.

He’s at least fortunate that the current time of day is too early to bring visitors to the aquarium. But he still has until Usopp returns to escape from this fishy attraction.

With a brief shuffle of his boots, Zoro squats to sit next to the mermaid, letting his knees butterfly as a scowl overtakes his features. The stone is damp and it leeches into the warmth of his thighs.

Zoro lets out a measured breath. And helpfully, his brain decides to calculate the distance between himself and the mer.

It then subsequently short circuits.

Beside him, Sanji leans forward until he catches Zoro’s direct attention, a quirk of a smile on his lips.

“You look incredibly uncomfortable.” He points out.

The swordsman groans at the blatant statement. “I wasn't expecting to hang out with penguins, today.”

The blond smirks. “Is it terrifying?”

“They’re fucking noisy,” he grumbles, peering over his shoulder to watch a bird waddle nearby before leaping into the water.

Sanji huffs a laugh and leans back on his palms. “True enough,” he murmurs. His tail shifts in the water and a penguin diving beneath the surface twirls itself into the change of the current. “It doesn’t bother me so much- I’m used to a raucous.”

“The other exhibits are plenty relaxing," Zoro argues.

“You prefer the calm over the storm?”

He shrugs, “I like meditation.”

“There’s yoga on Tuesdays," Sanji suggests.

“That is not the same thing,” Zoro deadpans over the mer’s amused smile.

“Or well, there’s also an annual pass.” The blond tries again, gaze shifting away as he speaks. “We have lots of regulars. Artists, writers, admirers- you name it.”

Zoro backtracks, “Admirers?”

“Oh you know. Like those avid- Oh-, Sanji cuts off short, leaning over to peer around the swordsman with excitement. “Awe, look at that… Someone is coming to say hello,” he croons.

Zoro turns and freezes, watching with hesitation as a penguin no taller than the height of his shins shunts off from the group and begins meandering their direction.

Its wings are held out for balance as it waddles and hops across the rocks, and its beady eyes are locked onto Sanji’s tail.

Zoro glares at the creature, “What does it want?”

Sanji smothers laughter between pinched lips, “that’s one of our newer transfers from the Shell’s Town Conservatory. He’s a scrappy little thing; been very curious about me.”

Just as warned, the young penguin waddles closer with a direct path towards the mermaid. When he reaches them, the bird creeps up closer to where Sanji’s long tail rests at the edge of the rock, just before it dangles off into the water.

His head dips and bobs for a moment, his wings raising and lowering to watch his balance. Then, fearlessly, he gets closer and nips at the scales of Sanji’s tail.

“Oi!” Zoro snaps. He outstretches a hand, ready to shove the bugger into the water, when Sanji abruptly grabs his arm. “Wha-?”

“He’s fine, Marimo!” Sanji chides, bizarrely unbothered as the penguin nibbles and tugs on his scales. “He’s just preening me.”

“He’s what?” Zoro huffs, trying not to focus on the fact that Sanji now has his entire arm clutched to his bare chest.

“Preening,” Sanji repeats, “he’s picking out the loose scales, the ones ready to shed.”

Zoro doesn’t reply for a moment. He can feel the brush of fine chest hair against the back of his hand and he’s pretty sure his forefinger is touching a collarbone. He swallows tightly and feels his ears begin to burn.

The penguin nips another scale from Sanji’s tail and lets it drop carelessly onto the rock.

“He looks like he’s trying to eat you,” the swordsman grumbles.

“It’s a sign of care.” Sanji murmurs, with a quirk of his lips. “It can be uncomfortable to have old scales or feathers hanging about.”

Zoro scowls, unconvinced.

Sanji snickers, keeping hold of Zoro’s arm as the penguin continues to pluck at his tail. “And here I thought this little one would be a menace,” he coos.

The penguin draws back with a beakful of loose scales, shaking his head to rid of them before diving back in for more.

“He still looks like one to me,” Zoro gripes.

“He’s a devoted little sweetheart.” Sanji argues, remaining still as the penguin keeps at his work. “Who… doesn’t actually have a name yet,” the mer shares, his eyes alight with purpose.

“How about Bastard?” Zoro suggests.

The blond scrunches his nose up, “I think not.”

Zoro sighs, and looks at the creature once more with more thought.

“Onigiri, then,” he suggests.

Sanji hums, considering, before he replies, “That’s pretty cute.” He tilts his head. “Because he’s black and white?”

Zoro frowns. “Cause if he treats you like food then I’ll treat him like food,” he decides.

“Marimo- He’s not trying to eat me.” Sanji snorts, leaning back on his elbows as Onigiri continues to preen the scales of his tail with a single-minded diligence.

Zoro grins, following the lean line of the blond’s form and the curve of his smile. “I’ll believe it when I see it, Curls.”

Upon purchase of a Sambas Bay Aquarium Annual Pass, Zoro had been handed a card stamped in the shape of a seashell, the surface carrying a metallic pearl sheen and a looping script declaring him proprietor of aquarium membership.

Zoro had then immediately been informed that the card was entirely decorative and he only had to show his ID when he arrived.

He shoves it into his pocket anyway and makes his way to the main atrium. He notices the signs for The Sunken Tropics beneath the familiar dim lighting of the hallways and heads towards the arrow.

Zoro did not get the annual pass because of a mermaid.

He plans to get in some decent meditation sessions during his off hours from work.

Between Usopp and Luffy existing at their shared apartment, and his colleagues at the Dojo, it isn’t uncommon for him to be interrupted during his usual meditation sessions. And while it was beneficial to test one's focus time and again, there was still a special kind of serenity that came from being able to fully clear his head.

It’s an entirely valid reason.

And if Zoro happened to catch sight of a pretty blond mer while he was here… it wouldn’t be an unwelcome turn of events.

Zoro meanders the hallways of the aquarium for a good while following the signs for the Sunken Tropics. But he’s beginning to think their signage must be shit on purpose to keep people from leaving, because he passes the Shandora Reef at least three times before he finally reaches the pirate ship exhibit.

The swordsman finds a bench near the back of the viewing area, out of the way but still within range to bask under the glow of the figurehead’s smile. With practiced ease, he tucks his feet up and rests his palms upon his knees.

He presses a long breath from his lungs and focuses on clearing his mind beneath the haze of blue and the mild hum of water pumps.

Most visitors aren’t a bother, at least.

There’s a few families that chatter as they pass, but it’s leagues away from the chaos of his own apartment.

At one point, a security guard with neon blue hair prods at his shoulder to check on him. It’s somewhat awkward, but after a quick reassurance of his intentions the man leaves him be.

Before he steps away, the guard informs Zoro about the aquarium's scheduled quiet times- Two hours in the early morning, and the hour just prior to closing.

Which sounds great, and thankfully there are a few nights a week that Zoro doesn’t have classes to teach. Adjusting his schedule to meet those would be relatively easy.

After an hour or so of meditation, Zoro untucks himself from the bench and shakes out his limbs. A loose calm seeping into his joints. The sway of waves served well to calm the vestiges of his mind.

A new weekly routine already budding in the back of his mine, Zoro makes his way back to the entrance.

No mermaids needed.

Zoro begins visiting the aquarium during the scheduled quiet hours a couple times a week.

He arrives, and lets his feet guide his way until he reaches an exhibit that suits his preferences for the day. He spends an hour or two basking under the blue hues of the water, focusing on the ebb and flow of the waves, and winds his way out.

He does this for three weeks.

And not once does he run into a mermaid.

During a mid-afternoon trip, Zoro finds his footsteps heavier than necessary as he tromps around looking for the Freshwater Cascades.

The swordsman tells himself that his irritation stems from having to adjust his routine for this visit, and not the fact that he’s yet to see a single cerulean scale of the blond bastard since their interaction with the penguins.

He could ask Usopp, of course. But that would be admitting defeat.

Damnation, in truth.

Sure, Sanji had been the one to suggest he buy the pass, but it’s not as if Sanji had asked him to come by. And a membership certainly didn’t entitle Zoro to his time.

In the midst of his consternation, Zoro’s path stomps past a wide red-framed archway with the swooping curves of a pagoda. The view makes him pause.

He doesn’t recall this particular exhibit.

Intrigue peaked, Zoro pivots to stride into the unfamiliar location. The focus of which is immediately obvious by the sign he passes- the text of which is snug in the jaw of a shark.

The exhibit is unusual and Zoro halts for a moment to take it in. While other exhibits placed visitors beside the water, this one has them overlooking it.

