Archive of Our Own

Zoro is fascinating. Sanji can't quite get a read on him. For several reasons- first, in that he's bizarrely okay with dying as long as he goes down fighting, but later, as they kick and spit and mesh into some semblance of a crew, Sanji finds that there are other things, too. 

Zoro seems to not understand all the nuances of tone, for one. Sanji may like to prod, but Zoro tends to take anything remotely insult-like as exactly that, no matter whether Sanji was trying to joke or not. Sanji isn't quite sure what to make of it but he's always liked a challenge, and it's understandable given how he reacted on Little Garden. Zoro probably thinks Sanji hates him or something. 

Sanji makes sure to clear that up, one warm afternoon on their approach to Alabasta. He doesn't try to beat around the bush, just plops down next to Zoro on the deck with a plate of crackers, cheese, grapes and a couple smoothies to share and gets it all out in the open. 

Zoro accepts it readily enough, and as they sit in amicable silence with their food Sanji doesn't say anything about the way Zoro always picks up two grapes at a time, always arranging a square of cheese perfectly on top of the cracker before eating it in three strangely small bites.

In Alabasta Sanji has to hold the swordsman's right hand away from his left bicep, where he's been digging his fingers into the skin, scratching so hard he's almost drawn blood. He's never seen Zoro so uncomfortable- soon enough the reason is revealed to have been the fabric his coat had been made of, and Sanji files it away under the growing list of little details he's noticed about his crewmates. Is it weird that he has one? Maybe, but it's his job to notice the little things as the ship's cook- chef, goddammit the mosshead's rubbing off on him- and while that technically doesn't extend to everyday life outside of mealtimes, he's observant. He can't exactly turn his eyes off.
Zoro doesn't seem to like tight shirts, ones that fit close to his armpits in particular. Sanji's seen him wear tank tops with no problem, so it must just be the fit of the arms that bothers him.
Their swordsman never says anything, but it's pretty obvious if you know what to look for- he doesn't gripe at the crew as much, never sitting still, always fidgeting with the fabric of his shirt to try to get it to sit the way he wants it to. He seems to like softer fabrics, too, so when they make port Sanji takes the opportunity to drag him out clothes shopping under the excuse that with the amount of fights they got into they'd best make sure they had plenty of spare clothes to change into, and does his best to find as many loose-fitting, comfy button-fronts as he can. Zoro's more of a T-shirt guy as far as Sanji can tell, but he figures that this way the swordsman can wear them closed or open depending on his preferences (who is he kidding, those buttonholes will never be used).

It's on that day in port, in the third store, that Sanji sees Zoro shut down for the first time. It comes on slowly, slow enough that Sanji doesn't register Zoro pulling into himself until it's too late. 

"What do you think of this one- Moss?" Sanji asks, turning around to show Zoro a shirt only to find his companion nowhere in sight. "Zoro? Where are you?"

He winds up looking around most of the store before a passing sales attendant tells him she'd seen Zoro heading for a fitting booth several minutes previous. Sanji thanks her and heads for the alcove that houses the booths, knocking lightly at the doors before poking his head inside. Zoro's in the the fourth one Sanji checks, the furthest from the shop proper. Even inside the booth Zoro's worked himself into the corner, half-hidden behind the chair that's meant to hold the clothes not being tried on. He's got his knees pulled to his chest and his eyes squeezed shut beneath a furrowed brow and both hands covering his ears as he slowly rocks back and forth. Sanji crouches down, setting his bags on the floor next to him.

"Hey. Moss. You okay?"

Zoro lets out a high-pitched whine, and his face contorts even further. He looks like he's in pain. Sanji tries to think back to the talk Chopper had given everyone, about how to handle panic attacks and the like. He doesn't think that's what's happening here, but maybe some of Chopper's suggestions will help.

"Okay, Moss, gimme something to work with. You don't have to talk, just tap once for yes, twice for no. Are you hurt?" 

Zoro's right pointer finger lifts to tap against his hair. Once- twice.

"Is- is it something I did?"

Two taps. Sanji breathes a quick sigh of relief. "Then, something someone else did?"

Two taps. Sanji frowns, trying to think of what else could have happened. He's seen Zoro get uncomfortable in public areas before, maybe it's something to do with that?

"Is it too crowded?"

Two taps. Sanji sighs. Zoro taps again.

"Yes and no? Uh- ok, then...do you want me to stay?"

One tap.

Sanji adjusts his position, scooting forwards to sit down next to Zoro by the corner. Their knees bump together and Sanji winces.

"Sorry. Is it okay if i touch you?"

Tap.

Sanji relaxes his legs, allowing his right calf to rest against Zoro's shins.

"Would you like me to talk?"

Maybe if he says something it'll distract Zoro from whatever's bothering him. Zoro moves suddenly, surprising Sanji by moving so they're sitting next to each other and wrapping his arms around Sanji's torso. His head lands on Sanji's shoulder with a thud.

"Zoro?"

Zoro let out a hum, reaching out to grab one of Sanji's hands with fingers that shake slightly as he moves. He pulls Sanji's arm around himself and sets the hand on his own head before dropping his arm back into his lap. Sanji doesn't know how to respond at first; Zoro's not really a touchy-feely person as far as he's seen before. 
He flexes his fingers experimentally, stroking small circles into Zoro's scalp. It gets him another hum from Zoro, who snuggles closer to Sanji's side. Seems he likes it; Sanji keeps it up.
They stay there for an indeterminable length of time before Zoro sighs heavily and sits up, shifting away from Sanji, whose right side suddenly feels cold at the lost contact.

"Thanks, chef." Zoro whispers.

"Yeah, of course," Sanji responds, "can you tell me what that was about?"

