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It's the first night they spent as a crew with Nico Robin on board. While everyone seemed to have warmed up to her almost instantly, one green-haired swordsman still kept his wary eyes on her. As the rest of them went to sleep, Zoro stayed outside to keep watch. He leaned against the wooden frame of the Going Merry, feeling the gentle motion of their ship riding the ocean waves below them. With how peaceful it was, Alabasta now seemed like a distant memory.
That tranquility was soon interrupted by blond curls and the smell of smoke.
“So the mosshead can't sleep?” The figure asked, his shoes clacking against the floorboard and making itself known.
The remark made Zoro's eyebrows furrow. Like clockwork, he argued back. “Easy for you to say, you damn cook. All of you have your guards down despite her being in Baroque Works just days ago,” his eyes turned towards Sanji, who was clearly frowning himself. He mentally prepared for the man's fiery rebuttal, but it never came. Sanji said something about ‘not wanting to wake the ladies up’ instead and walked off to the kitchen.
Zoro rolled his eyes at that, now expecting him to be left alone for the rest of the night. The swordsman never followed his equal to the kitchen, much like how Sanji never interrupted his training sessions. He didn't understand why cooking was such a passion to Sanji, but he respected and saw it as a necessity anyway. Their captain had a bottomless pit for a stomach, and as much as he'd hate to admit, no other chef in the Grand Line could make food that felt right. As he was about to whisper "finally, some peace and quiet,” to himself, the cook erupted from his quarters, holding a plate of rice balls in his hands.
Sanji didn't look at Zoro when he placed the food in front of him. Rather, he gazed upon the night sky, where he dragged and exhaled his cigarette upwards. Then, he stood back again. “If you're going to stay up all night, then eat. We can't have a useless, tired musclehead tomorrow morning. That'll just weigh us down.” Sanji left once more, but not before making sure Zoro actually took a bite first. They don't greet each other when they part ways for the night, as that is far too casual for the two of them—but the man on the floor reluctantly eating (and secretly enjoying) Sanji's cooking hummed in response.
The coast of Water 7 was quiet after the sun set. But this time, Sanji was the one unable to sleep. The crew had decided to stay at an inn until they could find Robin. Besides, they wouldn't be able to leave even if they wanted to, now that they had handed Merry over to Usopp. Despite him fighting Zoro and blaming the swordsman for being unable to defend their ship, he knew that the man had a point. Perhaps he shouldn't have left to go grocery shopping that one time. Maybe then, they would have one less missing crewmate to worry about.
Sanji stood on the rocky ground where they had docked the Going Merry just a day ago. He could barely believe how different the atmosphere was now. How could less than twenty four hours make such a jarring contrast? He cursed underneath his breath, crushing his cigarette with his foot. He told himself that he only left his room to wait for Robin in case she returned, but he knew to himself that it was also because he couldn't breathe in that inn. His guilt bubbled deep in his stomach, and that ugly part of Sanji made him question his place in their little group. But he shook the thought away–none of that, he said to himself. They couldn't afford any more problems than they had now.
He instinctively turned around upon hearing footsteps from behind him, expecting an enemy or either Usopp or Robin, when the noise was followed by another one—swords clinking while being fidgeted around.
“What are you doing here? I got here first,” Sanji barked, but not loud enough to disturb anyone else that was possibly within the vicinity. The figure didn't respond immediately, walking towards Sanji and stopping right next to him instead, with only an arms length apart. His pride, and maybe their shared feeling of responsibility, prevented him from getting any closer. He cleared his throat before speaking. “I was going to patrol, just in case she returned. And train as well. Though I guess someone had the same idea.”
The cook smirked, joking about how Zoro was far too slow and likely got lost on the way. Zoro obviously denied it, and the two quickly butted heads until they remembered Nami's plea for them to stop fighting, at least, for now. They quiet down once more, with the swordsman surprisingly being the one to speak first this time.