The surface of the water sits a couple feet below the soles of his feet, and holding him aloft are the planks of an aged wooden boardwalk. The walkway wraps around the exhibit in a square- with sections branching to the center where there resides a grand crimson pagoda, a shiny golden point at its peak.

Overall, the schema is impressive.

The railings of the boardwalk are painted a vivid red and consist of three rungs, the top of it reaching above Zoro’s head. A nudge of his toe confirms that a thick plexiglass stretches between the rungs, which is equally disappointing and as it is reassuring. Each post of the railing is decorated by inset models of shark teeth. Their surfaces smoothed for tactile, small hands to explore.

Zoro lets his feet guide him as he follows the boardwalk around to the opposite side of the exhibit and peers down into the depths of the water. Lights from below silhouette the creatures as they glide between the structural posts of the boardwalk.

Beneath the water, the posts are surrounded by towering rock formations. Tendrils of plants flutter from where they’ve tucked between the cracks in the stone.

A matte gray shark glides upwards and into closer view from the surface and Zoro’s eyebrows raise in impress. It’s massive. The angled points of its fins cleave through the water with the efficiency of a blade, yet its skin dulls the reflection of the water as if cloaked in velvet.

A honed predator.

Zoro admires the different sharks as he spies different sizes, shapes, and colorations. Unbidden, he recalls that Sanji had said he was the most dangerous creature in the aquarium.

That he frequented most exhibits.

Did that include this one?

He pictures Sanji gliding through the water, his gorgeous form brushing fins with the deadly creatures without fear…

Zoro then just as quickly chooses to push the thought from his mind before he can properly form an opinion on it.

Briefly, the swordsman wonders why they hadn’t stopped at this exhibit on his first trip with Luffy and Nami. However the question answers itself as quickly as it arises in his mind.

Nami had held the map on their trip, of whom has an outspoken aversion to sharks.

Never trust a biased navigator.

After Zoro sates his curiosity for the predators, he turns towards the pagoda in the center. The enticing structure looking perfect for meditation. He’s surprised then, when the pagoda turns out to be an entrance to a set of stairs, spiraling down to an intimate viewing area facing one half of the exhibit from underwater.

Pleased, Zoro sits himself in the middle and closes his eyes. He enjoys basking in the weight of the presence from the large creatures, the coiled power in the atmosphere.

As he finds focus, the shadows of the sharks measured swimming darken his lids like the low set of a metronome.

Zoro leaves Sawtooth Pier with a clear mind, and the urge to find a damn map so he can get back there again.

Thus far, The Sunken Tropics was his preferred location, and it would likely stay as such, but the Sawtooth Pier was a close second. He found that honing his mind to the surroundings of the graceful beasts was invigorating.

The sign for the Grand Ocean catches his eye as he passes it and the swordsman sours when his thoughts cycle back to the blond he’s not supposed to be thinking about.

“This big boy is a Tarpon."

As if summoned, Sanji’s voice trickles out from the entrance to the open ocean exhibit, and Zoro’s pace skitters to a halt, waiting- as if he’s hallucinated it.

“It’s huge!” a male voice speaks next, boyish and young. A teenager, Zoro suspects.

“They look intimidating but they only eat smaller fish and algae.”

It is him.

Unable to resist- Zoro takes the few steps necessary to take him within view of the exhibit. He takes stock of two people standing together on one of the elevated viewing platforms; a boy and a girl.

Definitely teenagers, the acne and stench of overcompensation in the room alone were enough to prove it.

Sanji, meanwhile, is tucked up on a narrow rock shelf. His tail is dangling casually off the ledge, the length of shimmering in the light as it twists languidly between the flora. A school of bright yellow fish are playfully swimming in circles around its circumference.

“I like the fin on its back!” The girl declares with a giggle. “The long one- it’s like a ponytail!”

“Just like yours,” the boy teases, reaching up to tug lightly on the end of the girl's hair and making her blush.

“Hey!” The girl chides, a falsely sweet tone to her voice.

It makes Zoro want to gag.

Sanji, however, seems to be handling the situation differently. The mermaid is wearing a smile on his lips but it’s not reaching the blue of his eyes. There’s a depth to his features that’s carved with weariness, and something…. Softer, that Zoro can’t place.

Unable to bear the teenage awkwardness any longer- and feeling brash with irritation, Zoro barges into the viewing area; his steps heavy and his stride sure.

“Oi,” Zoro barks, pulling weight into his tone like he does when his students are out of line. Predictably, the brats stiffen, and the two teens turn on an axis as if culled by an inherent adolescent fear.

Except it’s not the kids that Zoro wants to talk to.

Sanji flits his eyes over, widening as they take in the swordsman’s form drawing near. “Marimo?”

“Where’ve you been?” The swordsman asks outright.

“I- what?” The mer balks, his tailfin flicking at the very end of its point. “Me!?”

Zoro crosses his arms. Behind him, the kids scatter, the rubber soles of their shoes patter against the floor as they hasten out of the viewing hall.

“I’ve been coming by for a month.” He complains.

“You-” Sanji’s curled eyebrows hit his hairline. “You have?” He echoes, his voice soft. And it’s likely a trick of the light from the reflecting coral, but it almost looks as if the mermaid’s cheeks have tinted pink.

And Zoro suddenly realizes what the absolute fuck he’s said.

Chest tight- He sucks on his teeth and hastens to cover his tracks. “I got a membership so I can come by for meditation.” He shrugs, in an attempt to downplay it. “Woulda thought I’d see you around.”

Sanji’s coiled tail lifts from its lax position in the water and begins to sway and curl in the water. “So the Moss has been coming by to photosynthesize.” He teases, a bemused smile on his lips.

“My roommates are noisy as hell.” Zoro grumbles.

The points of Sanji’s fangs hook over his bottom lip as he smiles and Zoro tries unsuccessfully to not stare.

“Have you been looking for me?”

Zoro’s gaze shoves sideways, avoiding the bright blue of the mer’s eyes. “Maybe I want to know when you’re gonna be around so I can avoid you,” he gripes.

The blond snickers and tilts his head, his hair floating around his face like a halo. “Well I haven’t gone anywhere.” He says. “And there's very few hours I’m not in one of the exhibits during the week. When exactly have you been coming by?”

The confident lilt of Sanji’s voice inspires the consideration that Zoro’s possibly landed his foot in his stomach rather than his mouth.

“During the quiet hours… mostly.” He admits.

“I see…” Sanji slips himself off of the rock shelf and glides closer to the glass. His tail flourishing in a flick of amusement as his hair flutters in the waves. “Tell me then, Moss. Do you think visitors want someone yapping education to them during the quiet hours?”

Zoro’s thoughts halt to a blank.

“Ah- There now- I can see now that the wheels are beginning to turn,” Sanji coaxes him, twisting partially in the water as he spins his lithe hand in a circle, “don’t hurt yourself.”

The swordsman groans in irritation. “You’re the bitchiest mermaid I’ve ever met, you know that?”

“And you’d make a very poor stalker,” Sanji comments with a smile.

“I make up for it in persistence,” Zoro promises.

Sanji smiles and Zoro’s gaze lingers on the warmth that seeps into the sea-blue of his eyes. “I’ll believe it when I see it, Marimo.”

The next time Zoro comes by the aquarium, he makes sure it’s not during the scheduled quiet hours.

It’s a sacrifice to the efficiency of his meditation sessions and it feels a bit pathetic, but he’s spurned on by the thought of Sanji’s glittering smile.

Bastard.

It only takes him half an hour to reach the Sunken Tropics this go round, which might be a record. The ram’s head smiles at him in greeting as he strides into the exhibit and Zoro nods back in familiar reverence.

He makes his way towards his preferred seat against one of the far benches, one that’s decorated as if it were encircling a ship's mast.

He shakes the tension out of his shoulders as he gets into position, tucking his feet up and settling in.

As he focuses and sinks into the calm of the exhibit, a few visitors pass by. Despite it not being the quiet hours, most are respectful of his presence and keep their voices low.

Zoro catches the crumple of snack bags, the excited patter of children's shoes, and the hushed voices of an elderly couple lingering to discuss the creatures of the exhibit. He lets the sound pass in and through him like the rush of a stream.

Not letting it linger, not letting it build.

It’s peaceful enough Zoro gets a solid hour of serenity. And as he pulls himself from a decent session, he curls his fingers into his palms and rolls his neck in a stretch.

