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2022-07-01
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2023-05-31
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The One I Dream Of

Chapter 16: Awake

Summary:

The parallels between dream and reality are unavoidable the more Zoro and Sanji interact with each other and a final decision must be made.

Chapter Text

The next morning came rather easily. Zoro slept soundly until the bright light of the sun forced him awake, making him roll out of his hammock with a satisfied grin and walk out of the dorms radiantly. He didn't even question the path his feet were taking on their own accord, crossing the lawn deck with loud stomps and making a turn as soon as he climbed the stairs on his way to the kitchen.

His hand gladly cooperated and opened up the door, bringing into view the reason behind his steps who was casually working on the Straw Hat Pirates' breakfast.

Zoro approached the cook boldly, voicing a loud and clear, "Morning."

Sanji's gaze flung in the swordsman's way for exactly one second before he went back to his job. "Morning," he replied simply, without half of Zoro's enthusiasm.

Despite the lack of interest from the blond, Zoro continued to stare at Sanji with attentive eyes, appreciating the tiniest details of his gorgeous figure.

"Did you sleep well?" He decided to ask at some point while he leaned comfortably against the countertop where Sanji was cooking.

"Yeah," was the reply he got, very straightforward. When Zoro was about to change topics, a continuation came accompanied by an almost imperceptible timid glance, "You?"

Zoro's smile broadened considerably. "I slept great," he made sure to remark, crossing his arms in front of his chest. A short huff escaped Sanji's lips at that.

"I'd be seriously concerned if you out of all people had trouble sleeping for whatever reason," he commented with an evident mocking tone, his words reminding Zoro of the very first time he was thrown into the dreams against his will and raised an unnecessary amount of suspicion because he chose to cover everyone's night shifts at the time. Sanji really seemed to be particular about the amount of hours Zoro spent sleeping.

They spent some time in silence until Zoro got bored of creeping over Sanji's preparations and shot, "Are we going on another date today?"

At this moment, Sanji's hands stopped moving almost immediately. He then lowered his head just a little, causing his fringe to fall over his eyes. "Do you still want to do it…? Even after what happened yesterday?" He questioned.

"Of course," Zoro replied confidently. "What happened yesterday was indeed terrible, but I have a feeling it'll be different next time." He knew what to do now. He was ready. And Sanji seemed to really like dates for whatever reason, which made Zoro want to do it for him as well; it was ridiculous how fast he's fallen for the cook.

The corners of Sanji's lips slowly curved into a smile before his answer came, "Yeah, I think so, too." It disappeared much quicker than Zoro wished it would, however, as soon as the blond resumed his talk. "Unfortunately I have some other things to do today, so I'm afraid it won't be possible," he explained, sounding somewhat disappointed.

"I see," was Zoro's response with an evident drop in his tone. He actually felt a little bad for it. "Maybe some other time," he added eventually, sending a hopeful glance towards Sanji.

His words managed to make Sanji turn his face in Zoro's direction and mutter shortly with a warm smile and a faint shade of pink painting his cheeks, "Yeah."

If their interaction would ever lead to something else Zoro will never find out because Brook entered through the kitchen's door the very next moment, completely interrupting their moment together and pushing them away from each other for the rest of the morning.






Afternoon arrived in a flash and Zoro decided to lean against the wall of the kitchen on the second deck to take a nap after a few sets of dumbbell training. He slept until the sound of angry stomping woke him up, making his eyes dart up to the owner of two long black legs in front of him.

"Snack time," Sanji barked with a glare from above, indifferent to Zoro's dormant state of mind.

A loud yawn took over Zoro's body before he could reply, stretching one of his hands up to take the portion of whatever Sanji made for them that day, "Alright."

He remained in that position for an embarrassingly long time until Sanji bent his knees in front of him to be on his level instead, forcing him to retreat his own hand. When the blond sent a hand to the tray he was holding in his other arm, Zoro was expecting him to pick up a bowl of what seemed to be cookies and hand it out to him, but was surprised to find out that Sanji took a single cookie between his fingers and positioned it very close to Zoro's lips, offering to feed him instead.

"Open up," he ordered in a harsh tone, but Zoro could see the light flush threatening to take over his face from up close. "I made sure not to paint them green this time."

Zoro didn't know what his nakama meant by not painting the cookies green but didn't pay it any mind, just puffed out a chuckle in response.

"Y-you bastard, what are you laughing about?!" Sanji shouted with a brighter blush, his eyes burning with anger.

"No… I just never expected you to deliberately offer to feed me," was his reply. "I'm happy," Zoro concluded with a grin, watching as Sanji's face got even redder than before.

"This is not the first time I feed you," Sanji pointed out, his eyes narrowed while he bore a pout in his lips.

"Yeah, but last time you just wanted to laugh at my reaction," he countered, tilting his head to the side defiantly.

His argument lifted Sanji's curly eyebrow into a scorn before he could hear, "And what makes you think I'm not aiming for the same thing right now?"

Zoro felt a sudden rush of adrenaline pump inside his veins.

Sanji was challenging him to a battle of wits, but he knew better than to fall for the blond's bluffs. He trusted his guts enough to know that Sanji didn't mean him any harm at the moment, so he promptly opened up his mouth wide, voicing a continuous grunt that only came to a stop once the cookie from Sanji's hand was close enough to Zoro's face, allowing him to bite down and taste it.

Sanji kept staring at his face as Zoro munched on his treat, asking for the feedback with a low voice that said, "Well?"

It took Zoro only a moment to swallow down and give out his answer. "It's good. As always," he added cleverly, increasing the timid smile on Sanji's face by another millimeter. One more cookie soon appeared in front of Zoro's mouth and he gladly took it inside again, happy to be able to please Sanji with something so simple.

Before the blond could reach out for the third piece, Zoro intercepted his hand with a clasp of his own around the man's wrist. "Can you stay for a bit?" He asked, looking deep into the blue skies of Sanji's visible eye.

The surprised expression on Sanji's face became very evident by how much he widened his eyes at Zoro's words, amplifying the white area around his beautiful blue pupil. He opted not to reply, though, and just leaned against the wall right next to Zoro, bringing a satisfied smug to the greenhead's lips before he could reach out for the next cookie and continue his feeding.

Zoro accepted the treat obediently, suddenly feeling much happier just by having Sanji close enough to have their knees and thighs brush against each other.

When a fourth cookie flew to his lips, Zoro stole it from Sanji's hand and poked it against the cook's own lips instead, muttering a calm, "You have some, too. I know you barely eat what you make."

Sanji's brows twitched up in anger as he growled, "Of course I eat it! I always make sure my food tastes good before serving!"

"I know that," Zoro replied assertively, finally being able to make Sanji realize he actually meant something else entirely.

He spent a lot of time with Sanji inside the dreams watching his every step, all of his habits and accompanying him during his daily routine to know what he was talking about. The look in Zoro's silver eyes didn't show a single hint of doubt, and was enough to convince Sanji to open up just enough to chomp at the cookie that hovered close to his mouth, ultimately submitting to Zoro's plea.