Zoro shrugs, and reaches up to run a hand through his hair. "Hard to say, it's kind of just- everything? People, and everything was too loud, and the lights...dunno what to tell you."

"Does this kind of thing happen often?"

Another shrug. "Often enough. 'M not great at people."

That was true. Sanji had seen Zoro sneaking off from enough social situations to realize he didn't enjoy them. "If you want...we could have a signal? Maybe...a word, that means you need to get out of somewhere?"

Zoro shakes his head. 

"It was just a thought, you don't have to-"

"'S not that, I mean- sometimes words don't really work. Can I-" he reaches out, stopping before his hand makes contact with Sanji's shoulder. Sanji nods, and Zoro taps him on the shoulder twice. "If I do that, then I need to leave."

"Alright. Come find me anytime."

After a few more minutes Zoro is ready to go back outside, and they head to the register. 

There are times when Sanji will look at Zoro and see nothing but tiredness. Not physical, but tiredness on an emotional level so deep it shows in every movement Zoro makes.

On days like that, Zoro doesn't talk much, if at all, and Sanji enlists the help of Robin to help him keep the crew away from wherever the mossball's chosen to nap long enough for Zoro to get some of his social energy back. Quiet Days generally involve a green head missing at mealtimes and plates of simple rice-and-fish dishes set out on the counter once the chaos dies down a bit. 

Some days, even 'safe' foods make Zoro's stoic face twist into a grimace for a split second before he manages to hide it, and Sanji will take the plate, wordlessly transferring it to a container in the fridge for later before he sets a glass of water or juice or sometimes even milk in front of Zoro so he'll at least have something in his stomach.

As bad as it sounds, Sanji kind of likes Quiet Days. They don't fight- Zoro hasn't got the energy for it, so instead they'll find a secluded spot on the ship and Sanji will talk about something to fill the silence while Zoro listens. Zoro doesn't like it completely quiet, as Sanji learns after Skypiea; he gets in his head and starts spiraling. Sanji can understand that- his mind does the same thing (albeit for a very different reason).

So he talks about whatever he wants, and for once no one interrupts him, and he knows that Zoro is listening even if his gaze is fixed on the open ocean or a sea-bird or a shirt he's mending at the same time.

Sometimes Zoro will ask questions in a quiet, curious tone and Sanji will answer, tripping down tangents until even he doesn't remember what he was originally talking about.

Somehow Zoro knows exactly what to say to Chopper during the Davy Back Fight- a small blessing Sanji greatly appreciates when it's their turn to compete. 
Zoro makes a face when he's handed the 'ball' and hands it off to Sanji as quickly as he can, flapping his hands around like he's trying to shake water off of them and rubbing them repeatedly on his pants. Sanji's too grumpy in the moment to care about textures, but he's already holding the ball so he plunks it onto his head and starts a fight.
With a whirlwind of a ten seconds behind them, Sanji and Zoro collapse into the grass, winded but laughing anyway.

"That was- actually kinda fun!" Zoro wheezes. "Once the cheating was taken care of."

Sanji's just about to agree when a high-pitched wail notifies them of an incoming Chopper, who throws himself into Zoro's arms. Zoro lets out a surprised 'oof' and brings his arms up to steady the reindeer on his chest, face noticeably brightening at the feeling of Chopper's fur against his fingers.

"Zorooooo!!!" Chopper sobs. "That speech was so cool! Thank you for getting me back, I didn't want to be stuck with that horrible Foxy guy and his crew! They all smell like mothballs and depression!"

Sanji doesn't bother to hide the snort that leaves him at that comment. After the day he's had he deserves to be a little less than polite and polished.

When he gets his hands on that Foxy fellow they are going to have not so much words as Sanji forcing the man to eat his own foot. Trapped in the beam, unable to look away from Zoro's stunned expression as their faces slowly approach each other, Sanji does his best to count the seconds and compare it to their speed.

He's fairly certain he can avoid kissing the guy but a collision is inevitable. Hopefully Zoro won't mind serving as a cushion for a few moments.
Though if they do end up- colliding- the way it's starting to look like they might, would it really be the worst thing? 

And shit, Sanji lost track of the seconds at some point as he suddenly surges forwards, just barely managing to turn his head at the last second, snapping his mouth shut so that instead of kissing Zoro full-on he catches the corner of Zoro's mouth. Rather painfully, actually, as they smack into each other and topple backwards onto the floor.

Sanji groans. "Owww...fucking asshole."

"Um. Cook."

He can feel Zoro's lips against his face when he speaks. Sanji sits upright immediately. "Shit!"

"That's not better!" Zoro squawks as his hands automatically come up to stabilize Sanji where he's now sitting on Zoro's stomach. Sanji takes stock of the situation as quickly as he can; standing is out, he's rather dizzy from the beam and doesn't want to risk falling over and squishing Zoro again. He settles for rolling himself to the side, surprised when Zoro rolls with him to cushion the landing.

It's surprisingly comfortable. Or would be, anyway, if Zoro's free arm, the one not wrapped around Sanji's back, hadn't been running up and down his body to check for injuries. Sanji swats the hand away with an aggravated sigh.

"I'm fine, Mosshead, don't get your scabbards in a twist."

"Fuck you."

"Mmm, no, I think I'm good with just this, thanks. Did you know your eyes change color? They're kind of green today."

Zoro flushes a bright red, letting out a sound more akin to a squeak than anything Sanji's heard him make before.

"Get off of me, you- you stupid love-cook!"

Sanji giggles and gets up, helping Zoro to his feet as well. "Come on, we should find where the others ran off to."

And that's the last of that, at least for now.