With a familiar hesitance, he blinks himself aware- He takes in the radiant blues of the exhibit, the darting glimmer of fish beyond the glass, the warm glow of the ship's white trim.

And the curious blue eyes of a blond mer curled around the figurehead.

Zoro grins before he can think better of it, unraveling his legs and moving to stand.

Sanji is lounging along the railing of the sunken ship, his tail twisting between the posts as his arms pillow his chin atop the figurehead. His gentle blue eyes are directly on Zoro as his tailfins flit idly back and forth in the water.

“You been staring at me?” The swordsman asks, a prideful lilt to his voice.

“Everyone has been quiet out of kindness because you look as if you’ve passed out on our benches,” Sanji drawls. “It’s been very boring.”

Zoro chuckles, walking up until he’s closer to the glass. Sanji blinks and Zoro wonders how the water feels against his eyes. He wonders how it might feel to brush the soft blond strands back from his face; with or without the water.

He meets Sanji’s bright blue gaze and his stomach twists.

“Is there… any pressing education you need to share?” Zoro checks.

Sanji pouts in thought, and the movement scrunches an adorable wrinkle into the bridge of his nose. His tail furls around the figurehead with a comfortable familiarity and he drapes a slender arm around one of the ram’s horns. Finally, his features relax, a gentle smile spreading across his face.

“This… is Merry,” the mermaid shares.

“Merry?”

“The Going Merry, formally,” Sanji declares.

Zoro smirks, “Usopp?”

“Yes,” Sanji remarks, leaning around Merry’s neck to gently nudge a starfish away from her eye. “Though she was already quite popular before he began working here.”

“She’s… nice.” The swordsman admits, honest, though he struggles to find the words. There’s a reason that he’s kept returning to the Sunken Tropics for his usual meditation spot. The ship’s calm presence is a balm to the psyche, as if familiar, in some way.

“Usopp says she carried the crew of the Pirate King,” Sanji shares, his voice heavy with fond dramaticism. “That she bore the dreams of their crew to the ends of the sea.”

Zoro whistles, “That’s a heavy passage.”

“Mh-hm,” the mer agrees, his tail flitting idly in the water. “The crew of the Pirate King…They must have been incredible people.”

“The greatest and strongest,” Zoro agrees, his tone solemn.

“You think?” Sanji hums with an air of amusement.

Zoro watches as bubbles rise from the bed of the exhibit and brush around the skin of Sanji’s waist. The fine trace of bubbles tumbling into the lean divot of his hips and continuing to rise until they catch and flutter around the curve of his throat.

“Who do you think you would be?” Sanji asks, his voice quiet through the speakers. “If you were a crew member of the Pirate King?”

“A swordsman,” Zoro answers. It’s immediate, a gut reaction that requires no further thought. The weight of a hilt in his hand, the reach of a blade and the grace of its wielding. It’s engrained to him, in a way nothing else has ever felt right.

Sanji doesn’t immediately respond, his tail shimmers in the light of the exhibit as the appendage wavers idly in the waves. The scales catch the dappled light with a glittering purpose.

“I think I’d be the cook,” Sanji admits, a bashful flush to his cheeks. His voice carries with a sincerity that’s weighted even through the trill of the speakers and Zoro latches onto like ambrosia.

“You like to cook?”

“I love to,” He answers, his tailfin fluttering in the waves. “It’s my dream to open a restaurant on the coast. Where the catch is fresh and the produce is crisp. Where the breeze of the sea can reach the kitchen…” His voice trails off, a wistful smile spread across his face.

It burns something within Zoro’s chest, watching Sanji spill his dreams from the opposite side of the glass. “If you want to open a restaurant, then why are you here?”

The blond snorts, pushing bubbles from his nose. “Opening a restaurant takes berri, Marimo.”

Zoro concedes the point with a nod. There couldn’t be many jobs in the East Blue which would cater to someone with a tail. He briefly wonders about the logistics of running a restaurant with a tail, as well, but thinks it might be insensitive to question it.

“What about you? Do you enjoy being a kendo instructor?” Sanji asks, turning the conversation around.

“Yeah,” Zoro grins, “swords are my passion.”

“I have to admit;” the blond muses, “I wouldn’t have pictured you as the type to teach children for a living.”

“S’not only kids. Or classes, for that matter.” Zoro tells him firmly. “I plan to take the world championship someday.”

“That’s a lofty dream,” Sanji commends.

The swordsman crooks a smile, “Worthy of the Pirate King, you think?”

“Maybe.” The mermaid smiles, his tail twisting into a sweet little curl. As Sanji moves within the water, the accessory fins at his hips and along the sides of his tail flutter and shine like the whip of crushed velvet.

Impulsively, Zoro wonders how they might feel to the touch.

He tries to drag his gaze away but finds himself lingering when it reaches smooth pale skin tucked at the edge of glossy scales. And he swallows, a flush gathering at his cheeks, as he wonders how that might feel too.

“Something of interest in the exhibit, Marimo?”

Zoro jolts his attention back to Sanji’s face, where the blond is watching him in open amusement.

Realizing he’s been caught, he asks outright, “Is it weird?”

The sweet curve of Sanji’s lips upturn in a frown. “Is what weird?”

Uncertain, Zoro teeters the words on his tongue before he finally continues. “Is it weird having people stare at you through the glass.”

“Oh,” Sanji replies, a muted tone of realization. His features smooth out in something that nears fondness but is far too sly to hold the title properly.

Sanji then twists in the water, his body gleaming beneath the light of the exhibit as his fins trail like gossamer ribbons. The blond stops close enough to the glass that Zoro can see the ghost of his own face. Their lips align in the reflection and it makes his traitorous heart stutter.

When Sanji grins, the bubbles of his speech bounce against the glass.

“Why don’t you tell me?”

Zoro bites back a yawn with his knuckles as he wanders down the familiar hallways of the aquarium. He’d picked up an extra spar the night before to cover for Yosaku when the trainer had called in sick. And evidently, the extended day had ended up bleeding into tomorrow’s energy.

If he wasn’t careful, he was bound to actually end up napping on the aquarium benches.

Of which, he wasn’t against the idea by any means. It’d probably be a spectacular nap, in truth. But if Usopp got wind of it from the staff- Zoro would never hear the fucking end of it.

It’s mid-week and, thankfully, already past the morning rush of families and school trips. The hallways are sparse of large groups and most visitors Zoro passes are individuals. Regulars, he’d come to learn, not that he’s bothered retaining their faces.

The swordsman reaches a crossroads in the hallways and scowls at the sign delineating between the Sunken Tropics and the Shandora Reef.

He’d been hoping to end up at the sharks exhibit today, but with the way the hallways changing again it looked like it might not be in the cards for this trip.

He could have sworn he’d been going the right direction…

“I am not part of the exhibit. Find a question.”

The moment Zoro hears Sanji’s voice, he’s pivoting on his heel, his decision succinctly made for him as he follows it.

With the aid of the speakers, the mer can be heard from further away. The reply, however, remains muffled over the distance.

“That’s not appropriate. Find another question.”

Zoro scowls as he reads the tone. It’s not the steady chiding Sanji uses when dealing with unruly children, or the dry exasperation from working with teens.

There’s a tension wrapped in his words that makes Zoro’s jaw tighten. Sanji isn’t just giving an order. He’s upset.

Zoro picks up his steps. The signs and familiar architecture indicate he’s nearing the Sunken Tropics.

A man’s voice becomes audible as Zoro cuts the distance.

“-don’t be like that.” The voice drawls, his words dripping with uncaring leisure. “Give a twirl, teach me how you look from every angle.”

“Move on to the next exhibit.”

“With a pretty thing like you on display here? Why would I?”

“I request you leave.”

When Zoro takes the final turn into the tropics he doesn’t bother halting his step towards the only person within the viewing area.

It’s a broad shouldered bastard, unacquainted with leg exercises, and who’s got one grubby hand planted on the tank of the glass between him and the mermaid.

A mer that currently looks furious.

Sanji is the only creature in his section of the exhibit. All the other fish have scattered, maintaining a width of haloed clear blue at Sanji’s back.

Zoro’s perception of the twelve foot wall of glass pinpoints the invasive placement of the man’s hand against Sanji’s shape through the glass.

The bastard also hasn’t noticed Zoro’s arrival. This gives the swordsman the honor of clamping his grip on the man’s trapezius and wrenching him away from the glass without any warning.