"Good boy," Zoro teased, hearing a snarl coming from Sanji's throat in response.

They continued at this pace until Sanji announced, "This will be the last one, I still have many other things to do."

His words made Zoro pout and wish he could prevent Sanji from leaving somehow, already knowing he'd be punished for trying to interfere with Sanji's tasks even though it was actually really worth it sometimes. He probably would have insisted if they were inside a dream, since Zoro always felt like he couldn't waste a single second, but things were different now. He could wait. They would meet again later that day, and the day after, and after. They would be together until Luffy became the Pirate King, who knows how many years later.

Satisfied with what he managed to get for the time being, Zoro opened up his mouth again and waited for Sanji to put the last cookie within his reach. However, once the little dessert was close enough and Zoro bit down on it, Sanji retreated his hand in the last second and threw the cookie into his own mouth instead, not even giving Zoro the time to complain by quickly pressing his lips against the swordsman's in a surprise kiss that turned Zoro's mind into a white canvas.

The sudden attack was incredibly effective and held Zoro reactionless for the entire time their mouths were connected, only rebooting his system when Sanji backed out munching pretentiously.

"See ya," was the blond's final statement before he stood up to leave and pulled his tongue out in a clear provocation that only kicked in Zoro's brain after he was already too far away.

Zoro felt his blood boiling and climbing to his face as he got both angry and embarrassed by Sanji's boldness, although his lips insisted on displaying an absurdly broad smile.

"That stupid bastard," he cursed happily under his teeth, bringing a hand to cover his undeniable flush.

His heart pumped so strongly inside his chest that Zoro would have feared for his life if it didn't feel so good.






Sanji asked Zoro to meet him in the aquarium bar after dinner. The two spent the whole time throwing suggestive glances at each other across the table, rubbing shoes and boots against their legs, poking, tangling and purposely bumping any part of their bodies against each other out of the crew's sight. It was strangely satisfying for Zoro to be able to share little interactions like this among their friends without them knowing.

The invitation still came up as a surprise regardless, a pleasant surprise that Zoro accepted right away. He was so excited for their meeting that he decided to wait for Sanji already inside, comfortably sitting down on the couch as time passed by. When the door finally opened, he redirected his gaze to the figure that slid inside gracefully.

"Well, look at that. Wasn't expecting you to show up first," Sanji commented with his usual sneering tone and a mischievous smirk casually playing on his lips as he closed the door on his back without having to look at it.

"It took you a while. Were you scared?" Zoro teased back, throwing his elbows over the backrest in a rather intimidating gesture.

His words only made Sanji scoff, though. "As if," he blurted, taking a seat next to Zoro without the slightest hesitation. "I'm not afraid of muscle-brains."

They both exchanged silent smirks after that, appreciating each other's annoying personalities that were strangely captivating for their simple minds. The flames of competition in their eyes ended up attracting them to each other like moths aiming for a light source, pulling them together until their lips collided.

Their kiss was brief despite the unresolved tension bubbling in their guts, but Zoro understood the reason as soon as Sanji opened up his mouth to speak. "I want to try something different," he said, looking very serious about it.

"Sure, what is it?" Zoro didn't hesitate to ask, suddenly being pestered by a little dot inside his stomach that trembled in anticipation.

When Sanji brought his gaze back to Zoro, his eyes glistened with desire. "I want to give you a tongue kiss," he mumbled, making Zoro's stomach flip and his eyes widen considerably.

He wasn't expecting that. Last time, Sanji just shoved his tongue into Zoro's mouth without consent, providing him with one of the best experiences he's ever had up until that point.

The possibility of kissing Sanji like this for real made him incredibly excited, bringing forward a huge grin to his features. "Alright. I'm looking forward to it," he admitted. "Your tongue kisses are incredible."

Zoro's innocent comment perked Sanji's curly brow up in surprise. "Really…?" He asked with conflicted feelings, blurring Zoro's ability to read his expression as the swordsman nodded to confirm. The uncertainty in Sanji's eye eventually burned away and confidence took over as he straightened himself up for one final announcement, "Let's do this."

This statement made Zoro get in position as well, turning in the blond's direction before obediently shutting his eyes. Soon enough Sanji's lips were brushing over his mouth and pressing against it, eager to lead him into an enthusiastic kiss. They kept moving their lips fiercely until they got used to each other's pace and Sanji finally delivered the first blow, pulling forward too fast and consequently hitting his own teeth against Zoro's — which made both of them retreat immediately.

"Ouch," Zoro grumbled while covering his mouth with his palm, putting his gaze on an incredibly embarrassed Sanji with his head hanging very low in front of him. "Hey," he called, reaching out to the hand Sanji used to cover his own mouth, "It's fine. That happens when you're not used to it yet."

Sanji just growled in response, refusing to look up.

"Cook," he called again, bringing Sanji's hand close to his chest. The blond didn't even budge. "Come on, don't worry about it," Zoro insisted, running the back of his fingers against Sanji's cheek and managing to make deep blue eyes peek through the curtain of golden hair in front of him with the gesture. "Why don't I show you how it's done first? Then you can take over," he suggested at least, leaning towards the blond's head until their foreheads touched.

Sanji's head raised for a mere millimeter at these words and he remained silent for another couple of minutes before nodding, his eyes barely visible behind his fringe. This subtle sign alone was able to make Zoro pull closer and purse his lips until they touched Sanji's, moving against them leisurely. They got used to each other's rhythm pretty fast and Zoro felt ready to lick Sanji's tongue with a bold whip of his own tongue, enticing his partner to make a move on his own and nudge back against Zoro's.

Things escalated pretty quickly after this point, with Zoro courting Sanji's tongue until it grew accustomed to the flow of kisses and licks, being able to pick up with Zoro's initiatives right from the start and dance alongside him like they've been doing it for ages. Once he was satisfied with the results, Zoro backed away to meet Sanji's gaze and was pleased to see that he was pulled over one more time by a clever hand that found its way to Zoro's nape and led them to a second set of ardent kissing conducted by his partner alone. Sanji threaded confidently in Zoro's mouth this time, lavishing him with wet kisses, sucks and amorous nibbling.

When they eventually parted, both were breathless and bore a slight pinkish color in their cheeks. Zoro chuckled at the feeling and dropped his head on top of Sanji's shoulder, immensely content to be able to taste Sanji's lips like this, with so much flavor than an ordinary kiss.

"Was I good?" He heard Sanji ask once a hand delicately settled over his head, shuffling his hair aimlessly.

"Mhm," Zoro grumbled in return before he could elaborate, "it was excellent."

There was a short pause with silent petting, then, "Just like you experienced before?"

The reply flew out of his mouth before he could think it over, "Exactly like it."

He already knew Sanji would be able to replicate what his dream version was able to do since they were still the same person after all — the only difference was their feelings… or used to be, to be more specific. Zoro was pretty certain they were both in love with each other at this point.