“That fight was inevitable. Usopp and Luffy would have fought even if we beat the crap out of Franky Family or what,” he turned to Sanji, who was slouching down to light yet another cigarette. Despite knowing this, Zoro couldn't help but feel the difference in Sanji's demeanor; how slow he was to light that flame, and how he curled into himself as if building a rampart between them. He knew that Sanji was hiding his sentiments in a way, though he didn't want to dwell. But feeling the tension in the situation, Zoro slapped the man's back, which triggered Sanji. “What the fuck was that for?!”
“Straighten yourself, idiot cook. We have a long day ahead of ourselves,” his voice got softer for some reason—a little shift in Zoro's tone from his earlier words about what had gone down that evening. “I'm going to head back to the city and watch over the others.”
Sanji, while rubbing his own back, nodded reluctantly. Not because he was scared of being alone, but because he hated agreeing with this guy. “Yeah. That's best. We can't afford anyone else to go missing. I'll stay here.”
“... Good night then, curly brows.”
The cook had looked away before Zoro even left. But after hearing those words, something that neither of them could even mutter out of shame and pride back then—his head quickly turned to look at his fellow crewmate, but he was already gone. And probably got lost and started blaming the buildings for “moving” again.
Sanji cussed as he heard the waves crash the first time that night. “Damn it. What's wrong with him?!”
“Go to bed, Chopper. I'll look after him.”
The small reindeer's feet bounced through the ground as it normally did, and Sanji made sure to quietly tuck the reindeer in before heading back to Zoro. He sat right in front of the swordsman, hands curling tight against the blanket that Sanji had embarrassingly kept neat and put-together for him. It had been a day and a half since the incident between Sanji, Luffy, Zoro, and Bartholomew Kuma, yet Zoro hadn't woken up yet. He thought about what had happened, how the man shoved him away and knocked Sanji out to prevent him from martyrdom.
“You goddamn bastard. You stupid, stupid bastard,” he whispered, hitting his forehead four times softly onto the bed. Sanji couldn't stop his emotions this time, feeling hot tears form in his eyes while his head still leaned against the bedframe. As stupid as it may sound, he wished Zoro could wake up already. He wished he could hear that annoyingly confident voice mock him and pick another fight like it always does.
But for now, all he could do was believe in Zoro, and that his strength was enough for him to withstand such an impact. He wiped his cheeks dry before standing up to grab something.
He'd been keeping extra food from their celebration after defeating Gecko Moriah and unconsciously making rice balls again. And while he normally couldn't say no to their captain's face, he smacked Luffy two or three times more than usual to keep his greedy hands away from the kitchen. He even discreetly asked for help to gather some sake that he thought the man would enjoy once he opened his eyes..
Sanji is no doctor, but he figured that Zoro would finally wake up upon smelling his favorite remedy somewhere.
He took care of everything Zoro could want and ask for while he remained asleep—because Sanji knew that he couldn't do that so easily when the two of them were awake. Though Sanji swore for both his and Zoro's sake that they would talk about this soon. No, scratch that, they had to talk about this soon. Because Zoro couldn't keep sacrificing himself for Sanji without receiving nothing in return. They were equals on this ship. Partners,“green-haired bastard” laughed at his reaction. “What? It's like you're seeing a corpse. And what's that you're holding? A love letter to all the mermaids we'll be seeing?”
“What the fuck– YOU'RE AWAKE NOW?! I'm getting Chopp–”
Before Sanji could even think of walking out that door, a strong hand gripped his arm. Damn Zoro and his constant training! Even if he could easily shake that grip off of him, he hated that he didn't want to. That hold on Sanji's arm was a reminder that Zoro was alive and that the wager he made—for the crew, for Sanji—didn't end in a loss.
“Easy, cook. I wasn't going to die over nothing. I'm feeling better anyway. Let Chopper get some rest,” Zoro yawned loudly in between his words, his thumb rubbing Sanji's pale skin softly, then immediately stopping when he realized what he was doing. “Get some rest too, curly brows. I bet you've been worried about me all this time, heh.”