“Ah!” The man twists an arm back instinctively to try and free himself but Zoro grapples him down to his knees with a single maneuver. “Shit- Uh-”

“Zoro!?” Sanji’s voice spikes from the speakers.

The swordsman leans over his catch with a sharp-toothed snarl, and the man audibly gulps

“He requested you leave,” Zoro informs him, adding more pressure to his grip.

“Y-yes, um, I was just on my way out, actually,” the man stammers through his excuse.

Zoro lets his fingernails dig into the skin of the man’s neck. “I’ll escort you.”

“Zoro! That’s unnecessary!" Sanji’s voice echoes with concern from the speakers. “I already paged Franky!”

“I got it, Curly,” Zoro drawls.

The man squeaks as Zoro guides him into a stumbling walk. “The fuck kind of security is this, the marines?” He blubbers.

“Don’t worry,” Zoro reassures him, “I’m not the marines.”

“Zoro!”

“In fact-” Zoro pauses, making sure to grin at the man with all of his teeth as he tightens his grip. “I’m not even security.”

“Wh-what?”

“Marimo!!”

Every few months or so, the crew refreshes their rotating list of takeout menus and participates in what one might call society.

The effort is a feat cowed more often by available funds than it is made by any lack of interest. Not to mention the difficulty of finding a decent restaurant that hasn’t yet banned Luffy from their premises.

Their current attempt results in Zoro being towed along a weathered boardwalk and into the luxurious atmosphere of a high-end seafood eatery on the pier.

Usopp’s recommendation. “From a colleague.” He’d said, as he corralled his roommates out of their apartment.

They meet Nami and Chopper already seated in a red upholstered booth in the corner of the restaurant. The redhead waving them over while they do an awkward shuffle in front of the hostess.

“Swanky place!” Luffy beams, holding his hat firm to his head as he climbs into the booth with his sandals pressing into the cushions.

“Luffy!” Nami swats at him. “Get off! This is velvet, you heathen!”

Luffy just snickers and sits himself down with enough force to jostle her and the empty wine glasses on the table. “Hey Chopper! How’ya doing?”

“Hi Luffy!” Chopper smiles, tapping his hooves happily on the edge of the ivory tablecloth. “I’m doing well!”

Zoro slides into the booth after Usopp. The menus are already waiting on the table and the letters gleam with an ominous metallic calligraphy.

“Hey, ‘Sopp,” Zoro nudges the other man. “Are you sure we can afford this joint?”

Usopp looks up with his mouth already open in reply- but then he seems to register the caliber of their surroundings and seems to realize what he’s wrought.

“I, uh, was told the chef’s choice was reasonable,” Usopp squeaks, with a nervous upturn of his lips.

Zoro glares back at him. “If my meal costs more than my share of the rent- you're paying for it.”

“Yeah,” Usopp sighs. “That’s fair,” he agrees, wilting a bit as he inches his menu open.

The swordsman follows suit with a grunt, pulling his menu to the edge of the table and flipping it open with a thumb.

He’s met with meal items listed with more swirls than letters; and of what he can make out he’s relatively certain isn’t even in Eastern.

“Hm..” Zoro muses, looking over at his friend.

Usopp won’t meet his glare.

Coward.

“Welcome to Baratie.” A stout waiter greets, breaking Zoro’s attention as the man strides into the vicinity of the table. “Will this be your full party?” He directs his question to Nami.

“Yes, thank you,” she smiles politely.

“Very good,” he says, turning to the newest three customers. “Please let me know if you have any questions regarding the menu.”

“Um,” Usopp raises a single finger, “I got a recommendation for the Chef’s Choice?” He asks meekly.

“Of course,” the waiter smiles. “The Chef’s Choice allows you to set the price for your meal, with the entree provided being one of the chef’s choosing.”

Zoro blinks in surprise.

“Really?” Chopper awes. “That’s so nice!”

Luffy perks up in his seat. “What if I want a lot of meat but I only have like…” he stuffs a hand in his pocket and a sad amount of coins jingle. “Five berri!” He declares.

“Dude,” Usopp groans.

“You would be provided a full meal, rest assured,” the waiter tells them, an amused smile cracking through his formal facade.

Nami’s brow draws low, skepticism obvious. “How is that profitable?”

“The Baratie aims to keep their customers fed, and their food waste low,” he explains, pride clear in his tone. “There is always something that must be used up and a chef passionate enough to find use for it.”

Luffy dumps a handful of coins on the table, brushing lint from their surfaces as one rolls to a stop by a waterglass.

“Seven berri,” he corrects. “And a lot of meat.”

Zoro rolls a laugh into his fist as Nami smothers her hands into her face.

“You are so embarrassing.”

“Very well, monsieur of the seven berri-” he smiles, pulling out a moleskin to jot the order down. “Is anyone else prepared to order? Our Sous Chef will be handling the choice entrees tonight and he is always up to a challenge.”

In the time it takes each of them to get their orders detailed, Zoro’s attention wanes.

The swordsman finds himself looking around at the dark wood panelling of the restaurant with fresh attention. He takes in the rich fabrics of the curtains and the scent of expensive wine.

How much did it cost to open a restaurant, anyway?

Were fancier restaurants more expensive?

Zoro’s gaze is still wandering as it catches a familiar shade of blond from between the swing of the Baratie’s kitchen doors.

His throat catches. He watches longer and doesn’t let his eyeline stray.

Before long, a waiter slips back out into the dining area with a tray of drinks. The double doors hang open for a moment and the swordsman catches sight of a slim blond man. His back is facing Zoro as he stands at a counter with his chef-whites.

And damn if his hair isn’t just the perfect shade of blond to make Zoro’s ears burn.

The doors to the kitchen swing shut, and with it the swordsman’s thoughts snap back into place. He shakes his head as he yanks his attention away.

Zoro couldn’t picture Sanji owning a restaurant like this, anyway. The blond wasn’t suited for this kind of opulence, he thinks.

Where the etiquette is stiff and the atmosphere is draped in a cloak of formality.

The mermaid part was, admittedly, also a conundrum. But if it was Sanji’s dream, Zoro figured he’d work it out.

Conversation flows easily. And with their meals set at a reasonable price, there's enough leftover in their pockets to have a few bottles of wine sent to the table.

“How is work going for you, Usopp?” Nami asks, already on her third glass of wine.

Zoro’s on his fourth. But who’s counting?

“Really well!” Usopp grins, “I’ve been working more with the head exhibit designer, Franky, recently. He really likes my ideas!”

“Like what plants they’re gonna use?” Nami frowns.

“Well that’s mostly what I’m there for,” the herbologist agrees. “But to get the best out of the designs you have to know what you can work with!”

“I thought Franky was the security guard?” Zoro mumbles.

“Sometimes,” Usopp shrugs.

Nami sets her glass down with a thunk. Her eyes shine with wickedness as she leans over to peer at Zoro. “And just how would you know that?”

“Uh,” Zoro scowls, biding for time as he tries to think of a scenario that isn’t as horribly pathetic as…

“Your meals, mademoiselle and monsieurs.”

By the grace of the seas. Their waiter cuts into his imminent embarrassment with a tray of entrees.

“For you, sir.”

A steaming plate is set in front of him and suddenly Zoro’s mouth is watering.

He’s been served a perfectly seared tuna steak, glistening drizzle of soy sauce and resting on a bed of fluffy white rice.

The swordsman doesn’t bother waiting to make sure everyone gets their meal before he’s digging in, shovelling a tender cut of steak and a morsel of rice into his mouth.

Fuck, it’s good.

Salt and umami blend with the tender cut of fish, while the short grain rice fills the warmth of his belly.

The kitchen doors swing open for a moment and Zoro can’t help but chase the color that makes his heart cinch.

It leaves something wistfully soft behind when it untangles.

Zoro wishes he could bring Sanji here.

Zoro scowls as he meanders awkwardly around the quaint space of the aquarium gift shop.

“Let me know if you need any assistance!” The teenage boy behind counter waves.

It’s the third time he’s mentioned it.

Usopp had discovered Zoro meditating in the freshwater exhibit that afternoon and demanded Zoro wait around so they could walk home together.

Killing time generally was spent better off within the exhibits, but Zoro had been wandering long enough it had felt like a good change of pace to explore new territory. Unfortunately, he hadn’t accounted for the awkward stare of the storekeep in his decision.

The teen had been watching him the entire time he wandered the aisles. Making Zoro regret every moment he’d stepped foot in the space.