"How many times did you meet him?" Sanji asked, and Zoro immediately knew he was talking about his dream version by the slightly different tone of his voice.

"Four," he confessed, feeling the need to tell Sanji more details than he was asked to. "The first one was in Doroumou, along with everyone else."

"So you ended up changing your mind back then?" He inquired, sliding his fingers along Zoro's strands as he talked.

Zoro shifted in Sanji's shoulder, turning his face to the side a bit. "No, I wasn't supposed to be affected, but apparently the gas escaped through the door and I was leaning right next to it," he explained.

His narration pulled a scoff out of the cook's lungs. "Being dumb enough to overlook such an obvious detail is so like you," he heard Sanji mock from above, making his brows furrow in protest a second before Sanji could ask another question. "And then what? You liked it so much you had to beg the chief to give you the pills?"

"No, it wasn't like that," Zoro growled while lifting his head from Sanji's shoulder and straightening himself up. "On the last day of the dream, I asked you some questions, like why you were in love with me in the first place."

Sanji clicked his tongue after these words, shaking his head to the sides a few times. "You can't ask something like this, you idiot. The heart isn't something you can control," he reprimanded vehemently.

A bright smile bloomed in Zoro's face upon hearing this and he turned to look his nakama in the eyes with evident happiness. "That's what you told me at that time, too," he pointed out excitedly before continuing, "then you ended up saying what you wanted us to do together — like holding hands, touching each other, kissing… and I said I'd do it."

"You did what?" The tone in Sanji's voice was almost threatening. "You agreed to kiss me without even being in love?"

Sanji's outstanding incredulity brought another side grin to Zoro's lips. "Yeah, you didn't believe me back then either and made me promise I'd really do it, so I did."

"You're a fucking idiot," was Sanji's eventual response, but Zoro somewhat didn't find it offensive — he just felt like the cook refused to believe what he had just heard.

Seeing how Sanji didn't plan to add anything else, Zoro resumed his narration. "The dream ended almost right after that, but I couldn't stop thinking about the promise nonetheless. That's what made me go look for the village chief," he justified. "He gave me the pills after hearing my story and told me how to use them, so I tried it later that night."

"I was able to get to you in my very first try and told you about the promise I made. You struggled a little at first, but ended up going along with the whole thing after a while.

"I believe I was able to fulfill my promise during those three days. We spent a lot of time together being really close physically, kissing and enjoying each other's presence. There was even a date," Zoro recalled fondly, smiling as soon as the memories sprang from the back of his head.

"By the time the dream was over I already knew I was in love, which made me want to chase you down again. Everything got much easier with the two of us being in love with each other right from the start, and I have never been so grateful for having fallen for you," his voice was calm and tender when he spoke, slowly curving his lips upwards as a result. The loving expression soon retreated to a darker, gloomier look when he opened up his mouth to speak once again, "Unfortunately I got so blinded by this wonderful feeling that it led me into doing terrible things."

He stopped speaking as he tried to digest the following occurrences that continued to haunt him to this day. Just when he was about to proceed, Sanji got ahead of him and said, "You kissed me by mistake."

Zoro perked his gaze up in the blond's direction and nodded quietly. "That stupid decision made me so ridiculously angry I ended up taking it out on you as soon as I met you in the following dream," he let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head slightly before resuming. "The consequences of that particular event are deeply rooted in my heart, constantly reminding me to never lose sight of what's really important."

He couldn't bring himself to look at Sanji for a while, his eyes focused on the ground in front of him while his mind wandered aimlessly until he heard Sanji's voice muttering something by his side. "So that's why you behaved so strangely the following day…" were the words that left his nakama's mouth — somewhat painted with evident concern — and brought Zoro's attention back to Sanji's face.

Their eyes met briefly before Sanji could avert his gaze once more, staring at the same point on the ground that Zoro was looking at a moment earlier. "I saw you taking the pill at night on the same day you kissed me," he confessed, knotting his fingers into a net between his thighs. "I thought you were hiding a sickness, so I decided to peek into your things. When I found the pill, I recognized its color and pattern from Doroumou and stole one for me to try it out later."

The two of them stayed completely quiet until Zoro saw a sad grin lifting the corners of Sanji's mouth. "In my first dream, Usopp wouldn't shut up about loving me and gave me a taste of hell during those three days. I hated every second of it," he testified, never looking Zoro in the face. After tightening his fingers in front of his body, he resumed, "It was different with you. You were much more subtle, but I could still see love in your actions and poorly hidden expressions... even though you didn't confess to me once."

Hearing these words made Zoro stall. He never stopped to consider how different he'd act with someone he loved, especially if they weren't in love with him already.

So he never confessed…

Well, he knew Sanji enough to be certain that the cook would never give him a chance in the first place… or so he thought, because Sanji was actually trying to build a relationship with him right now. But then again, Zoro would find it impossible for him to love Sanji the way he did at the moment a few months ago. Love was a strange and unpredictable feeling.

His hands slowly scooted over to Sanji's as Zoro contemplated their current situation, holding it down under a firm grip that brought a sky blue pupil to his face. He nuzzled the blond's face without the need for words, earning a tight squeeze on his hand in appreciation for the gesture and they just stayed there in the silence exchanging warmth, kisses and other caressings until it was time to leave to their dorms and sleep.






Despite the terrible odds, Zoro and Sanji's relationship was growing stronger and more intimate. They kissed with much more confidence and could leave a hand around each other without being overly self-conscious about it, although they still had occasional urges to avert their eyes when they got too thirsty for one another.

Even so, they were getting used to this new phase bit by bit, letting go of their insecurities and allowing themselves to take pleasure in what they shared together.

Zoro was definitely enjoying himself; he was happy to be able to kiss the cook sporadically and loved the special treatment he received thanks to that, even if it'd never be the same exclusivity only girls had the right to, he still rejoiced in earning extra food or having the privilege to touch Sanji more intimately without being yelled at.

Still, he was greedy. Zoro always wanted more. Whenever he was next to Sanji, he yearned to touch him, kiss him, and make sure that his sole blue eye was locked on him and no one else. In time, he learned about Sanji's boundaries and knew how far he could push without being invasive or inconvenient, making use of his knowledge to get a taste of his nakama as much as he could — like in a certain afternoon.

That day, Sanji showed up to deliver some snacks during Zoro's training in the crow's nest and, just when he was about to leave, the swordsman's voice called him with a sharp, demanding tone, "Cook."

It was enough to make Sanji look over his shoulder and find Zoro sitting down on the floor looking at him with wide open arms.

"No, I'm not doing that. You're all sweaty," Sanji complained, making Zoro frown and pout. After a moment of intense staring, Zoro insisted one more time, huffing stubbornly and opening his arms even wider.

This made Sanji sigh and turn around, ultimately giving in to Zoro's plea and dropping down to the greenhead's lap where two strong arms welcomed him with a tight embrace, gluing him to a muscular wall. Zoro hummed happily and nuzzled Sanji's golden locks upon his arrival, truly content for having the man he loved in his arms.

