Work Text:
It was a quiet day on the Sunny.
Everyone was doing something:
Usopp, Chopper and Luffy were fishing, or at least trying;
Nami was in the library working on her maps;
Robin was on one of the recliners near Nami's mikan trees with a new book in hand, under the shade on a sun umbrella;
Brook was standing near, violin in his hands, making sweet and lulling melodies;
Franky was in his workshop, crafting some new weapons probably;
Zoro was sprawled on Sunny's lawn, trying to get some sleep after everything that happened in Thriller bark;
Sanji was in his galley, fixing some drinks and snacks for everybody.
With one tray filled to the brim, the other less filled for the girls in his hands, Sanji exited the galley and called the boys over to the lawn, placing down one tray. Luffy sprinted to get first and hopefully second if he was quick enough, Zoro stretched at that precise moment and tripped the captain, leaving the opportunity for Usopp and Chopper to get their snacks. Sanji looked tenderly at the Swordsman, he always did that or many other things that pictured him in a different light from the first he had seen the Mosshead. That was one of the reasons he loved him.
The Cook smiled and went quickly into the library to leave Nami's drink and snack. She thanked him with a small smile, too focused on the last island map that had the interesting shape of a man's head.
He was back on Sunny's grassy field, and now Franky and Brook eating the leftover snacks, he hummed happily and made his way to Robin.
On the last step of the stairs, Sanji stumbled, his dress shoes lost contact with the ground and he fell. He tumbled down the stairs, the glass broke spilling juice everywhere and soon his body was on Sunny's lawn again.
Everyone was on him, Nami barging out of the library for the commotion, Robin and Brook startled, Luffy had his eyes on the scene, Franky and Usopp near Chopper that was running around calling for a doctor until Usopp told him he was the doctor.
Sanji was unmoving, his left cheek with a small cut caused by a piece of the glass probably, eyes closed. Zoro was immediately at his side, he watched the Cook with horror in his eyes, trying to hide it from the crew "Chopper" Nami called getting closer to Zoro and Sanji. Apart from Luffy, she was the only one on the crew that knew how the Swordsman's childhood friend died. He spoke about his grief one late night when they had been drinking so much that even they were a little tipsy.
The reindeer switched instantly to his doctor mode "Don't move him, I need to check" he expressed to Zoro, but the green-haired man was frozen in place, Chopper checked quickly and after having established that the Cook could be moved he asked the Swordsman to pick his body up to carry to the sick bay. Zoro looked at the doctor, his expression like deer in the headlights, Nami placed a hand on his shoulder, giving a firm squeeze.
Zoro looked up at her "Zoro, everything's alright" she soothed but he still didn't move. Luffy came out of nowhere and took Sanji in his arms, the Cook's body slack, opposing no resistance to gravity. Nami remained with Zoro while Luffy took Sanji to the infirmary with Chopper.
"Zoro, look at me," she said kneeling before him "Sanji will be alright" she reassured him, he looked at her, a frightened expression on his features, his breathing all messed up, Nami sighed and pulled him into a hug.
At first, he remained fixed, not used to that type of treatment from their navigator, but her calmness quickly got to him, he hugged her back and sank his face in the crook of her neck "He really will be alright, you silly brute" she soothed him again.
▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️
Sanji woke nearly two hours later, with his head pounding and some ache in his right leg. But altogether he was fine, he had been worse. He looked around acknowledging the infirmary. His eyes roamed the room until they landed on a sleepy Mosshead, Sanji shuffled quietly over to the man and sat down brushing their shoulders together. He and Zoro were new to this after Enies Lobby the Swordsman had gathered all his courage and asked the Cook on a date. Sanji was so speechless that he accepted, resulting in the best date he ever had, and a sweet make-out session later opened his mind to new horizons and helped him feel at least a little better about himself.
It was new to see the worried expression on his partner, finally able to be seen that way and be worried openly about his injuries.
Feeling the Swordsman's body tensing, Sanji opened his eyes and checked him. Zoro's face was twisted in a deep frown, his forehead covered in sweat, his hands gripping tight at Wado's hilt. Sanji understood instantly that the Swordsman was having a nightmare "Marimo" he whispered, placing a hand over his shoulder, no response, "Mossy" he called, now letting the green-haired man fall on his lap, but still no response.
Sanji placed a hand on the other's face " Zoro, dear " he whispered again "It's just a nightmare, wake up" after speaking he left a kiss on his forehead. Zoro's eyes shoot open, gasping for hair, his senses all over the place "Everything's alright" Sanji soothed him, caressing his hair "It was just a nightmare" he hummed and kissed him again, this time on his lips.
Zoro took some moments to calm himself, vainly, feeling Sanji's warm presence he let go of his shield and held the other close, sinking his face into his stomach, wrapping his arms around his waist.
" Zoro " Sanji sighed, keeping his hand in his hair, the other on his back.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, Zoro shook his head into his stomach, his body trembling, Sanji felt his heart ache at that sight, leaning into his lover's touch. He hummed sweet words into his ears and rocked his body lightly to give comfort to the other man.
"You fell," Zoro whispered moments later "You fell down the stairs" he repeated, Sanji sighed "I did, but why are you so tense? We've been through worse shit" he spoke, his voice soft and whispered, still trying to soothe him.
Sanji waited a bit more, humming an old NorthBlue lullaby his mother sang to him when he had nightmares "She was my rival at the dojo" Zoro spoke softly. The Cook didn't know who the Swordsman was talking about, but he listened attentively "She was so strong Cook, you can't imagine" as he spoke Sanji felt his partner's body tremble "I've never won, she was the reason I kept trying, we promised each other to become the world's greatest swordsmen" he said, his voice lower and hoarse "Then she left me, she didn't keep her promise" Zoro hugged tighter and Sanji bend over him, kissed his left ear, hearing the earrings swing and clinck against each other.
"She fell down the stairs of the dojo, she died" Zoro managed to choke out. Sanji felt the world crumble, in one swift motion he swept the other man into his arms and hugged him tightly, practically dragging him into his lap
"I'll pay more attention Marimo" he whispered "But I'm still here, everything's okay now" he added leaving small kisses all over Zoro: his forehead, his eyes, his cheeks, the tip of his nose, his jaw, his neck, his ears and finally his lips.
Zoro immediately kissed back, and he melted into Sanji's embrace, feeling his cheeks grow hotter and hotter.
"Thank you Sanji" he whispered, sinking his head into the crook of his neck again "I really... love you" he added slowly drifting asleep, his voice fading away, Sanji slightly tensed as quickly as he relaxed "didn't think you would say it first" he whispered back "I love you too Zoro" Sanji kissed him again "Let's go to bed, I think Chopper wouldn't mind if we both sleep on the cot" he whispered, Zoro nodded and got up, carrying the Cook in his arms "Stupid Marimo, the bed is literally here, you don't have to carry me" he exclaimed under his breath, Zoro finally smiled "Can't do, you'll have to put up with me 'till you're all better," he said, leaving a kiss on his temple.
The two entangled in bed, limbs over limbs, one in the arms of the other and vice versa, whispering sweet nothings and drifting back to sleep.