He can’t tell if he’s being watched for theft or commission, he’s also not sure which would be worse.

The swordsman entertains himself by gazing at posters, trinkets, and plushies as he purposefully avoids the boy's awkward gaze from the counter. As he traces the aisles, he pictures ways he might prank Usopp in their apartment for penance. Maybe a classic bucket over the door, or cling wrap over the toilet. A tone dial under the bed.

Now that's an idea…

Zoro pivots around the end of a display as he works through the mental logistics of getting a tone dial to turn on at precisely two am- when he pauses. Lingering at the sight of an advertised product.

They’re glass jars with cork tops- clipped to silver chains. The contents of the jars rolling happily in the water. A colorful tag entices its purpose.

Zoro swallows, reading the text a number of times to ensure it’s correct.

Then, with a grimace and a snatch of his wrist, he pulls a single keychain into his palm. The small mossball tumbling errantly with the action.

Impulsively and stupidly, Zoro strides up to the counter.

“Good afternoon, sir!” The teen greets him, as if he hasn’t been watching him the entire fucking time. “Just the keychain today?” He checks.

Zoro’s jaw tightens with his scowl, “just this.”

Zoro keeps his eyes shut and his hands held with palms up on his knees. Shadows glide across his vision as the beasts in the shark exhibit meander through the water.

He inhales- Lets the calm wash over him.

Exhales.

Thud- thud- thud-

A series of footsteps echo a rushed path over the wooden boardwalk above.

“-no! Stop!”

Zoro opens his eyes, brow furrowing as the sound of a young boy shrieking yanks him from his meditation. The kid sounds on the verge of crying, if not already tearful. He glances aside to the stairs where the noise is filtering down from the upper viewing area of Sawtooth Pier.

“Alvida!! Please stop!”

The swordsman heaves a gruff sigh and shifts to stand. He doesn’t make a habit of involving himself in the rambunctiousness of children outside of his dojo. But he’d be a dumbass to ignore the fact that some brats were roughhousing in the fucking shark exhibit. The least he could do was scare ‘em off to one of the tanks with creatures less likely to eat someone.

Zoro hikes up the stairs two at a time, irritation building as he hears the babbled crying of a boy overshadowed by laughter.

He’s picturing a boy cornered against the plexiglass that lines the railings.

What he does not expect- is a pink-haired kid teetering halfway over the railing. His arms flailing over the water and his bottlecap glasses swimming with tears. Two teenagers are holding his ankles, keeping him torturously in limbo, while a third- a teenage girl- is nearby, cackling in laughter.

“Let me up- Please!”

A slate gray fin dips up curiously into the waves and the kid jerks, his glasses falling into the water with a soft splash.

“Oi!” Zoro barks, his boots heavy across the planks as he marches forward. “The fuck do you think you’re doing? Pull him back.” He orders, teeth bared in disgust.

The teens all turn with their heads on a tight swivel, eyes bugging as they realize they’ve been caught. Zoro sees the moment fight or flight kicks in-

“Shit-” “Run!”

The teens let go of the boy in order to flee. And Zoro pushes off in a sprint.

“AH!”

“Fuck!” Zoro curses, one toe lodging itself in the bottom rung of the railing as he vaults himself up one hand grasping at the boy’s waistband and the other anchoring around the top rung. He tugs against gravity and the boy retches a wet gasp from the force as Zoro heaves him back from the water.

Unfortunately, leverage is a two way street. And as Zoro arcs the boy back over the railing, his food dislodges on the rung and sends Zoro in the opposite direction.

Flipping him directly over the railing, and headfirst into the water.

“Aah!”

Zoro’s orientation turns ass backwards and sideways all at once as he tumbles into the depths of the shark tank. He attempts to gain some traction with the movement of his limbs, but his clothes and boots make him feel sluggish and useless.

“HELP!” The muffled shrieks of the boy from above the water are a good sign, at least. Means he’s not in here with Zoro.

Mission accomplished.

Something brushes up against his thigh and Zoro clenches his jaw tight to keep what little air he has tightly sealed within his burning lungs. He stops kicking his legs and wrenches his eyes open against the burn of saltwater.

And comes face to face with the maw of a massive great white shark. Black beady eyes and razor sharp teeth fill his vision.

Instinctively, Zoro lashes out. The blunt nose of the creature is within arms reach and Zoro crushes a knuckled fist to into the thing before scrambling to swim away.

Except Zoro’s slow as shit with all his clothes on and now he’s engaged hand to hand combat with a predator three times his size.

The shark thrashes aside. The click of its jaw is audible beneath the waves and a rush of water dictates the powerful sling of its tail as it reorients. Two more shadows in the water slip along his periphery and it's altogether far less relaxing than when he’s sitting in the viewing booth.

“HELP PLEASE!”

Zoro’s lungs fucking burn. He twists and kicks, trying to follow the brightness of what he assumes to be the surface. A velvet touch glides along his calf where his pant legs have risen and he jerks aside when the rush of a beast slings past him, an open jaw catching the open hem of his jacket and sending him into a spin.

Bubbles flourish from the churn of the water. Zoro sees the dark eye of a shark- the gleam of white from rows and rows of teeth-

And then- a shimmer of cerulean scales and a flash of gold.

Lithe arms hook beneath his shoulders and haul him upwards- propelling him the final short distance to the surface.

Zoro gasps as he breaches air, sucking greedy lungfuls between hacking coughs.

The arms adjust, a palm splaying out across his sternum as Zoro’s tilted back against a lean chest. A tickle of wet hair clings to his jaw and that’s not his.

“I can’t fucking believe you.” Sanji is rambling, his words rushed together. “You really would fight a shark. How dumb are you?”

Zoro barks out a laugh, relief blooming hot in his chest as he relaxes back against the mer. “He started it.”

“He did not!” The blond retorts hotly. “You startled him when you fell in. How would you feel if someone fell through your ceiling and started punching you?”

As Zoro’s breath evens out, he blinks the excess saltwater from his lashes and takes stock of their current predicament.

Sanji has leaned them back together, keeping Zoro buoyed atop his chest as his lengthy tail sweeps calmly through the water. Zoro can count three velvety gray sharks nosing around the blond’s fins.

The swordsman brings an arm in, wrapping his hand around the blond’s wrist to anchor himself. “Are we good?” He rasps, watching the sharp tailfins with rapt attention.

Sanji sighs, something resigned and soft- and Zoro can feel the warmth of his breath across the back of his neck. “We’re fine,” the mermaid reassures

Zoro grumbles a half-hearted acknowledgement as he’s towed idly across the exhibit. There’s a measure of him that’s still concerned, and he focuses it by pinning the creatures a fierce glare as they follow Sanji through the water.

“Just… Don’t make eye contact with the sawfish,” Sanji mumbles aside.

Which is a perfectly ominous statement, Zoro thinks. But he does as instructed and nothing, thankfully, further comes of it.

The blond effortlessly swims them beneath the planks of one of the boardwalks, where a gap in the wall is hidden between the posts. It leads them to the interior of the aquarium. The water opens back up to an inlet of space a few square meters, with industrial diving equipment and mechanical lifts fastened to the structure for use.

“Zoro!” Usopp shrieks, the herbologist kneeling at the edge of the water with at least seven towels piled at his side and three first aid kids. Franky and Robin are there too, looking much less concerned with the state of affairs.

Sanji leads Zoro over to the edge of the water. And Zoro tries not to think about how it feels to have Sanji’s palms glide along the side of his ribs as he guides him to the rungs of a ladder.

“Welcome in, Mr Hero.” Robin smirks. “Glad to see you’re returning safely.”

“Dude, you saved that kid’s life,” Usopp warbles in awe.

“The sharks wouldn’t have done anything to that boy.” Sanji remarks firmly, once again taking the side of the fucking shark. “And Megalo wouldn’t have bothered Marimo either if this dumbass hadn’t punched him.”

Usopp’s jaw drops. “You punched Megalo?” He echoes, and his tone halted; as if Zoro has done something scandalous.

“There was a shark- in my face.” The swordsman argues, feeling ridiculous.

“Oh my,” Robin titters.

“Hmm… I guess that’s probably alarming,” Franky concedes, as if he’s only just been convinced of the fact.

Zoro loops an elbow around the ladder and scowls. Why the fuck is he suddenly the bad guy here?

What the shit.