"You spoiled marimo," Sanji breathed close to Zoro's ear as soon as he got comfortable enough in the new position.

"It's your fault. You're the one who taught me that," Zoro justified, remembering all the times Sanji forced his way into Zoro's arms and showed him how incredibly pleasant it was. The way their bodies were tangled up together so close they were able to hear each other's heartbeats, share the same temperature, smell each other's scent and feel the smoothness of their skin brushing against themselves was the closest Zoro has ever felt from heaven itself. His fingers cradled around Sanji's waist and back, marking every nick and corner with a dig of his finger pads while he bathed in the smell from Sanji's hair.

He didn't know how much time he spent relishing in his partner's presence before Sanji pulled away from Zoro's embrace to give him a kiss, which he obviously retributed. They were soon slapping their tongues against one another and making a lot of wet noises through their clash, completely lost in the feeling until Sanji backed off with a smirk saying, "There's something poking in my ass."

Zoro immediately stopped his fondling after that. Of course he'd get a boner at a time like this…

"Can you blame me, though," he mumbled, not really ashamed of his condition after how passionately the two of them kissed earlier. Sanji just smiled and sent both hands to the swordsman's face, avoiding Zoro's gaze while his fingers traced his lover's lips with little taps.

There was a mysterious glint inside Sanji's pupil as he accompanied the tip of his own fingers over Zoro's mouth that the greenhead couldn't quite decipher, but was inexplicably attracted to. Sanji was absurdly charming in everything he did, even when he chose to do nothing at all; he was truly gorgeous.

"Did we do it? Inside a dream?" Were the words that snapped Zoro out of his trance coming from the cook's mouth.

"Yes," he replied truthfully.

His answer pulled a scoff out of Sanji's lungs. "I can't believe you took advantage of my pure feelings to satisfy your lust," he accused, closing his eyes with a scornful grin.

"What?!" Zoro barked furiously. "You're the one who jumped on my dick first!"

Sanji's eye popped open instantly at his words. "Bullshit! That'd never happen!!" He shouted back, equally angry.

"Are you sure about that? You've really never considered it before, pervert cook?" Zoro taunted, knowing Sanji had too much of a dirty mind to deny. His tactic worked like a charm and made Sanji gulp nervously in front of him before the blond buried his face against Zoro's shoulder in defeat, refusing to give out an answer.

Once they were in each other's arms again, Zoro resumed his caressing, not minding Sanji's lack of response in the slightest as he continued to plant kisses around his nakama's neck from his spot. His hands slid to Sanji's thighs and ass, feeling the stiffness of its muscles with thirsty gropes full of want that kept his own erection very much entertained in the meantime.

He spent some time feeling the cook until Sanji pulled away violently with his head down. This action made Zoro's brain freeze, only going back to functioning when Sanji inadvertently dug a hand inside his haramaki. "Oi, wait-" Zoro gasped, arriving too late to prevent Sanji from capturing his dick in a strong grip. "Fuck- what are you doing?"

"If you're not going to do anything about it, I'll do it myself," was Sanji's reply a second before his long fingers started to pump Zoro's shaft, sliding against his length impatiently.

A hoarse groan left Zoro's lungs at the friction and his entire body spasmed at the sudden burst of pleasure directed at his member, making him tighten his hold around Sanji's skin. "Cook," he called fruitlessly without being able to stop Sanji's drive, that ended up lifting his haramaki and lowering down his pants with the movements of his fingers alone.

Sanji was mad — Zoro could tell by the strength of the merciless grip around him — but his bad mood actually added a little flavor to the whole thing, making it even more pleasurable for Zoro. His clench was stronger, which resulted in much more pressure to his strokes that were also unfairly fast. Zoro just knew he wouldn't last long at this crazy pace, but he didn't care; his body was rejoicing in having Sanji forcibly pleasuring him like this, so he just closed his eyes and rode the rhythm his partner set for him, bucking his hips in a frenzy when he felt his climax coming towards him like a tsunami, washing away his fire and turning his desperation into bliss with a single splash that left him numb, exhausted and breathless.

He could feel the threads of cum continuing to spurt from his dick all over Sanji's hand while he fought to compose himself, recognizing Sanji's voice on the back of his mind saying, "There you go, you horny marimo."

The provocation ignited Zoro's anger and helped him recover in a flash, pushing Sanji down onto the ground while he towered over him from above, sending Sanji a condescending look for exactly one second before he shifted his attention to the man's belt in order to unfasten it.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" Sanji roared, trying to prevent Zoro from stripping him off his pants and underwear after the strap slid out of the frame before his eyes.

Zoro effortlessly overpowered the cook, considering the blond didn't seem to be fighting for real and mainly just got in the way instead of actually kicking Zoro away. "This is payback," was Zoro's answer after he finally managed to seize Sanji's rock-hard dick under his grip and started to pleasure it with both hands, pulling a long howl out of Sanji's throat.

"No- stop…!" He heard Sanji whimper between moans, stirring something inside his stomach that crushed his heart and immediately paralyzed his entire body.

It took Zoro a whole minute to come back to his senses and ask a very confused looking Sanji down below, "Do you really want me to stop?" He didn't know what kind of expression he was making, but Sanji didn't take his eyes off him for a single instant while he spoke. "If you do, I will," he guaranteed, his resolution unshakable.

Sanji continued to stare at him for a few more seconds until he threw his arms around Zoro's neck and pulled the greenhead closer, holding him tight. "Geez… just finish it up already," he snarled against Zoro's shoulder, bringing peace to Zoro's mind. This time Zoro just nodded in reply, going back to moving his hands up and down Sanji's hardness and relishing on the sounds that bubbled from his partner's mouth as a result. They soon reached the incoming crescendo where Sanji panted a labored "I'm- close-" right next to Zoro's ear and the sexy tone of his voice traveled all the way to Zoro's pants, awakening his once dormant member with a sudden and most definitely unwanted spark of pleasure.

Determined to focus only on Sanji's release at the moment, Zoro gathered all the strength in his body to ignore his growing cock and continue to deliver diligent strokes as he hushed, "Come."

The order made Sanji tremble and let out his juice at the same time as a powerful groan escaped his body and echoed inside the nest, giving Zoro the reward of listening to it reverberating in beautiful acoustics.

Their post-orgasmic rest didn't last at all, with Sanji pushing Zoro away and storming out of the gym like he despised Zoro — which obviously pierced a thorn in the swordsman's chest. Sanji made sure to apologize later that night with a few kisses and Zoro forgave him so easily it was almost pitiful, but he was already used to being an idiot in love at this point.

They didn't talk about it until the very next day when Sanji invited Zoro to his kitchen after dinner and the chef deliberately sat on Zoro's lap while the latter rested at the couch, scattering a billion butterflies inside the greenhead's stomach.