Sanji isn't around for many of the happenings in Water 7, but when they have Robin back and the time to decompress while Franky builds their new ship, he isn't too surprised when Zoro makes eye contact with him across a room packed with Galley-La members, their crew, the Franky Family and a bunch of random people Sanji doesn't recognize but seem to be having a good time and raises his left hand, very deliberately snapping his fingers twice. Sanji nods, and finds the earliest opportunity to politely excuse himself from the conversation he's been half-listening to between Luffy, Nami and some of the Galley-La personnel. 

He'd been wanting to anyway- the amount of weird nerd flirting between the mayor and Paulie was getting uncomfortable to be around. No wonder CP9 had it out for them; this is ridiculous.

At least Robin's having a good time; she's been spending a lot of time with Franky lately. Seems they'd bonded while they were stuck together, though Sanji suspects there might be a bit more to it than that. Apparently there are people in the world whose tastes include the ability to fart through solid stone.
Sanji nudges Zoro on his way past, jerking his head to tell the swordsman to follow him. They head outside, ending up on a rooftop a few blocks away from the party.

"So what's up this time," Sanji starts to say, but he gets cut off before he gets out more than half of his sentence by Zoro tugging at his suit jacket, pulling it off to lie next to them while Zoro moves to Sanji's tie. Sanji's heart jumps, and he grabs Zoro's hands, relieved when they immediately go still beneath his grasp. "Zoro, what the hell are you doing?"

Zoro grits his teeth, apparently struggling to find the words for whatever's bothering him. Eventually he gives up, moving one of his hands from Sanji's tie to his own chest, tapping a steady rhythm over his heart. Sanji relaxes a bit.

"You want to check my heartbeat?"

Zoro nods. Sanji breathes out heavily, half-laughing. 

"I'm fine, silly swordsman." He closes his eyes for a moment, seeing Zoro's earnest expression. "But if it'll make you feel better, then go ahead."

Sanji reaches up to undo his tie himself, unbuttoning the neck of his dress shirt. Zoro undoes the next three, but doesn't go any lower, content to slip his left hand under the fabric and press it to Sanji's chest. Sanji does his best to breathe evenly, not wanting the swordsman to feel the way his heartrate is spiking at the touch. Couldn't this have been over his shirt??

Still, Zoro's hand doesn't move at all, and Zoro doesn't do anything for the next few minutes besides just sit there, keeping his eyes closed. When he finally removes his hand Sanji's surprised to realize he didn't actually mind it. It's- comforting, somehow, that something as simple as this seems to be all Zoro needs to get himself closer to his baseline.

"Thanks, cook." Zoro sighs, adjusting his position to sit on Sanji's left. 

"No worries. Hey- is there a reason you wanted to do that?"

Zoro's face twists in confusion. Sanji reaches up to scratch the back of his neck. "Yeah I guess that's not the best way to phrase it...you seemed to know it would help. I don't mind it, but maybe let me know the next time, okay?"

Zoro nods. "Sorry. I had- it's something a friend used to do for me. When I get in my head like that. She called it...grounding? I think?"

Sanji doesn't want to think about Zoro touching a woman's chest like that, so he shakes it off and asks for details. "Grounding? Like what Chopper was talking about for panic attacks?"

"Yeah- it doesn't stop with panic attacks, it's meant to help with all sorts of stuff. Just so happens I tend to need it more than most people."

"Like how sometimes you forget to eat until I remind you?"

Zoro makes a 'so-so' gesture. "Ehh. Kinda? It's related anyways."

Sanji nods, and sits back on his hands to look up at the sky. "Neat."

Zoro's shoulders hitch, and Sanji sits up to make sure he's ok. 

"Hey, are you-" Zoro's laughing. Sanji huffs, thwacking him in the arm lightly. "You jerk. I thought you were crying."

"Sorry, I've just- never heard anyone describe it that way before." Zoro chuckles. "Most people just think I'm weird, or making things up."

"Good thing you're on this crew then," Sanji grins, "our doctor is a talking reindeer and that's not even the weirdest thing about us."

"I guess that's true." 

"ZOOOORRRROOOOO!!!! SANNNNJJJIIIIIIII!!!!"

Sanji cranes his head backwards to see Luffy's silhouette on the lighted porch of the aptly-named "Pirate Room" they've been staying in.

"Guess we should head back before he tries to rocket us again," Zoro sighs, standing and dusting roof grit off his pants.

"Yeah, probably." Sanji agrees, idly enjoying the view as Zoro starts heading over the rooftops. "It's starting to get...oh for the love of- WRONG WAY, ASSHOLE!"

The next morning Sanji prepares breakfast as usual, except of course for the lovely Nami and Robin, but especially Robin. She deserves some pampering after everything she's been through lately. He has plans in the works for Nami this afternoon anyway; he's got a lovely time planned, and just needs to ask her to come with.

"For my lovely Robin, we have the fluffiest of waffles with the finest whipped cream and assorted berries, and coffee as black as her beautiful hair."

He sets the dishes down with a flourish, happy to see Robin smile at the spread before her. "And for the beautiful Nami we have waffles as well, topped with a decadent mix of various fruits including tangerines plucked this very morning with fresh-squeezed tangerine juice on the side."

Nami grins and tucks in, and Sanji twirls off to serve the rest of the crew, as well as Chimney and Gonbe who had suddenly appeared while his back was turned.

"Hello there, little miss!" Sanji greets her on his way past. "Can I get you anything in particular?"

Chimney shakes her head and takes a seat next to Nami, who she's been following around for the last few days. Sanji privately thinks Chimney might have a bit of a schoolgirl crush on the older girl. Who could blame her, really? Nami was lovely.