Suddenly, from beneath Sanji, a great shadow looms in the water. A fin breaches the waves first before the blunt nose of the great white peeks out from between a twist of Sanji’s tail, the creature sneaking beneath the wing of Sanji’s arm in the water.

“Oh for goodness sake, Megalo,” Sanji huffs, attempting to disengage the enormous predator from lurking in his shadow. “He’s practically algae.”

And oh.

Now it makes sense.

The shark is a fucking coward.

Zoro exhales heavily. Of course- he gets to punch a shark and it’s a stupid baby brain who's got the pretty mermaid wrapped around his finger.

Resigned to his fate as the villain, and admittedly more than a little annoyed. Zoro secures his grip of the ladder and slips his other hand in the water with an open palm.

“Hey- uh buddy,” he starts awkwardly, tipping his palm out in an offering of peace. “Sorry bout that, guess we startled each other, didn’t we?”

Sanji’s eyebrows shoot up in open surprise as Zoro makes his attempt to placate the beast, a curious tint of pink gathering on his ears as he watches the two.

The shark- Megalo, Zoro reminds himself- drifts closer at a snail's pace. Just inching along as if it’s not the size of an island. Until finally it nears enough to bump its velvety nose into Zoro’s palm.

Which- alright that’s pretty damn endearing.

Zoro doesn’t fight a grin as he moves to rub fondly across the bridge of its snout. “We set?” He checks. The shark noses into the touch for an indulgent moment, before skittishly turning back into the depths of the exhibit. Zoro watches it go with an amused smirk. “I’ll take that as a yes,” he shrugs.

His attention lifts and he grins as he meets Sanji’s gaze from where they’re aligned in the water. Zoro at the ladder and the mermaid effortlessly treading water.

It’s the first time Zoro’s seen him with his hair wet, but without the glass of an exhibit between them. Remarkably- the blond’s hair is still as shiny as gold, though it drapes around his lean features with smooth lines of silk. This close- Zoro can even see a glimmer of scales across his cheeks and shoulders, their surfaces dewy with seawater.

His tail cuts languidly beneath Zoro’s feet in the subtle waves- and Zoro wishes he had more time to feel the strength of him as he’d cut them through the water. More time to feel-

Abruptly- Zoro’s vision goes dark as a towel drops over his head. “Oi!”

“Can you get out already?” Usopp gripes, his hands following the towel and beginning to roughly scrub at Zoro’s hair. “Your clothes probably have all sorts of chemicals that aren’t good for my plants.”

“Yeah- Yeah,” Zoro grumbles. With a begrudging sigh, he hikes himself up the ladder and sits down on the textured concrete with a soggy slump of fabric. Usopp is quick to throw another towel around his shoulders as the swordsman begins to shake the excess water from his water-logged boots.

“Sanji-” Robin remarks. “Koby said he lost his glasses in the water- Might you be able to retrieve them?”

“Of course, dear” Sanji agrees with a smile.

“Thank you.”

Zoro glances aside from his pathetically wet seat, stealing one last glance at the mermaid before he disappears. He finds that the blond’s bright blue gaze is already returned, a quirk of a smile on his lips.

“Next time you want to join the exhibits, Marimo- Try the tide pool.”

Zoro clenches his jaw, watching as the mer takes a leaping dive back into the exhibit. His gleaming tail arcing over the water and flicking droplets of seawater all over Zoro’s sodden form.

Usopp throws another towel on his head.

Shithead.

Zoro takes in the span of squawking black and white shapes with a grimace.

He’d run into Robin on his arrival this trip and the woman had ever so helpfully escorted him to the noisy exhibit where Sanji is currently lounging at the edge of the false shore.

At least he’s been left in the viewing area this time.

From his vantage on the lower platform, Zoro can see that the blond is reclined on the hilts of his palms, his tail hanging off the drop and into the water. Zoro traces the length of it with his eye, and not for the first time, he is struck by how ridiculously long Sanji’s tail is, the length of it reaching halfway to the bottom of the exhibit- even in its languidly curled shape.

For a halting moment, the swordsman wonders how it might look for Sanji to swim in the open sea. To stretch himself to his full length and carve a path through the waves.

Fuck, he’d probably look gorgeous.

“Marimo?” Sanji’s voice perks up through the speakers. “Is that you down there?”

Zoro doesn’t immediately answer, clenching his jaw as if it could help push the flush from his cheeks.

“You look like a patch of floating algae,” the blond comments idly.

With a huff, the swordsman makes his way to one of the above-water viewing platforms. So that he can glare at the mermaid properly.

Zoro pinches his lips tight at the sight. Today, the mermaid's hair has dried in a fluffy volume of waves. It looks cottony soft, and Zoro wonders how it might feel to cushion his palm around the blond’s nape.

But instead of bringing up any of that bullshit, Zoro tells him- “You look like a washed up sardine.”

Sanji laughs, unphased. “Are you here to check on Onigiri?” He asks, a playful smile on his lips.

“As if I could tell which one he is?”

The blond tuts. He tilts his head and the waves of his hair bounce. “They all have distinct patterns.”

“Right,” the swordsman replies dryly.

“He’s practically your son, I can’t believe you would abandon him like this.”

“What’da want?” Zoro gripes. “Bird child support?”

Sanji’s tail swirls back and forth in the water, drawing wakelines for the penguins to play in. “Guess which one he is,” he challenges.

“Absolutely not.”

“You have a bond,” Sanji declares, lifting a hand to gesture toward the waddling flock. “Guess!”

Zoro groans.

“Come on,” he drawls.

Zoro waits long enough to know Sanji’s not giving in. Then, with an errant wave of his arm Zoro picks a bird out of the exhibit. “That one,” he decides, pointing at one tugging away at one of Usopp’s carefully tended plants.

Bastardly enough, he thinks.

“Unbelievable,” Sanji huffs. “You are so rude. That is my darling Persimmon.”

“They’re birds.”

“Onigiri is right there,” the blond points at a penguin waddling around the circumference of one of the rounded rock formations. Interesting enough, the bird seems to have something in its mouth.

“What’s he got?” Zoro questions, leaning closer to the glass and squinting to try and make it out.

“Branches,” the mer replies with a smirk, “he’s courting someone.”

“What?”

“He’s been doting on Alfredo,” Sanji grins, his bright gaze following the penguin on his determined path across the exhibit. “Quite persistent about it, too.”

Onigiri waddles with a slap of his flat feet over damp rock on a not-so direct route. A bundle of branches clenched between the pinch of his beak. He continues twisting around the formations until he reaches another penguin, this one resting on its smooth belly among a budding nest of sticks.

”He’s got a girlfriend?”

“A boyfriend~,” Sanji corrects with a singing hum.

And Zoro can help but laugh, a stupid sense of comradery budding for the creature. “Aw man.” He comments, rough and depreciating.

“It’s lovely,” the mer argues, clearly endeared. “I think they’ll make a wonderful surrogate set.”

“O-oh,” the swordsman’s laugh rattles off into a cleared throat. “Huh.”

“M-hm,” Sanji agrees.

Onigiri squawks in pride as he deposits his sticks within Alfredo’s reach. And for a horribly bitter moment, Zoro’s jealous of a dumbass bird.

Sanji watches the two creatures with a brilliant smile, and Zoro's heart twists in envy.

More than anything, he knows now that he wants to pursue something with Sanji. But the mermaid lives at a damn aquarium- what would that look like for their dating life?

Their future?

Zoro’s probably getting ahead of himself- but he also can’t find it within him to consider alternatives. He’s never met anyone that sets him alight the way Sanji does.

Infuriating and radiant.

Zoro can’t picture falling for anyone else in his lifetime.

It’s ridiculous, really. Almost as soon as the fear rises in his thoughts, Zoro accepts it. He folds the truth into his pocket and prepares to live with it.

Maybe he’ll end up living at the aquarium.

They do have a bar, he recalls. He needs to find that fucking bar again.

Rent might even be cheaper, he reasons.

Or maybe…They’ll be able to afford a place on the coast someday, like Sanji dreams of.

The swordsman thinks he would be fine with any of it so long as he gets to be at the blond’s side.

“Good afternoon, Onigiri,” Sanji greets, distracting Zoro from his spiraling thoughts as the penguin wobbles over to the mermaid, purpose in his awkward stride.

Once he’s near enough, Onigiri leans in to pluck and prune at Sanji's scales, making the blond laugh in fond amusement. “You’re such a sweetheart~”.

“Oh come on,” Zoro grumbles.