A little bit after Zoro regained control over his own body and wrapped his arms around his partner full of affection, he heard Sanji say with a barely audible voice, "How was it like when we had sex…?"

Zoro felt his heart skip a beat. "Wonderful," he admitted, tightening his grip against Sanji's skin. As the memories poured in his mind, he started to speak them out loud, "You climbed to my lap and-"

"You don't have to tell me the details!" Sanji was quick to cut him up, burying his face in Zoro's shoulder.

They stayed like this for some time, letting their minds wander around the topic at hand until Zoro realized that Sanji was actually considering taking this step, although he also seemed to be somewhat concerned about it. "I can make you enjoy it painlessly, so you don't have to worry too much," Zoro guaranteed, patting the blond's back in hope to calm him down.

Sanji just clinged harder to Zoro and spat a sharp, "Pervert," with no malice in his voice.

Some time passed, and Zoro hadn't organized his thoughts yet when Sanji dropped another phrase out of the blue. "Next time our night shifts collide… I want to try doing it."

These words stuck deep into his heart. "Are you serious?" He needed to confirm.

He got a little nod as an answer, and then, "I feel like he's ahead of me."

"He?" Zoro repeated, confused.

"The dream me," Sanji explained, digging his fingers deeper against Zoro's skin. "I won't surpass him as long as he has the advantage of having done more things with you than I did."

"You don't have to force yourself into doing something you don't want to do just because of that," Zoro countered.

Sanji then stubbornly shook his head to the sides, refusing to let go of his opinion. "I do want to! I…" he made a little pause, gathering the strength to continue, "...I want to be your first."

These words opened Zoro's eyes to something he had overlooked this whole time; Sanji, this Sanji, was in love with him as well. They were no longer experimenting — they were together for real, so it was only natural for their relationship to evolve at some point.

"Cook," Zoro called with the smoothest voice his body could manage, squeezing Sanji within his arms so they'd be impossibly closer to each other. "You already are," he reassured, knowing in his heart that he already belonged to Sanji.

After their tight embrace, Zoro pulled back to give Sanji a tender kiss dripping with passion to prove his intentions, which he was able to conceive just fine according to the satisfied grin that insisted on staying in the blond's lips as soon as their mouths parted.

"I'll make you feel good," Zoro promised.

"I'm looking forward to it," was Sanji's final answer.






A few days went by, and after some negotiation with the rest of the members of the crew, Zoro and Sanji got themselves the shared night shift they planned together. Zoro was barely able to sleep that night, too anxious to allow his body to get the best out of his frenzied mind; he had to make sure Sanji had a good time no matter what, even though he was already pretty confident regarding that aspect.

When he felt a hand landing on his shoulder to wake him up to his shift and looked at the person by his hammock, his eyes landed on the cook's figure slightly bent over him. "You go ahead. I have some things to prepare," Sanji skillfully whispered in a volume that only Zoro could hear from this close. Zoro just grunted in agreement and jumped out of his hammock, marching to the crow's nest where he sat down on the couch to wait for his partner to arrive.

After a few minutes, he could hear the sound of metal being stepped on and saw something white coming out of the hole on the ground. Sanji dropped what looked like a sheet wrapped over more stuff that Zoro couldn't identify before the blond could successfully land on the floor and redirect his gaze to the swordsman.

"What's all that?" Zoro asked with cocked eyebrows.

At these words, Sanji began to unwrap the sheet and reveal what was being carried inside, which Zoro recognized as a pillow, a bottle, and possibly a blanket. "Just the basics for a comfortable night," he announced, all proud of himself.

Zoro decided to join the cook on the ground, helping him build up a substitute bed with the sheet, blanket and pillow nicely positioned on the floor. While Sanji was distracted smoothing the covers, Zoro took the bottle in hand and widened his eyes as soon as he read the description of the label. "That's… lube. Where did you get it?"

Sanji snatched the bottle from Zoro's hands right after spotting it between his fingers, holding it close to his own chest defensively. "I bought it on our last island," came the reply.

"The island where we held the race?" Zoro's brows knitted together in a perplexed expression. "It was like last week, we weren't even dating at that time."

"I know! I have no idea why I bought that either… I just looked at it and figured I'd buy it just in case," he elaborated, avoiding Zoro's eyes like the plague.

"Just in case… what?" Zoro pressed, having way too much fun with this.

As expected, his taunt made Sanji snap and burst out loud, "It doesn't matter!! It's here now and you should be grateful that I plan ahead."

With a lively chuckle rising from his throat, Zoro leaned towards Sanji, invading his personal space. "You're right, I'm grateful for that perverted mind of yours," he muttered through a cocky smirk, not giving Sanji the chance to come up with a comeback by pressing his lips against the cook's right after.

They kissed until Sanji's anger dissipated (Zoro could tell by the way the cook slid a hand around his nape, pulling him closer) and Zoro began to lower Sanji down on their improvised bed, making sure to kick their shoes away before actually landing onto the blanket until his nakama was fully laid over it. When he broke the kiss and backed away, Sanji had his head on the pillow and looked up at Zoro like he missed him already.

"Are you comfortable?" Zoro asked from above, running the back of his fingers through Sanji's cheek.

"I think so," was Sanji's answer as he analyzed his own condition, shifting his body a little just to make sure.

"Alright. In that case…" Zoro mumbled a second before his finger dropped from Sanji's face to his neck, working its way to undoing Sanji's tie.

He heard Sanji inhale sharply as soon as he put his eyes on Zoro's hands over his clothes and his face soon acquired a reddish tone around the cheeks, gulping down with difficulty and making his Adam apple bob close to Zoro's fingers.

Once the tie was no longer in his way, Zoro opened up a few buttons on Sanji's shirt and shot a quick glance towards stern blue eyes before diving to his nakama's neck, dropping licks and kisses all over it while his fingers continued to strip Sanji out of his garments. After the last button had been opened up, Zoro raised from Sanji's skin and pushed the cook's jacket down his shoulder, inciting Sanji to collaborate and lift his torso to facilitate the process; the same thing was done to Sanji's shirt underneath and the pieces were both discarded by their side, putting Sanji's beautiful skin into full view under Zoro's hungry eyes.

He stared at Sanji's body attentively, his focus lingering on the marks he already left on Sanji's neck and the other places he still intended to mark, planning every step very carefully with utmost dedication.

Sanji waited patiently for Zoro to recommence his ordeals and lower himself to place a kiss on top of the blond's collarbones, nibbling at the extension of the bone affectionately until he reached Sanji's shoulder, focusing on that instead.

He continued to love every muscle and every fiber of Sanji's body, covering everything with his touch until he heard Sanji's voice coming from above, "Is that really necessary?"

The annoyance in his voice was undeniable, but Zoro chose to overlook that and take the cook's hand to his mouth, placing a kiss on the back before saying, "No, but I figured you deserved a special treatment."

A frown replaced Sanji's quizzed brow and he grumbled, "Special treatment… I don't want that. Just do it like you did to the others."