"I'll just have what the boys are having!" Chimney chirps. Gonbe backs her up as usual with that weird meow of his and Sanji resigns himself to once again having to feed him at the table instead of the floor, where they have a perfectly usable bowl for precisely that purpose. Well. Technically it's for Chopper, from some of the townspeople who had misinterpreted what the little doctor's role was on the crew, but no one had the heart to tell him that so it was now the 'stray animal bowl' for whenever Chopper or one of the others came home with a follower. The usual culprit was Zoro- somehow the guy seemed to collect strays wherever he went, from cats and dogs to whole children on one notable occasion that Zoro still thinks the crew doesn't know about.

Sanji nods to Chimney and sets to work preparing another plate of pancakes and eggs.

"I'm afraid Luffy's already cleared us out of bacon," he calls over the standard din of a Straw Hat mealtime, "but we might have some sausage left if you'd like some!"

"No thanks! I don't like sausage." 

Sanji nods and flips over a pancake. "No problem."

"Hey Curlicue, what's with the theatrics this morning?"

Sanji cracks several eggs into a bowl and starts to whisk them. "What do you mean?"

Zoro rolls his eyes. "You made special breakfasts. Robin makes sense cause of that Spandam guy and all that bullshit but why Nami? It's even fancier than your normal crap."

"Why are you paying attention to what I feed people?" Sanji asks. "Weirdo!"

"Hard not to, you only announce the fancy shit!" Zoro retorts. Sanji hates to admit it, but he's got him there. He pours the eggs into the pan.

"So? What's going on?" inquires Nami, as curious as ever. Sanji sighs. This isn't going how he'd wanted.

"Well, mellorine, I had hoped you might accompany me on a date in town this afternoon. The breakfast was actually just because I thought you'd like it- I suppose it does give off an air of ulterior motives though."

"No shit." Zoro mutters. Sanji sends him crashing to the floor with a casual flick of his shoe that knocks Zoro's chair to the side. Zoro rights himself like a feral cat and it's only quick thinking and some careful balancing that saves the nearly-finished eggs from the floor.

"Boys!" Nami shouts, circling the table to smack them both in the head. "Settle down! And Sanji, come find me after we're done here, I need to talk to you about something."

"Of course!" Sanji calls, spinning around while Nami and Zoro retake their seats. By now Chimney and Gonbe's food is done, so Sanji plates it and starts on his own.

After clean-up is done Sanji heads outside to find Nami as she'd asked him to. He finds her by the pool, reading a book on Grand Line weather patterns that she closes upon his approach, slipping a small bookmark between the pages.

"You wanted to talk to me?" Sanji asks. Nami nods. She looks rather serious; this probably isn't going to go the way he'd originally assumed.

"Sanji- look, while I appreciate you doing all these nice things for me all the time it's just-" Nami doesn't finish her sentence, searching for words.

"A bit much?" Sanji offers. He can live with that, he's heard it before. Nami nods, then shakes her head.

"Yes and no. You can be a bit overbearing, but that's not the problem here."

She stands and comes closer to him, reaching out to poke him in the chest. Right where Zoro had put his hand the day before, actually- funny how things work out.
Weirdly, Sanji finds he thinks he preferred Zoro's touch.

"The problem is the flirting. Don't get me wrong I'm flattered, but you could not choose a worse candidate if you tried."

Sanji frowns. "Is this about the thing with Arlong? If he tried to tell you something like you were unlovable or crap like that I'll-"

"No no no that's not it!" Nami assures him hastily. She pinches the bridge of her nose with one hand and sets the other on her hip, clearly frustrated. "Just- girls, Sanji."

"Yes, they're wonderful."

"I like them. Only them."

Sanji blinks. That- actually explains a lot. He'd wondered why Nami had blushed so hard when the Square Sisters hugged her. "Oh. Uh. Cool?"

Nami raises an eyebrow. "You're not gonna perv out imagining it or anything?"

"Of course not, I may have my issues but even I wouldn't go there!"

Clearly he's said the right thing, because Nami relaxes and even laughs. 

"Great! Thanks for being cool about it." She pauses, then grins. "We can still go to town if you want, just not as a date. And maybe you can explain what's going on with you and Zoro? That 'rivalry' is starting to look awfully homoerotic!"

Sanji squawks and splutters back to the house, accompanied by Nami's riotous laughter all the way there. 
It ends up being an absolutely wonderful day even with Nami teasing him about Zoro the whole time. When the two of them return to the Pirate Room after a nice stint at the spa, Zoro holds the door for them, watching them stumble their ways to bed with a soft kind of fondness to his eyes that Sanji doesn't remember being there before.

He rather hopes it sticks around.

After Thriller Bark, Zoro doesn't speak. Chopper panics and checks and rechecks him over and over, until Sanji pulls him away and reminds him of the times Zoro's gone quiet in the past, of how the one constant was always that something was overwhelming their swordsman, whether the amount of people or something else.

Right now, Sanji's guessing that it's a combination of pain and the raging party all around (he'd tried to talk Luffy into doing it somewhere else but he'd just gotten a laugh and a shouted 'Zoro will wake up faster this way! He'll want to join the party!' and that was the end of that). Whatever it is, all he and Chopper can do is try to make Zoro as comfortable as they can and wait.

Zoro finally speaks on the third day. Not much, just a wince and a request for people to keep the noise down.
Of course, this is a Straw Hat party, and so even after the request is acknowledged it's still rather loud all over the island. After a few hours of this, Zoro looks like he's about ready to snap.

"Hey, Greenie," Sanji sighs, plopping down on the edge of Zoro's mattress, "how's it going over here?"

Zoro gives him a flat look. 