Onigiri tugs a few loose scales loose and squawks in victory before going back for more.

“Marimo!” Sanji hollers over the noise of the penguins, “Are you taking notes?”

“No,” Zoro lies, scowling as a fucking penguin gets the leisure to dote on Sanji moreso than himself. “I still think he might eat you.”

Sanji just snickers. But as Zoro catches his gaze he feels himself flush what is likely a horrendous shade of pink under his gaze.

“There’s so much pink in the ocean!” A young girl exclaims.

“That thing is orange!” A boy protests.

Sanji laughs, his grin bright and wide. “They’re colorful here in the tide pools, yes. But many of these look different in the ocean! Not all of the colors you’re used to reach so deep beneath the water.”

“Mr. Mermaid, can you sing?” A young girl blurts out her question, her hand diligently raised despite not waiting to be called on.

“Not particularly well, I’m afraid,” Sanji grins back at her.

“Does your singing make people die?!” Another kid blurts out.

“No, no,” the blond laughs, waving a disengaging hand, “I’m just not great at carrying a tune.”

“Oh! Look at that starfish, it's so fat!”

“Ah, you’ve spotted a cushion starfish,” Sanji guides, leading the conversation seamlessly and entrancing the children around him to listen in. “The cushion starfish…”

Zoro watches the interactions hunched over with his cheek pillowed on a fist, feeling like he’s lost his damn mind.

He’s looming in the back row of Laboon’s Tide Pool while a group of children huddle around the squat edges of the aquarium’s tide pool. He probably looks like a fucking stalker, or some creep with a deep-seated mental instability.

Oh shit… Maybe he is.

It’s his day off from the dojo. And he’s on a limited training schedule to rest between championships. But instead of staying home and drinking booze like a normal person- Zoro’s lurked his way into the local aquarium for the third time this week. All so he can gawk at the pretty mermaid with a vicious smirk.

“Mister Mermaid! Can I poke that?”

“That is an anemone. You may gently brush the tentacles,” Sanji tells a boy. “It might pull away at your touch.”

Another child points with dripping fingers. “Can I touch this!?”

“Sure,” the blond presses his lips against a smile. “That’s a rock.”

Zoro has wandered into Laboon’s Tide Pool before, but had left just as quickly due to a lack of interest.

The tanks in the center of the room are low-set and monitored by a staff member to keep touches friendly. Half of the space is taken up by rows of bench seating in order to accommodate group education.

It’s not a good space for meditation. It’s noisy and the stench of sea salt is stale in the air.

There’s only one stark difference in the attraction that’s drawn Zoro to linger where he hasn’t before. And there’s really no excuse around it, visiting the tide pool is an admission of weakness for the blond mermaid. It’s a chance to hear him without the static of the speakers fuzzing the edges of his words.

A chance to see Sanji without the barrier of glass or the filter of sea water.

Zoro is enamored with the way Sanji’s pale skin shimmers under the lights. He hasn’t gotten close enough to check, but it almost looks like there's a scattering of faint scales across his shoulders.

Like freckles.

And then there’s his hair. When Sanji’s out of the water his blond hair fluffs and curls into soft waves around his jaw, while a sweep of bangs drapes around the curve of his cheekbone.

It’s unbelievable.

“Are you going to just lounge about back there, Marimo?”

Zoro freezes. And very abruptly- he realizes he’s currently alone on the benches.

The children and their families have moved on. The swordsman’s singular presence in the viewers' seats has suddenly become particularly damning.

Sanji grins, and the flash of sharp teeth in his mouth make Zoro’s stomach swoop. He doesn’t show those off for the children.

Zoro bites around a grin, gathering to his feet and walking closer. His steps weighted under the pull of Sanji’s presence.

The mermaid is resting in a patch of sand within the tidepool, the narrow of his waist encircled by brilliantly clear water. His tail resides within the shallow depth of the tidepool; his fins fluttering idly atop the fine sand like wavering silk.

The ridiculously long appendage is curving around sections of coral, twisting around nearly a third of the pool as his iridescent scales shimmer under the lights.

Zoro lets his eyeline shamelessly follow the length of Sanji’s form as he strides to the closest point of the pool near the blond. His gaze tracing his way up the length of his tail, across the lean cut of his torso, until finally he meets a keen set of blue eyes.

It’s enchanting, the way the blond offers his radiance. A treasure to witness just how brightly he burns.

Zoro is so fucked.

“Well, Mossy?” The blond teases, his features bright beneath the fluorescents of the exhibit. A smile curved so sweetly into the divot of pale skin. A gorgeous tint of pink dusting the skin tucked beneath his lower lashes. “Did you have a question for me?”

The soft ripple of water echoes in the air from the filters and Zoro swallows around the taste of sea salt.

His heart clenches in his chest with the same surety that he knows the grip of a blade.

The type of ache that feels both terrifying and right.

“Curls…” Zoro says, feeling the weight of his words as they reach his tongue. “Can I take you out?”

Sanji blinks at him owlishly. “...Out.” He repeats in obvious confusion. The mer frowns briefly, the sharp point of his teeth pinching his lower lip before he speaks again. “Like- out of the water?”

“Wha- no? Like, uh…” Zoro’s voice strains on the reply. His ears begin to burn and he fears the color they’re turning might be visible under the fluorescents. “Like I want to take you on a fucking date.”

“Oh,” The blond gasps- His tailfin fluttering in the water and splashing the edges of the tidepool. Droplets of seawater dapple across the rough texture of the exhibit flooring and darken the fabric of Zoro’s pants. “Well maybe you could… If you were capable of asking like a gentleman.” Sanji complains, chin raised.

“I did,” Zoro debates, his voice falsely rough. “I asked if I could take you out.”

Sanji rolls his eyes, but his lips are pinched in a frown that’s visibly twisting upwards. “I didn’t hear you properly.”

The fact Zoro’s shoes are wet is pretty damning evidence against that statement. But warmth flushes hot in Zoro’s chest at the bright blue of Sanji’s eyes.

Zoro runs his tongue over his teeth, fighting a grin. He fists his palm at his side, itching to reach out and lay it upon the bend of the mermaid’s waist.

Instead, he kneels, crossing his arms atop the lip of the tidepool and bringing their faces level.

“Hey Curls,” Zoro murmurs, leaning in. Close enough he can spy a brilliant scatter of scales dusting across the blond’s cheeks. He curves his lips into an easy grin. “Can I take you out?”

Sanji laughs brightly, his eyes scrunched up as he shoves his palm against the swordsman’s face. He pushes until there’s a modicum of distance between. But Zoro gets to watch as Sanji’s face flushes brightly from neck to ear. His blush blooming a pretty violet from the blue shimmer of the scales dusting his cheeks.

“My shift ends at six.” Sanji divulges, his tone indulgent. “Meet back here and… We can have dinner together?”

“S’nds gr’t,” Zoro agrees, grinning around the press of Sanji’s fingers against his face.

“Good,” Sanji laughs, pulling his hand back and offering a brilliant smile.

And before Zoro can think better of it, he’s reaching out to grab Sanji’s retreating hand, shamelessly bringing his knuckles to the press of his lips.

“Can’t wait.”

Zoro reaches the entrance to the Sambas Bay Aquarium on time, and it’s largely Nami’s effort.

His debt has nearly tripled for the unwanted assistance.

He’s got a duffel slung over his shoulder with what he’s deemed essential. His swim trunks, a towel, and a spare set of clothes in case he gets splashed.

He greets the employee at the front entrance with a wave, feeling smug when the young girl waves him in without question.

The atrium is growing dim as sunset sweeps the light from the windows. Zoro watches the fish wander within the atrium exhibit and wonders who will be retrieving him.

At his right, the archway to the aquarium cafeteria goes dark. The chairs all overturned on the tables for the nightly floor cleaning.

Fuck- They hadn’t discussed the specifics of the meal. Was Zoro meant to bring the food?

Time drags. There are employees meandering to the front exit as he waits, some in groups of two or three, chattering as they walk.

Zoro hopes he’s not intended to wander through the employee areas unguided. With his luck he’d end up with the damn penguins again.

But also he doesn’t know the door codes, so probably not?

The swordsman adjusts the grip on his duffel, his knuckles rolling over the fabric as his stomach twists in a wash of nervousness and excitement.

“Marimo!”

Zoro’s head snaps aside at the nickname, the voice clear as day and…

Nearby?