"That I cannot do. You're different from them — you're the real deal. So I need to treasure you a thousand times more," Zoro explained, and he wasn't sure if Sanji liked it or not, because the frown was still very evident despite the brand new flush that painted the cook's features.

When Zoro leaned over Sanji once more, he went straight to the highest part of his partner's abdomen, pressing his lips against Sanji's bumps of muscle one by one as he slowly went down, not leaving a single centimeter without his scent until he reached Sanji's pants. He didn't ask for permission nor looked up at Sanji's face to start unfastening the belt that secured Sanji's lowers parts, only sparing his partner a quick glance once he heard the cook gasp, and his eyes were able to catch the exact moment when Sanji hid his own mouth with the help of one of his wrists.

They exchanged a look that lasted longer than the others and Zoro confidently took that as a conceding sign, allowing him to proceed with his intention of getting inside Sanji's pants without worrying, so he opened up the zipper and groped Sanji's bulge, squeezing and rubbing it until he could feel an erection forming under his fingers. His eyes flew to Sanji's flushed face at that time, appreciating the beautiful hue of red and the lustful expression peeking from within Sanji's blue eyed pupils. He then tugged his fingers at the waistband, pulling it down very slowly to expose the hardness it covered and successfully pushing a low grunt out of Sanji's throat in response.

Zoro enveloped the shaft in his fingers and stroked it gently, almost too slowly to be pleasurable. His dull moves build up a growl in Sanji's throat, making the blond hiss, "Come on, you've already done that before."

To which Zoro just smirked and muttered, "Not quite," before approaching Sanji's dick and putting it into his mouth with a sudden drop of his head.

"Ah! Zo-" Sanji tried to interrupt Zoro's descent into his cock, but a spark of pleasure made his body quiver and ultimately give up on taking Zoro's mouth out of him. "You can't be serious!"

A mischievous leer flew to Sanji's face for exactly one second before Zoro could go back to his assignment, completely focused on pleasuring his partner with his tongue and warmth; his fingers continued to pump Sanji's length on the outside while Zoro licked and rubbed the cock against his cheeks or the top of his mouth.

He could see Sanji gripping the sheets under his fingers the further Zoro took him inside, increasing the volume of his moans as he got closer and closer to release. "Zoro… I'm close…!" Sanji managed to utter, putting one of his hands on the back of Zoro's head and tugging at the green hair with too much strength — which caused Zoro to let go of the dick with a loud pop. His hand continued to stimulate the skin nonetheless, not allowing Sanji to lose his momentum because of this.

"Give it to me," Zoro ordered with a smirk a second before he went back to mouthing Sanji's trembling erection, enveloping it with his tongue and ferocious hunger that was able to make Sanji come in a matter of seconds. The recurrent jets of sperm filled Zoro's mouth while Sanji's fingers conducted the swordsman's head to bob slowly through the orgasm until he grew immovable, too tired to function. Zoro took the opportunity to set himself free from Sanji's grasp and rise from the cook's legs, licking his lips shamelessly after gulping down all of the cum in his buds.

As soon as Sanji reopened his eyes, he pulled Zoro closer to his face and smashed his lips against the greenhead's mouth, sticking his tongue inside and circling it around the place, where he gathered the remnants of his own juice that still lingered in Zoro's saliva.

Once their kiss was over, Zoro lifted himself from Sanji's arms and began to strip off his own clothes, taking out his haramaki and shirt that he tossed carelessly on the floor. Before he pulled his pants down he shot a gaze in Sanji's direction, coming across the man's deep blue eyes that watched him in awe from below. The fervor of Sanji's stare made Zoro's cheeks excessively hot, but he chose to ignore them for now and ask, "Are we really doing it?"

His words snapped Sanji out of his trance, making him blink repeatedly to situate himself before his reply came. "Yes. Yes, we are. I want this," he confirmed, avoiding Zoro's eyes and focusing his attention at his partner's naked torso instead.

"Well, then…" Zoro mumbled as he removed the last pieces of clothing from his body, taking off his pants and underwear under Sanji's obsessing gaze. He then reached for the bottle of lube and flicked the cap open with one hand while the other spread Sanji's legs apart from each other. "I'm going to prep you up, so make sure you follow everything I say."

Sanji's eyes shone defiantly at these words and he barked, "What if I don't?"

"It will hurt more than it should," came Zoro's strict reply, like a warning.

"...so it's supposed to hurt," was Sanji's conclusion, which made Zoro wince.

"Not if you behave," he reiterated.

The fire in Sanji's eyes subdued after they spent a few minutes staring at each other out of spite, putting a stop to the staring contest with a long sigh that took away all the stress from Sanji's body. "Do it," he spat at last, scooting closer to Zoro's thighs in encouragement.

Zoro accepted the initiative and flipped the bottle into his other hand, pouring a good amount of the liquid on his fingers before taking them to Sanji's asshole. "I'm putting it in," he announced while carefully inserting his middle finger into the entrance, stopping his advance as soon as he felt Sanji's walls tightening around him.

"Fuck," he heard Sanji curse in the middle of a spasm, clenching relentlessly without the slightest sign of loosening up.

"It's okay, just breathe and try to relax. I'm only moving when you're calm," Zoro assured, watching patiently for Sanji to stop contorting in pain.

"It- burns," Sanji whimpered, clinging to the sheets under his fingers with an almighty grip.

He waited a little, but Sanji was stubborn and struggled to keep his ass loosened enough for a decent amount of time. For that reason, Zoro shifted closer to the blond, capturing Sanji's lips when his partner had just realized his intentions and let out a soft gasp at their sudden proximity. Their kiss didn't last long, though — being merely a prologue to what was about to come. "Focus on me," Zoro instructed against Sanji's mouth, going back to kissing him more intensely as soon as their lips met a second time.

Just like he planned, Sanji melted into the kiss and relaxed just enough for him to proceed with his prodding little by little, pushing his way very slowly and halting his movements as soon as he felt Sanji constrict.

When he retreated to add another finger, Sanji snarled below him. "Are you still doing that?" His voice cut through the wind like a razor, evidencing his annoyance.

"Be patient. This is important," Zoro replied, not bothering with Sanji's short temper at this point; he had to make sure the blond would be able to take him fully without any discomfort. He continued to stretch Sanji's hole by keeping his partner distracted with kisses, sucks and a little teasing on his dick to maintain the mood, and by the time he was satisfied with his work, Sanji almost didn't want to let him go, making it a lot harder for Zoro to put up some distance between them and seize the bottle of lube he'd use to coat his own cock with.

After positioning himself in front of Sanji's anus, Zoro slid his hand on top of Sanji's, intertwining their fingers together before looking him in the eye. "I'm going in," he breathed full of conviction, earning a single nod from his nakama.

The moment his cock entered Sanji, he felt the blond twitch underneath and shut his eyes, uttering a low, "Ngh."