"Yeah, I figured. Gimme your hand."

He gets a confused frown in return, but after a few seconds Zoro must realize he's serious and sets his left hand in Sanji's outstretched right.

Sanji wastes no time in pressing his thumb to the inside of Zoro's wrist, breathing a sigh of relief to find a strong heartbeat under the skin. It had stopped while Sanji was carrying Zoro's body to Chopper, and even though he could tell that Zoro was alive and as okay as he could be under the circumstances, he'd still been terrified he wouldn't find one if he checked again.

Sanji moves his hand from underneath Zoro's to on top of it, so that his wrist presses into Zoro's fingers while Sanji's remain on Zoro's pulse.

"You scared me back there," Sanji says quietly, in response to the question he can see in Zoro's eyes. Zoro looks away- it's not clear whether it's his standard discomfort with eye contact or an attempt at getting Sanji to stop talking.

"You don't have to say anything. But let me talk, okay?"

Zoro nods, though it seems reluctant. Sanji takes a breath to steady himself. Zoro's heartbeat pulses, steady beneath his fingertips.

"I know you would do the same again if you had to. I'm not asking you not to risk yourself for the crew, if I did that you would literally have to leave the ship that instant with the level of bullshit we get ourselves into. But next time, swear to me that you'll let me help. You're not alone anymore, Zoro. Let us back you up."

Zoro makes a face. 

"Don't argue with me, you-"

"I'm not." Zoro's voice is hoarse, raspy with disuse and pain.

"Zoro-"

"Get a new cook? Nice try."

It's Sanji's turn to look away, towards the right so Zoro can't see his eyes. It doesn't last long; Zoro uses his free hand to push Sanji's bangs right out of his face and hold them there at his temple. 

Sanji jolts- a visceral kind of fear clenches in his stomach, but Zoro doesn't say anything about his eyebrows for once. Instead, he makes eye contact with the kind of intensity usually reserved for his opponents. Not used to being on the receiving end of those looks, Sanji thinks he might understand a bit better what earned Zoro his "Demon" moniker in the first place.

"I'll agree to ask for help if you do too. You're not allowed to die before me- got that, chef?"

That's what does it (though Sanji won't realize until much later and arguably too late). 
Tears slip down Sanji's cheeks before he knows he's even crying. He can feel his lip trembling as he gives the best nod he can with Zoro holding his head like this.

"Come here, idiot."

Zoro uses their joined hands to pull Sanji towards him, and as Sanji sinks into the hug he can't help but find it rather funny- he'd come with the intention of cheering Zoro up, not the other way around. Chapped lips drop a kiss above Sanji's eye, which twitches a moment later in aggravation.

"Did you just kiss my eyebrow, you fucking weirdo?!"

Zoro's laugh can probably be heard from Laughtale itself.

The next day, Sanji takes a deep breath. Why is this so hard? It's just Zoro. His best friend crewmate, family nakama. 
He looks down at the case of sound-proof earplugs in his hand. He'd gone to Usopp the day before after the whole comfort-attempt, and he was pretty sure Usopp had known it was more important than he was letting on because first thing this morning he'd returned from his workshop to deliver the case Sanji currently holds, trying to psych himself up enough to give them to their intended recipient.

He walks forward. 

Zoro's sitting up now, sipping from a glass of water. He looks up when Sanji approaches, visibly confused.

"Lunch was an hour ago, cook, what are you doing back already?"

Sanji grits his teeth and resists the urge to kick him in the head.

"Can't I just want to do something nice?!"

"Nice for you means kicking me in the stomach instead of the balls. What's got your eyebrows in a twist this time?"

Oh for fuck's sake- Sanji tosses the case at Zoro and turns to leave.

"The genuine urge to help, not that you apparently understand that, you green asshole! Get better soon!"

Sanji stomps off to rejoin the party, ignoring the fact that 'get better soon' is not exactly the most insulting thing to yell at someone.

Besides, it's not like he's actually meant most of the insults he slings Zoro's way. Zoro's known that since before Alabasta, though perhaps it bears repeating.

He'll talk to him once he's on his feet again.

Or maybe not, as the trip from Thriller Bark to Sabaody turns out to be one of the most hectic things Sanji's ever experienced, and then they're fighting again and that historically hasn't been the greatest time to try to hold important conversations.

Not that it matters anyways; Zoro goes down, and someone screams, and it's not until Sanji lands again that he realizes it was him.

Two years, it turns out, is a very long time and no time at all. Sabaody Archipelago is just as lovely the second time around, but will be better once everyone's regrouped.

Somehow Zoro's gotten back first, so obviously someone from wherever he landed helped him navigate. Sanji pushes away the jealousy nods to Shakky and heads out to the markets. Who knows what the food stores onboard the Sunny look like right now? 

Well- Sanji does, he still remembers everything that had been onboard- but two years will have wiped out everything besides some of the spices so he really does have a legitimate reason to find Zoro look around the markets!

Zoro shows up in an explosion of seawater and confused pirates because of course he does, but before Sanji really has the time to formulate a response to his new look (beyond the embarrassingly choked squeak that leaves his throat at first sight of the man) they're running (more running, there's always more running) and fighting and running some more and gathering crewmates until everyone's safely back on the Sunny and setting sail once more.

After that it's a whirlwind of cooking and celebrating and telling stories, and it's not until Zoro taps his shoulder twice on his way past that they actually get a chance to sit down and talk about everything that's happened.

"So." Sanji says, joining Zoro where he's sitting on the thin strip of deck behind the galley.

"So." Zoro huffs.

"How've you been?" 

It's not what Sanji wants to say and they both know it. Sure enough, Zoro shrugs and doesn't answer the question.