“You're so full of yourself..! You're lucky that you're injured or else I would have—”
“Kicked my butt?”
“Beat your ass, I meant to say!” His face was turning red from being toyed around by Zoro, but secretly, he knew that the blood rushing to his cheeks wasn't because he was upset—but because the one person who understood him without Sanji needing to say a single word was finally awake.
Zoro noticed the bags underneath Sanji's eyes, and how his gaze seemed more glass-like than before. But he didn't mention it. At least, not tonight.
They didn't have a lot of time to catch up before the crew got into their usual shenanigans. After two years of training and wondering whether the others were even alive—they were finally on their way to Fishman Island when he, Sanji, and Luffy got separated from the rest of the Strawhats. As if there hadn't been any time between them, Zoro and Sanji fell into place again—arguing about whose fault it was that they lost Sunny in the deep sea.
“I'm telling you, shitty cook, if you hadn't been so stubborn, you would have grabbed the rope and tied us down to the ship before leaving!”
“Aren't you listening, you mosshead?! Your stubbornness wouldn't have allowed me to tie you with the rope even if I wanted to!”
“Hahahahaha! It's nice to see you two fight again! Let's find the others already, Zoro, Sanji!” Their cheerful captain exclaimed, laughing despite their circumstances. Luffy began to pedal through the water, busy looking at all the interesting deep-sea fish and asking Sanji if he could eat it every ten seconds. Zoro took the opportunity to quietly converse with the man right next to him. This time, making small talk instead of just completely pissing him off.
“What have you been doing these past two years, huh? Because for all I know, you just flipped your hair around and called it a day.”
“What did you just say about me, you bastard?”
Okay, maybe it wasn't small talk either but an attempt at it..
But it's true that he meant no harm in his question, as high up his ass he might have sounded. Zoro wanted to know how Sanji had been. What measures he took after they vowed to return in two years. He was curious about many things: his change in hair style, the subtle flair in his suits, and the firm-looking muscles that now formed around his thighs. Zoro ignored how he basically eyed Sanji up and down, and turned to glance at the chef's face instead.
Fortunately for Zoro, Sanji didn't seem to notice him stare, as the blond was rolling his eyes before shifting in place, trying to give Luffy more allowance in that cramped bubble.
“That Kuma guy.. He sent me to a kingdom far away. I won't get into the nitty gritty details, but I spent a lot of time perfecting my technique. Both my Black Leg Style and cooking. A friend of Luffy's helped me during my stay.” He nudged his knee towards Zoro's. “I could definitely kick you back to the East Blue now,” Sanji smirked, the gesture doing something to Zoro. Something he'd rather die than confess. “And you? I'm sure you spent those two years just lifting those weights again. Or cutting up boulders.”
“Boulders? Heh, that's cute.. I was sent to Mihawk's kingdom.”
“Dracule Mihawk? You mean the world's greatest swordsman? Don't tell me you challenged him to another–”
“I asked him to teach me.”
Sanji's smile seemed to grow mellow almost immediately. Despite how different the two of them were, they both hesitated on one thing—asking for help. Although he knew exactly why. With the crew having been sent to places far and wide, all of them must have felt helpless when they heard the news about Ace. Their captain had fought a war, then lost his brother—and none of them, not even their two strongest members, were there to console him.
There was no mocking retort leaving Sanji's mouth, just a breathy sigh. “Well, that's in the past now. All we can do now is—”
“Keep moving forward.”
“Let me finish my sentences, you stupid swordsman!”
“Well you're getting too sentimental, love cook!”
Amidst their argument, Zoro felt Sanji lean closer to him in their little bubble. Perhaps it was because Luffy was moving around so much and he needed a lot more space to move and look at all the fish—but they both knew that there was more to that.