"It's okay, you can do it. Remember to breathe," Zoro encouraged, waiting for Sanji to loosen up and return his gaze while caressing the blond's cheeks with his thumb. When their eyes met once more, Sanji opened up a timid grin that flipped Zoro's stomach upside down and invited him to lean closer to his nakama's face until their foreheads touched ever so slightly.

"Keep going," Sanji authorized, immediately putting Zoro on the move and making him cover another inch, then another; he continued to push further whenever Sanji relaxed, taking his time to allow his partner to get accustomed with his size before proceeding.

"We're halfway through," Zoro notified as soon as they reached the mark.

His words made Sanji's face twitch and a growl leave his mouth saying, "Shit, you're fucking huge." Zoro felt so ridiculously happy at the compliment that his cock filled with pride, startling his partner in the process. "Oi, don't get any bigger, idiot!" He heard Sanji nag, smacking a closed fist on Zoro's back in retaliation.

"Sorry, you just don't usually talk dirty at this part," was his excuse, which Sanji didn't seem to buy.

"I wasn't praising you at all!" He roared back with his face completely red, and Zoro couldn't tell if Sanji was embarrassed or angry but the sight definitely wasn't helping, so he dropped his own head next to Sanji's to keep him from getting even more aroused.

"Fine, just give me a moment…" Zoro muttered against Sanji's shoulder, taking deep breaths to calm himself down and return to his normal size. The hand Sanji added to his back to deliver soft caressing to his skin was determinant for the accomplishment of his task, being able to tranquilize him soon enough and allow them to continue.

The rest of the way was far less problematic and didn't take too long, letting Zoro fill Sanji's hole completely and finally enjoy the feeling of being one with the person he loved.

"It's… all in," he breathed at the sensation, propping himself in his arms to check the look on Sanji's face. What he saw there raised the temperature of his whole body — a pink mess of shyness and labored breaths that seemed to belong to heaven. When their eyes met, Zoro felt his heart jump so much inside his chest that he almost missed the instant when Sanji pulled him in for a kiss, savoring his lips like they would regain their breath instead of stealing what little air they still had. As they parted, Sanji redirected his gaze to their naked bodies glued together, and the sight of his nakama's face growing redder because of it made Zoro inadvertently ask, "Can I move?"

He didn't happen to get a vocal answer; the approval came in the form of a bob from Sanji's head, but the effect was still the same and was enough to let Zoro move again, making him withdraw just a little in order to begin his thrusting.

They started slowly — careful pounds against Sanji's ass that weren't overstimulating and only served the purpose of getting the cook used to having something bigger moving inside his rectum. After a couple of whacks, he heard Sanji's voice muttering between wheezes, "Are you… always this… cautious…? I'm… not gonna break."

Sanji's words rubbed a specific part of Zoro's memories that reminded him of the reason why he had to be gentle to begin with. It was the last promise he made with the Sanji of his dreams — the final oath he pledged to fulfill for the one he loved.

 

"I want you to be gentle with me from now on. It doesn't mean we can't have sex right away, just be kind and gentle like you did today. I want the other mes to experience the same beautiful feeling I have pulsating in my chest right now."

 

With Sanji's plea echoing in the back of his mind, Zoro closed his eyes and said, "I have to make sure… you enjoy this." By the time he opened up his eyes again, Sanji was looking closely at his face with apprehension. This expression pushed Zoro to ask, "What do you think… so far?"

The blue pupil from Sanji's eye dropped to the lower corner of his eyeball as he shied away from Zoro's gaze, whispering an hesitant, "I'm… not sure." After these words, he pressed his fingers with more force over Zoro's skin, letting out low puffs of breath at their continuous love making.

Figuring he ought to change Sanji's mind, Zoro took a hold of Sanji's hips and lifted them up just a little, fixing the angle to a more comfortable fit that allowed him to reach new areas inside the cook — more sensitive areas too.

"Ah!" Sanji moaned from below with a shudder, and his reaction put a smirk on Zoro's features.

"What about now?" He tried again, knowing the answer would be different this time.

"You… should have done that… from the start!" Was the answer he got, tinted by drops of poison that filled every syllable. Zoro wasn't affected by Sanji's toxicity however, and just continued to give it to him until Sanji's voice got a lot louder. "Zoro… I'm! I'm gonna-" he tried to speak despite their rapid slams, clinging harder against the back of Zoro's shoulders, who had to inhale sharply in order to reply.

"Me too… I'm almost…!" He didn't get to finish his phrase because his own incoming orgasm forced him to abandon anything but his carnal instincts driving the two of them to their climax and making them lose themselves until they met one last time — when they locked their bodies together and spilled cum all over each other, exulting in the joy of coming at the same time as their partner. After their peak had passed, they both dropped down in exhaustion over each other with a mutual groan that showed just how high they've gotten together before they could fall back to the Sunny.

Sleeping with the real Sanji brought forth a brand new feeling of satisfaction to Zoro's heart; he made sure to keep his eyes open just to look at Sanji's beautiful face as he breathed heavily, trying to burn that image to his mind. Their gazes ended up stumbling upon each other later, putting a smile to both of their lips as a result before Zoro rolled to Sanji's side to rest. The amorous staring lasted for a while before Sanji decided to scoot closer to Zoro's body, fitting his head into the space between Zoro's jaw and neck while the swordsman automatically wrapped his arms around him.

And suddenly nothing else seemed to matter. Their substitute for a bed was comfortable enough to provide them with a pleasant rest, although Zoro was sure he would feel just as delighted if he was to hold Sanji on the ground. The warmth and presence from the cook in his arms was the one responsible for his inner peace of mind regardless of their surroundings, even if those details definitely helped.

While he relaxed with his eyes closed, he heard Sanji's voice coming from below saying, "Someone should keep watch."

Zoro just pressed the blond against his chest tighter, refusing to let him go. "Just five more minutes," he muttered, earning a cheerful laughter from his nakama.

"We spent too much time neglecting our duties already," Sanji countered on his way to propping himself on his forearms, freeing himself of Zoro's embrace. When he turned his head in Zoro's direction and their eyes met again, there was no hint of annoyance in his gaze — just a serene smile that was impossible to go against. Trapped in the charisma of Sanji's deep blue eyes, Zoro leaned over one of his arms and pulled himself up as well, using his other hand to cup Sanji's cheek in front of him and caress his partner's skin gently with his thumb.

"I love you," Zoro mumbled like a fool, too absorbed in the beauty of his companion to care about anything else.

Sanji's eyes widened upon hearing these words, but they soon got back to the normal lidded ones that also formed a wider grin in his lips. "Idiot," Sanji cussed, placing his palm on the back of Zoro's hand over his face in order to nuzzle against it very softly. "I love you, too."

His reply made Zoro's heart soar so high he could swear it crashed on the moon before going back to his chest. He was so in love with Sanji that every fiber of his being jubilated at their touch, and maybe Sanji also shared the same feeling because he started to lower his face towards Zoro's until their lips cushioned their encounter.