"It's nice to see everyone again."

Sanji nods. "It is. I learned a lot the last two years, I'm excited to see what the others have come up with."

He doesn't really know what to do about the little twinge of hurt blooming behind his ribs. Zoro cracks open his now-singular eye (how the hell did that happen anyway, Sanji can't think of anything that's managed to leave a permanent mark on Zoro besides Mihawk and Zoro himself) to look at Sanji and the corners of his lips quirk up in what Sanji recognizes as his expressions-are-hard-but-I-want-you-to-know-I'm-not-joking look.

"It's nice to see you again, too. Know I don't say it much but you're pretty much my best friend. I think?"

Sanji frowns. "You think?"

"Oh shut up, you know relationships are hard!"

He doesn't read too much into that wording at all as he answers. "Well, let's try this- when you look at me, what do you feel?"

Zoro makes a face, and Sanji glares. Eventually Zoro relents and leans his head back to rest against the galley wall, thinking.

"I...warm? I guess? Like in my chest? And like I wanna stay by your side and fight with you and for you. Like I fight for Luffy but softer? Does that make sense?"

Sanji nods. There aren't tears in his eyes (and Usopp has a button-nose).

"Yeah, yeah that makes sense. God, you cheesy bastard I can't believe I like you."

Zoro laughs then, surprising Sanji with the volume of it, and grins. "Get over yourself, Curly, I'm delightful." 

His expression softens, and he reaches out, taking one of Sanji's hands in his own. His thumb moves in gentle arcs across the back of it. 

"I like you too. If you didn't know. I can be bad at showing it."

Zoro tries to hide a wince and Sanji sees him swallow hard.

"You've never had to tell me, Moss, you show it every time you bring me something dead or distract Luffy while I'm trying to cook. We talked about this, you don't need to force yourself to speak."

Sanji smiles when he gets a sullen nod in response. 

"Do you want me to stay?"

Nod.

"Do you want me to talk?"

Zoro shakes his head, and Sanji nods, scooting a little closer so they aren't touching, but can be if Zoro wants them to.

"As you wish." 

A green head rests itself on his shoulder, and Sanji turns his head to press a kiss to the crown of it.

"I'll stay as long as you like."

They wind up staying out there for hours, long after the rest of the crew has wound down the noise and headed to bed. Zoro falls asleep after a while, drifting down to lay in Sanji's lap, and Sanji runs his hand through short green hair in slow, firm motions that are no less gentle for the amount of pressure applied. He remembers Zoro liking it when he's done it before, and it seems that hasn't changed in the time they've been apart. 

And if Sanji happens to discover that Zoro's new coat makes it incredibly easy to lay a hand over his chest and listen to his heartbeat, what of it? 
Residual panic over Thriller Bark and the crew's separation melts away to the beat of the strong heart steadily pulsing beneath Sanji's fingers.

Zoro's love of hands in his hair might not have changed, but his and Sanji's dynamic certainly has. It's not huge- they've always had this kind of push and pull, at each other's throats one minute and quietly sharing space the next- but something's shifted. They're softer now. It's like Zoro's been told Sanji will disappear if he takes his eyes off him for more than two minutes. He's surprisingly...clingy? Sanji finds he doesn't mind all that much. It's easier to get information out of the guy when Sanji gets curious about things.

"Hey, Zoro, can I ask you something?"

Zoro shrugs. "Fire away. Not literally!" he adds a moment later when Sanji obligingly lights his foot ablaze.

One mild scuffle and a sad bat of Chopper's eyelashes later, Zoro sighs. "Whaddya wanna know."

"What's with the three thing?"

"The what?"

Sanji tosses his head so his bangs smack into Zoro's face. "The three thing. Three swords, three earrings, three heads sometimes for some reason- why three?"

"Why not?" Zoro replies. "I like three. It's a good number."

Sanji frowns. "Well sure, but if it's meant to be symbolic then why not seven? That's a symbol of perfection isn't it?"

"A religious one. I don't believe in that stuff remember? And anyway, think of it this way- triangles are the most structurally sound shape, right? People build with them all the time. When have you ever seen someone build with a heptagon?"

Before Sanji can respond Zoro continues. "And besides, three just looks better than seven. Aside from the fact that that many swords would be ridiculous outside of Asura, I'm not walking around with my ear looking like the trim on one of Robin's old cowgirl outfits! The numbers themselves even match- seven's all pointy and weird but three is rounder and less aggressive."

Sanji had honestly not been expecting Zoro to be so passionate around his numerical choices, but this was rather fun.

"Wait, so you like three as your symbol because it's friend-shaped?"

"And other reasons. My mom always said that the best things in life come in threes, and so do your strongest relationships."

"How so?" Sanji's never heard Zoro talk about his mom before. Where is this going to go? 

Zoro coughs. "Well- it's a bit hard to explain but basically- you yourself are the earth, and the people you're closest to are the sun, moon and stars based on their relation to you. So for me, Chopper's the moon cause he kind of orbits me and I wanna take care of him. Luffy's the sun, obviously," he chuckles, "that burning ambition makes me want to fight harder and better."

That only left one thing. "Who's your stars, then?" Sanji asks. "Probably Nami or Usopp, right, you guys are pretty close." 

Zoro looks him right in the eye. "My stars are you. Always there even if you can't see them, and I could look forever and still be amazed."

...how the hell is Sanji supposed to respond to that? Zoro's breaking the rules, this isn't how they are with each other outside of very specific circumstances which are very much not being met right now! This is the middle of the deck on a sunny afternoon and neither of them is having a hard time, they don't do this is this going to start happening now??

Yes. The answer is yes. Has been for a while, though Sanji's loathe to admit it.