The tides had quickly changed in a span of a few moments. From reuniting in Wano Country to riding off on a now-Emperor's ship—there was no gap in the moment for them to slow down and talk. Zoro had so many questions. About what had happened while Sanji was away, that man called Vinsmoke Judge, and the promise he asked Zoro to keep during their battles against the Beast Pirates. Zoro learned about most of those things when the crew had come together, yet he still wanted to ask Sanji himself. He knew very well of that bastard and his habit of watering down his feelings for the sake of others.
All of them were still riding the high of seeing Luffy win against Kaido and freeing their friends in Wano, but Zoro couldn't shake that feeling in his chest off. Was it guilt? That didn't feel right. It wasn't helplessness either. The closest thing he could shave it down to was fear. And Roronoa Zoro feared nothing.
But they nearly lost Sanji. No, as much as his one eye twitched to hear it, he nearly lost Sanji. And that, combined with the burden of his vow to the cook, made him quiet down in spite of the festivities. His brows furrowed as he looked ahead, watching the tide carry them to their next destination. Zoro couldn't even focus on the sake in front of him, a sight that shook his crewmates, except for one of them. That curly-browed man who was subject to all of Zoro's dilemmas as of now.
Zoro knew that Sanji was approaching him already. He didn't have to turn around to confirm that. Instead, he felt his mind stop racing and his shoulders feeling looser—as if the mere presence of the cook was enough to make things feel lighter. Sanji huffed out some smoke before talking. “I'm sure you have lots of questions. Go on, fire away.”
“... I can ask some other time.”
“Oho, so this musclehead might actually have a heart?”
“The heart is a muscle, you idiot. I meant to tell you other things, but you're ruining the mood here! Buzz off!”
He didn't know how relieving it was to hear Sanji's laugh until he nearly let that slip away from him. Normally, he avoided looking at Sanji, even as they spoke. But today, he couldn't stop himself from turning his head to look at the man—smiling, cigarette between his lips, beautiful. He knew what that feeling on the top of his head was, he just didn't want to acknowledge it.
Or maybe, he kept denying it to himself because he wanted Sanji to be the first to hear it. That even Zoro himself would come second to the man that he—
Ah, now he'd done it. There was nothing he could do now but be honest.
“... You know what I feel already, right?”
Sanji's laughter paused for a moment, dragging another puff of smoke to calm himself down. “Yeah. I do. Not like you make it any less obvious.”
“Asshole, it's not like you do either.”
There's a silence between them, though it's not awkward or suffocating. They were way past that point already. After all, the two of them had gone through hell and back together, from the first time they declared war on the World Government to liberating an entire country—Zoro and Sanji hadn't just changed as people, but as each other's completing halves. And even with all of that, they still danced around that thin line they drew between themselves. What do they feel for one another? Who was Roronoa Zoro to Sanji? And who was Sanji to Roronoa Zoro? There were so many words lost at sea for the two of them to find.
While this might have been the perfect time visually—a warm, red sunset standing before them while they could hear music playing and their loved ones giggling—they both knew that there were far too many things at stake. With the Strawhats getting closer and closer to Luffy's dream—there was no time for romancing in the New World. So, Zoro made a unanimous decision.
“When I become the world's greatest swordsman.. And when you form that restaurant in the All Blue.. I will tell you. For now just.. stay. Don't go where no one can see you, bastard.”
Sanji seemed to agree, and his smile returned to his face as he nudged his knee towards Zoro. “Okay. I'll leave you to it.”
“... Let's get married by then.”
“What–? ARE YOU STUPID?! That defeats the entire point of waiting to tell me until we reach our dreams!”
“For crying out loud, CAN'T A MAN BE A LITTLE SELFISH HERE?! I can't stand you, idiot cook!”
“I can't stand you either, damn mosshead!”
To the rest of the crew, it was yet another one of their daily arguments. But for Zoro and Sanji, it was a vow. A promise forged in the most treacherous of seas, a promise they would never forget in every slash and kick that they'd ever make.
♡