The source is attached to a lean blond walking towards him, a hand aloft in greeting and a bashful smile on his lips. He’s wearing slim black slacks, a blue button up, shiny oxfords, and a familiar face.

Sanji is walking over to him.

Sanji.

Walking.

The mermaid’s face is the very same as the one Zoro is used to seeing shimmering in the water of the exhibits. The very same blue of his eyes, the cottony soft wave of his bangs and the sweet curve of his lips.

Except he has legs. Sinfully lean legs attached to hips that are probably too narrow to be legal.

At a loss for function, Zoro stares blankly while Sanji reaches him.

“You made it,” Sanji says with a smile, a quaint thing hidden beneath confident eyes.

“What the fuck?” Zoro blurts out.

He can’t help it, his mind is askew.

Sanji stares at him for a moment, his brow lowering in concern, “...Pardon?”

Zoro swallows, gathering the thoughts that have tumbled away from him. “You.. have legs?”

“Yes?” Sanji’s brow furrows deeper, unease skitters into his features.

Zoro hums in response. As if he also knew this. As if this was the expected answer.

But it’s too late.

“Wait…” Sanji’s mouth falls agape, his face paling, “Marimo- Did you not know?”

Zoro doesn’t reply.

It’s probably quite damning.

“Oh my seas,” Sanji blinks at him. “You didn’t know? You really didn’t know?”

“I…uh,” Zoro falters. He’s glaring at Sanji’s hips and the curve of his thighs as if they’re criminal.

They probably are.

What the absolute fuck.

Sanji has legs. He has hips and probably something else that will remain unnamed; that Zoro will consider late into the evening, without any prying eyes to his thoughts.

“Zoro?” Sanji’s tone has shifted to one of outright concern and Zoro drags his gaze upwards, meeting depthless blue eyes filled with trepidation.

“I…” The swordsman tries to focus. “I didn’t know you could do… that.”

“There’s educational signs posted!” The blond shrieks, gesturing vaguely off towards the aquarium halls. “They’re in every exhibit!”

Zoro twists a grimace into an awkward frown, “Huh.”

“And..” Sanji’s voice softens in honest confusion. “And you’ve been flirting with me… You asked me out.”

“I meant that.” Zoro blurts out. “I mean it.” He presses, his words rough with the grit of resolve. Because this, at least, he could speak to. “I just… didn’t think you could leave the aquarium.” He admits, his knuckles whitening around the grip of his duffel bag. “I brought a swimsuit,” he adds.

As if that’s a helpful point to make.

Sanji opens his mouth a few times before he responds, “And you were okay with that?” he retorts incredulously.

“S’not that bad here,” Zoro argues, brow furrowing. “The exhibits are nice.”

The blond gapes. “And… And what if we got along?”

“Then I’d be here more often,” Zoro tells him earnestly. He runs his tongue over his teeth briefly before he continues. “Or we’d get a property on the coast. Get you a restaurant, like you want.”

Suddenly, the tension in Sanji’s shoulders melts, his features softening into something unnamably sweet. “You really…” Sanji mumbles off into silence.

Zoro waits as the blond works through more emotions in a minute than Zoro usually cycles in a week. It looks exhausting.

“I can’t believe this.” Sanji breathes. “You’re ridiculous.” He snorts, and lifts a hand to tuck a strand of fluffy hair behind his ear.

The sight abruptly knocks Zoro’s focus back into the now.

The glorious now where Sanji is standing in front of him and has met him for a date and there’s no glass or speaker systems between them. Enamored with the chance and hoping to mend any mistake he’s made with his misunderstanding, Zoro jolts into action.

He reaches out and boldly slides a palm around the curve of Sanji’s hip.

Sanji squeaks at the touch, but makes no move to dissuade it. And Zoro gets to watch as a pretty blossom pink dusts across his cheeks, all the way to his ears.

Zoro grins. His gaze dropping to enjoy the view of Sanji’s lean musculature, far too enamored with the new development to bother hiding it.

The blond shuffles under the weight of his gaze. “You know…” He begins shyly. “I’ve, uh, had my share of interest that only extends to the side of me with scales.”

“I like the legs,” Zoro informs him, shamefully quick in his reply.

Sanji laughs, something bright and sweet. “Yeah?”

“Mh-hm.” He nods. He sweeps his thumb across the jut of the blond’s hipbone and feels affection burning with the fact that he can.

Damn- those legs just keep going, don’t they?

Sanji’s nose scrunches up with the stretch of his smile. And then, after a beat, he lifts a hand to rest a palm flat across the beat of Zoro’s heart.

Taking his response as a sign of encouragement, Zoro brashly leans in. It’s a bold move, but Zoro thinks he might die if he doesn’t.

Zoro dips his chin and reaches out to tuck the curve of his finger beneath the blond’s jaw, tilting him up as he aims to align their lips. Sanji’s breath hitches, his throat clicking and his pulse racing like a hummingbird as his sea-blue eyes flutter close.

And with only a breath away from heaven, Zoro suddenly realizes what the need for him to lean down means.

He halts.

“Are you shorter than me?”

Abruptly, Sanji’s head rears back, while the hand he’s planted on Zoro’s chest twists to gather a fistful of his collar and shake him. “Fuck you,” he declares.

Zoro doesn’t hold back the laugh that pulls to his lips. “The mermaid with the longest tail on the seas can’t cut five-ten?”

“Bastard Marimo!” Sanji’s standing at his full height now, and it’s no better. He’s got Zoro’s collar in an iron grip. “Can’t even read a damn sign.”

“You compensating for something?”

The blond tugs until their foreheads are pressed flush together. His canines visible over the clench of his teeth. “I’m gonna toss you in with the piranhas!"

Zoro grins, tightening his grip around Sanji’s waist.

“Sounds awesome.”

And it’s the last words he gets out before they crash together in a kiss.

Zoro couldn’t say who dove first, but he would be last to care for the semantics. He quickly gets lost in the taste of a gasp on Sanji’s lips and the gathering of wheat blond in a loose fist.

Zoro hooks his arm around the slim curve of Sanji’s waist and tugs him closer, feeling greedy as he opens his mouth wider and tastes the tang of sea salt onto his tongue.

“Ngh-” Sanji groans, sinking into the embrace.

Abruptly, there’s a shudder of mechanics and the overhead lights of the atrium click off. Throwing the two men into darkness. Beyond them, the gentle blue glow of the aquarium provides the last illumination in the space.

As they draw away from each other, Sanji blinks against the shift in brightness, the haze of the aquarium lights flushing his cheeks in purple hues.

“So…” Zoro licks his lips, “Dinner?”

“Yeah.” Sanji nods, breathing with his mouth open for a moment before his lips curl up into a smile. “Dinner sounds great.”

The chatter of tiny voices bounces harshly off the walls of the room as children crowd around the tidepool. Zoro leans his arms back to recline on the stadium seat behind him. Taishigi has pulled a book out to read, several risers back.

There’s a not so insubstantial puddle between Zoro and the edge of the exhibit.

“Can your kisses really save a drowning sailor?” Tama asks, her palms flat on the edge of the tide pool as she leans over the water with a wide smile.

Sanji laughs from his seat in the sand. “I don’t believe so, no.”

Carrot makes a noise of serious contemplation, “Maybe he’s never kissed anyone?”

“Probably hard to kiss someone when you live underwater,” Onion mutters aside.

“Ah, that’s not, uh-” Sanji grimaces, his pale cheeks flushing strawberry pink under the glow of the aquarium lights.

“He totally has!” Rika argues. “He kisses Zoro-sensei all the time!”

Zoro shoves his palm against his mouth, smothering the laughter spilling from his lips as Tashigi flashes him a glare.

“Gross,” Isa mutters.

Suddenly, Tama gasps, “How do you kiss underwater?!” She blurts out.

“Tama!” Tashigi hisses, her tone scolding.

“We should move on to another question,” Sanji prompts, though his tail flutters sweetly in the shallow waters, the movement rippling the water in anxious wakes.

“Oi, Rika” Zoro whispers, raising a hand and gesturing for the girl to come over. Rika rolls her eyes at him but wanders over with a smile on her lips.

“What is it, Sensei?”

Zoro shifts in his seat so he can pull a small trinket from his pocket. Rika laughs when she sees it and obediently opens her palm.

The metal chain of the glass bottle jingles as he shifts it to her grasp. The green fuzz within bouncing pleasantly in the water.

“Can you give the mermaid somethin’ for me?”