Zoro ends up on dish duty for the foreseeable future, to absolutely no one's surprise but Sanji's. It's not that Sanji really minds, he knows that Zoro uses it as a chance to recharge his batteries, but he does find it kind of funny that this is how Zoro chooses to do so. They wind up spending a lot of time this way, just quietly existing together in the galley while they each do their own thing.

It's also during these times that Sanji learns that Zoro's dislike of hugs is more that he like to be expecting it, and that the little headbutts he occasionally bonks onto people's shoulders are his way of trying to show them he likes them.
Sanji starts noticing it a lot more often after that conversation. He kind of likes it. It's nice to not have to drop what he's doing to hug someone, and the crew seems to share his opinion because he starts to see the others doing it too.

Still, two years is a long time to learn, and Sanji finds no end to his amusement upon discovering some of the things Zoro has picked up under Mihawk's tutelage (Sanji's learned a few things too but mostly about himself and cooking).
For instance, the first time Sanji comes out onto the deck to find Zoro braiding Nami's hair he can't believe his eyes, but apparently Zoro's really good at it because it starts happening all the time. Not just Nami, but Robin, Usopp, Franky, hell even Luffy has bounced past with little braids along the side of his head. 

"It's fun," Zoro shrugs when Sanji asks him, "gives me something to do with my hands."

As it turns out, Perona had forced him to hang out with her when he wasn't training with Mihawk, and Zoro has absorbed some of her tastes and talents (The first time Sanji heard Zoro talk Nami out of one shirt and into another, he nearly passed out from the shock).

"Do you want me to do yours?"

Sanji flushes; he'd been hoping Zoro wouldn't pick up on his angle, but now that he's been caught he might as well own it.

"Sure," he sniffs, "if you think you can do it without tangling my hair. I work hard to look this good, you know!"

Zoro rolls his eye from the bench he's sitting on and tugs Sanji down to sit in front of him on the deck.

"Yeah, I know, I live with you. Got any preference what I do?"

Sanji shrugs and pulls his knees up to his chest. "Do what you want."

"Okay."

Zoro's fingers brush the side of Sanji's head as he starts working. Sanji has to focus so hard on keeping his breathing even that he almost misses what Zoro says next.

"Your hair is really soft," Zoro rumbles behind him, "and pretty. I like it."

Sanji slaps his hands over his face in a futile attempt to hide the way the compliment makes him blush, but by the burning of his ears and Zoro's chuckling behind him he doesn't think he's succeeded.

"You- don't just say stuff like that!"

"Why not? It's true!" Zoro gathers more hair into one hand. Sanji can't really tell what he's doing but the repetitive motion feels nice.

"Because! If you're going to flirt then do it on someone else!"

Zoro's hands still. "I'm not- what? I just think your hair's nice. And besides, who would I flirt with on the ship besides you? Luffy's...Luffy, Brook's way too old, I don't like girls and you'd kill me if I tried anyway although it doesn't matter cause Franky's got Robin, Nami's a lesbian and even if Usopp weren't head over heels for Kaya I genuinely think he might faint if I tried."

Sanji laughs, accidentally tugging his own hair as his head moves. "Ow, shit! You've got a point there, Mossy. What would you flirting even look like- explaining how to do a sword trick?"

There's no response for a bit, while Zoro restarts the braid. 

"I don't really know. I guess I'd try to spend more time with him. Do things he liked, give him things, that kind of thing. I'm better at actions than words."

Sanji hums his agreement. That's true, Zoro's never really been one for speeches unless he felt it necessary.

Then it hits him. 

"Zoro."

The hands in his hair jolt- Sanji doesn't dwell on it for once, turning to look up at Zoro's face on his uncovered side. Zoro's eye is wide- as Sanji's face comes into view it flicks slightly to the side, looking at the deck by Sanji's head instead of his eye.

"Hey. Zoro."

"What, Shit-Cook? Quit moving, you're gonna ruin your braid again-"

"That's what you do with me all the time."

Zoro blinks. "Ruin your braid?"

"No, you dork- spending time together? Talking about the things they like? Bringing them things? That's stuff you do with me all the time! Oh God, and the fucking star thing too-!"

Zoro lets go of Sanji's hair. He's blushing, looking further to the side to avoid Sanji's eye. Sanji turns around the rest of the way to face Zoro, placing his hands on the swordsman's knees.

"Zoro. Talk to me. Please?"

Zoro sucks in a breath. Sanji feels a little bad to push him, but he can't deny he's also a little proud to have caused that reaction.

Zoro's beet red when he finally responds. "I said I wasn't flirting with words, not that I'm not in general."

And if that isn't just about the cutest thing Sanji's ever heard, he doesn't know what is.
Currently though, he's kneeling between Zoro's legs in the middle of the deck and while he knows nothing untoward is going on, it's still a bit of an awkward position so he makes the only rational decision and pushes himself up to sit on the bench as well, dropping a kiss to Zoro's cheek before draping his legs over Zoro's lap and leaning back to stretch out over the remaining space.

"I'm gonna nap," he declares, "wake me up when it's time to get dinner ready."

Maybe it's the Straw Hat Experience rubbing off on him, but Sanji falls asleep almost immediately; the last thought that crosses his mind before he drifts off is that oh, Zoro never did get to finish that braid, did he.

The next time Sanji gets to see one of Zoro's new skills it's entirely by accident. He's in a bit of a mood, and has started to headed to the crow's nest to deliver snacks and see if Zoro wants to fight. Instead, he steps out of the galley to find the swordsman on the lawn, spinning Robin around to Brook's violin and the violent sobs of a certain resident cyborg. Both Zoro and Robin are laughing, twirling about in a quick waltz. 