They took their time enjoying the kiss until Sanji backed away very slowly, keeping his gaze glued to silver eyes as he moved. Zoro returned the look, reaching out for one of the cook's hands which he brought to his mouth. "Come to my hammock tonight. I want to sleep by your side," he whispered, dropping one kiss after the other on the back of Sanji's hand.

Contrary to his expectations, however, Sanji hesitated. "I… I don't know, Zoro…" he stammered, turning his face away to avoid the swordsman's stare.

"You don't feel ready for it yet?" Zoro asked, genuinely concerned, smooching Sanji's skin one more time.

Unfortunately his question still wasn't able to bring Sanji's gaze back to his face. "It's just… What if someone sees?" He heard the blond wonder, sending a doubtful look in Zoro's way that tied a knot in his throat.

Maybe it wasn't so simple as just being in love with each other. There were other things for them to be concerned about — things that could be harder to let go, and Zoro knew he wouldn't be able to do anything about it. He never bothered with other people's opinions about what he chose or refused to do; his life was his own and he'd live it however he pleased, but Sanji always seemed to be wary of doing what would better benefit those around him as well. It was his nature to worry about others, and one of the reasons why Zoro loved him in the first place, so he couldn't possibly protest.

With his resolve renewed, he placed one last kiss on Sanji's hand and said, "...my bed will always be available for you whenever you want."

When he peeked at Sanji's face, he saw the cook stretch his lips uncomfortably with a strong blush before Zoro flung his torso up to a sitting position. "How much time do we have left?" He asked, wanting to make sure every second counted.

"About an hour, I think," was Sanji's reply as soon as he sat down as well.

"Guess it's enough time to clean this up, huh?" Zoro smoothed things up with a smirk, getting an encouraging smile from his nakama as they both jumped to their feet to put the gym back to the way it was. They spent another couple of minutes just holding hands while watching the horizon until it was time to go down and wake those who'd take the following shift.

Sanji left Zoro in the middle of the way to return his portable bed and lube to their mysterious respective places, only giving Zoro the chance to peck Sanji's cheeks before saying his goodnight and going to sleep.

He wasn't expecting to get a visit from the blond a few minutes after Usopp and Brook left the room to cover their shifts, but he didn't say anything, just snuggled up to Sanji's body like the happiest person alive. Once he felt Sanji's arms wrapping around his back, Zoro let out a lengthy yawn and shut down right after, knowing no other place in the whole world would feel as comfortable and inviting as Sanji's warm embrace.






The daylight invaded Zoro's eyes too strongly and made him realize he no longer had company in his hammock. The absence of his lover didn't bother him too much though, even if he secretly wished for a time when they could wake up together at some point (he'd have to align his sleeping schedule to Sanji's in order for that to happen however).

Regardless of his loss, Zoro felt like he hadn't slept that well in ages. Sanji's body seemed to have the exact measurements to fit perfectly against him in every possible position, not to mention how incredibly smooth his skin and hair were, and how deliciously refreshing the man's skin felt against his. He was already aware of the physical traits from Sanji's body, but was honestly surprised at how much the blond's presence influenced his sleep; he wasn't able to try that inside the dreams, so he could never have guessed.

After cracking his neck left and right, he put himself on his feet and marched to the lawn deck, climbing the stairs to the kitchen to complete his new morning ritual. "Hey," Zoro blurted as soon as he pushed the door open, seeking out the blue eyes across the counter.

"Hey," Sanji replied with a smirk, turning his head towards Zoro just a little.

Once he had covered all the distance between them, Zoro leaned against the countertop and asked, "How was your night?"

His question broadened the smile on Sanji's face, making the chef pause his preparations to give Zoro some attention. "Pretty good. How about you?" He asked, visibly in a good mood.

Feeling his own lips curving up a ridiculous amount, Zoro breathed, "Best sleep I had in years."

Sanji chuckled at that — an honest huff accompanied by an almost imperceptible tint of pink in his cheeks that filled Zoro's heart with so many feelings he couldn't even tell them apart from each other.

By the time their gazes found their ways back to one another, Sanji had tangled a few fingers against Zoro's, showering him with even more affection than his loving look.

"Wanna go on a date today?" Sanji proposed as he caressed Zoro's skin with his dextrous finger pads.

"Really?" He couldn't help but ask. The suggestion caught him by surprise.

Sanji dragged his fingers along Zoro's joints before his answer arrived. "I have some free time this afternoon, so it's a good opportunity," he explained with his gaze fixed at their hands.

An amused hum left Zoro's throat at the information and he enjoyed Sanji's caressing a little longer before voicing his reply. "I'm down for it."

After they had acknowledged each other's decision, their fingers pulled apart and Sanji went back to his dishes. "I'll tell you the details later," Zoro heard him say, figuring he'd rather avoid being interrupted by Brook since the skeleton seemed to enjoy walking on the two of them quite frequently at this time of the day.

They spent the rest of their morning like they always did: training, cooking, being tossed into another crewmate's affairs and having a good time. When it was time to meet Sanji on the back of the ship for their date, Zoro suddenly got an idea and made a short trip to the men's quarters before approaching the cook on their designated spot.

"Cook!" He called, picking up the attention of his blond nakama who was leaning over the rails and had to turn around in order to meet his guest. In the middle of his turn, a little object flew to his face and Sanji managed to catch it just in time with a quick snatch, bringing his gaze down to his palm where he could analyze said item.

"This is… Doroumou's pill?" Sanji asked as Zoro continued to walk in his direction.

"I'm giving it to you," he simply said, lifting the blond's head with his words.

"Why?"

Zoro shrugged and opened up a nonchalant grin, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "I don't need it anymore," he said, "I have everything I want right here with me."

Sanji spent some time just looking at him, thinking of the complications of his words until he eventually looked down to his gift, closing his hand into a fist to keep it safe.

…or so Zoro thought, because the blond had tossed it into the ocean right after.

"What are you doing?!" Zoro rushed to the rails, grasping at the wood beneath his fingers while he stared at the spot where the pill had plopped down into the depths of the ocean.

"...I don't need that," Sanji muttered, pinning Zoro's attention to his face instead. "I already have too much trouble dealing with one idiot in love with me. I don't want anyone else," he justified full of conviction while Zoro continued to stare at him with his jaw slightly dropped.

Once he recovered from the shock, Zoro laughed, undeniably satisfied at Sanji's attitude. "I don't want anyone else either," he let escape with an eye smile, inviting Sanji to come lean against the rails by his side.

"I'm sure your tiny little brain doesn't even have the capacity to deal with two things at the same time," Sanji provoked, sliding his hand on top of Zoro's.

"Shut up, clumsy cook," Zoro shot back right away, tying his fingers against Sanji's without even having to look to know that Sanji had a ridiculous wide smile in his lips — a smile as big as his own.

They didn't need dreams or magic to make their wishes come true any longer; just by tightening the grip around each other's hands, they were able to experience the satisfaction of being loved without having to worry about a deadline.

Their dream would never end, because they were awake.