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The restaurant wasn’t anything too fancy. Paper napkins and cutlery, an open air terrace overlooking the park and public library, with one or two interesting cocktails on the menu. Zoro shrugged as he looked over the menu- thinking that perhaps the cook would be happy to make do. There weren’t any pictures of the food, but it was decked out in poppy, bright colours and even some sparkles over the dessert section. The restaurant seemed to be the very definition of ‘middle of the road.’
At least in Zoro’s opinion.
He shrugged again, taking another sip of the white wine he’d ordered when he got there, the rest of the bottle cooling in the ice bucket. When ordering, he’d literally asked the bartender for “a bottle of white wine.” Zoro certainly couldn’t argue with what he got.
“Marimo…”
Zoro looked up at the sound of the perfect pet name from the most perfect voice. His heart skipped a beat.
He’d been expecting his girlfriend to turn up in a suit- maybe a fitted waistcoat if she wasn’t having a bad dysphoria day. Instead, she was wearing a pale pink sundress with the most adorable gingham check. The shoulder sleeves were slightly puffed, fluttering in the slight breeze as the skirt danced around her knees. Her legs were bare and smooth. It rather amazed Zoro how such powerful weapons could look dainty and gorgeous at the same time. Even her feet, that could break a man’s face with the slightest bit of pressure, had been dolled up in her new white sandals. She had a small silver toe ring on her right little toe, each nail decorated with a sliver of pastel pink nail polish.
Zoro looked at her shining blue eyes. She wasn’t wearing much makeup- maybe just a little eyeliner and some pale pink lipstick. He grinned at her. She didn’t need make up; she was always the most beautiful woman in the room.
He stood up, walking around the table to pull her chair out for her. Zoro shivered as he spotted the small bow in Sanji’s hair- made from the same pattern as her dress. It had to have been the most adorable thing he’d ever seen!
“Cook…” Zoro tried his best to control himself, gesturing for her to sit down. “You look um… Really pretty.”
Zoro practically collapsed as Sanji giggled, pushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
“Robin and Chopper dressed me up,” Sanji confessed. “I didn’t think it would leave the big Marimo speechless!”
Zoro shook himself like a dog, stepping back from his girlfriend. He dropped back down in his chair, facing the wall of the restaurant.
“I’m not speechless,” Zoro mumbled. “Just don’t have anything to say in general!”
Sanji grinned, her heart hammering beneath her pink flowered bra. She smiled at her boyfriend. He didn’t need to say anything- his flustered expression said it all!
It had been a strained few weeks to say the least, dysphoria bringing her up and down like a yoyo. When she woke up in the morning, she didn’t know if she would spend the rest of it curled in her bed with her head pressed in the pillow, or if she’d carry on as normal. Even if ‘normal’ now meant wrapping herself in several layers.
Throughout it all, Zoro had been there. Bringing her food and forcing her up to shower; never once saying a word about it. He really could be the best boyfriend when he wanted to be.
“Well then.” Sanji sighed, picking up her menu. She recoiled at the bright colours, her nose wrinkling. Still, she had to give Zoro credit for trying.
She glanced up just in time to see Zoro turn away.
“I didn’t think you’d be such a fan of the dress, Marimo,” Sanji teased. She folded her legs elegantly.
“It’s not the dress,” Zoro almost snapped. “I mean… It’s a great dress. It looks good on you.”
“Really?” Sanji tugged on the hem. “You don’t think it’s a little much? Is it not too… femme?”
“I guess more so than you usually wear.” Zoro shrugged. “But you can wear whatever you want. I could wear that dress! Clothes are for anyone, right?”
“Right…” Sanji bit down on her nail- yanking her hand away immediately when she remembered her nail polish. She fumbled inside her purse for her cigarettes. “Thank you, Zoro… For being so patient with me.”
Zoro just scoffed, kicking Sanji lightly under the table.
“Stop fucking thanking me and apologising,” He said, grabbing his menu. “It’s getting really irritating! I liked it better when you were a little shit.”
Zoro half expected fire to rise in Sanji’s eyes. He braced himself for her to lurch forward and press her forehead to his while she yelled in his face.
She didn’t.
Instead, the young woman gave him a small smile, stretching up to kiss his cheek. She squeezed his hand, her eyes sparkling with joy. Zoro sighed in relief. Despite it being a hard few weeks for his girlfriend, it was still relieving to see the heavy look and lingering anger that had been present in Sanji since they met finally disappear. Like she’d finally put down a heavy weight she’d been holding onto from the moment she could think.
Zoro couldn’t stop himself. He cupped her cheeks, placing a long, soft tender kiss on her lips. Sanji’s lips curled against his, half smiling against her boyfriend. Zoro kept his eyes open as he kissed his girlfriend, not wanting to look away from her happy face for one moment.
“You know what you want, Cook?” Zoro looked at the menu again, thinking that perhaps he should have taken Sanji somewhere a little fancier.
“I’ll have a chicken burger,” Sanji said, handing Zoro the gaudy menu. “If my Marimo thinks he can make it to the counter and back. As endearing as it would be to spend our date night searching for my hopeless boyfriend.”
Zoro flicked her forehead, but snatched her menu away, turning to put their order in. He sighed in relief, smiling to himself.
Sanji was going to be okay.