Sanji sits down on the grass next to Franky, wordlessly handing him a handkerchief while he watches the dancers whirl. 

"Sanji, why don't you join us?" a breathless Robin calls. Sanji holds up his hands. 

"I could never hope to live up to the talents of your lovely self, Robin dear! Simply better not to try."

"Then dance with Zoro!" Robin says, twirling away from Zoro to push him Sanji's way. "He's quite good at it and I could use a break anyway."

"Oh but my dear-"

"What's the matter, chef?" Zoro asks, holding out his hand with an honest-to-god pout. "You hate the idea of dancing with me that bad?"

Fuuuuuccckkkk whoever taught Zoro to do puppy eyes created a monster. How is anyone supposed to say no to that?

"Fine. But if you step on my feet I'm kicking you in the balls."

Franky whimpers. Looks like that particular memory hasn't faded- Robin's smile turns a little bit evil from her new perch on Franky's knee.

Zoro doesn't step on his feet.

He sweeps him off of them.

Sanji hasn't has so much fun dancing in ages- he gets all awkward when he tries with the girls and girls not on the crew just aren't as fun to be around. He's danced with Luffy, who knows a bit thanks to his grandpa (Sanji cracks up whenever he imagines the old man's reaction to finding out one of the very few things that had stuck in Luffy's mind was how to do a basic waltz) but had discovered rather quickly that Luffy could only get through a song or two before he demanded something to eat. 

Brook's tune changes from the fast-paced piece he's been playing to something slower, and Sanji adjusts accordingly, coming a little closer to Zoro to match the more intimate nature of this dance. Zoro's face is flushed, and he's steadfastly avoiding eye contact when Sanji looks at him.

"Winded already, swordsman?" Sanji teases, surprised when Zoro goes even redder.

"Not a chance- it isn't that."

"Then what? Would you rather me lead?"

"It's fine!" Zoro squeaks. "It's just different doing this with someone who isn't basically family!"

"Damn, bro, harsh!" winces Franky, to the faint accompaniment of Robin's giggles. Zoro's mouth gapes open and shut like a particularly large fish, trying and failing to explain himself.

"I- that's not what I- Mihawk 'n Perona are like- and the crew's like brothers and sisters but you're different!"

They're not so much dancing now as swaying in place holding each other. Sanji can't resist teasing a little, curving himself closer to lift Zoro's chin with the side of his knuckle.

"Wow, I'm really feeling the love here, Greenie."

"You-! You know that's not what I mean, I already told you! What happened to 'actions over words?!' Huh??"

Okay, maybe things are going a little too far again. Sanji reaches up to cup Zoro's face, closing his eyes.

"Hey. I was teasing, alright? I didn't make it clear enough- I know how you feel about me, I would never doubt that."

"Dearest, I think it might be best if we gave them some space." Robin whispers. Sanji is about to agree with her when he feels Zoro shake his head in his grasp.

"No. We're good. Brook, can you play a tango?"

Sanji's eyes snap open. "You know how to tango??"

"Sure." Zoro shrugs. "Not as good as my waltzing but Mihawk insisted. Why?" His smile curves into a smirk as he pins Sanji with a teasing glint of his own. "Not up to the challenge, pretty-cook?"

"That's a compliment, dumbass," Sanji scoffs, taking his position. "who do you think you're talking to?"

"A moron, obviously," Zoro responds, moving into position himself, "and I know."

Brook starts, and Sanji grins. He knows this piece- apparently Zoro does too, because when Sanji moves forwards, Zoro moves easily into what Sanji knows are the next steps. They cross back and forth on the deck, and Sanji extends one leg behind him to move in a smooth arc to the side before he brings his knee up to Zoro's hip. Zoro understands, moving his hand to hold Sanji's knee in place as he walks them backwards so Sanji's other leg drags behind them.
They've gathered a bit of a crowd by the time Sanji finally spins out and away, then back into Zoro's arms for a dip. Even upside down like this, he can pinpoint the exact moment Nami's expression changes from confusion to realization.

Zoro pulls him back upright and Sanji doesn't hesitate to wrap his arms around the swordsman's shoulders, planting a firm kiss to his lips before grinning and ducking away while Zoro short-circuits.

"Thanks for the dance, handsome!" He calls, disappearing into the galley before Zoro's even had the time to unfreeze.

He's feeling downright bubbly, light in a way he hasn't in a long time. Sanji hums as he twirls around his kitchen, retrieving ingredients and utensils and containers to get started on everyone's afternoon drinks. He feels like going all-out today.

"So....what was that all about? On the deck?" 

Sanji looks up mid-twirl to find Nami leaning over the counter with a rather knowing smirk on her face. 

"I imagine it's exactly what you're thinking, Nami dear," Sanji laughs, sliding berries into the blender to mix with the sweet cream already there, "I'm not going to take it back."

"Good!"

"Did you need something? Drinks will be out in a few minutes."

Nami shakes her head and reaches out to pat his shoulder.

"Nah. Just thought you should know that if you hurt him I have permission from Luffy to stab you in the balls before Robin rips them off and feeds them to you. Have fun!"

The door snaps shut before Sanji can process what's just happened, leaving him open-mouthed in shock still holding a container of raspberries.

"Well damn." Sanji says to the empty kitchen. He hadn't been planning on doing anything to hurt Zoro but he really doesn't intend to do so now.

He hadn't intended on this whole business with body-swapping and running around the weirdest island yet (is there anyone in the world besides the weird doctor guy Luffy's picked up who can really intend to swap bodies?) either, and especially not the whole trying-not-to-be-distracted-by-Nami's-body thing, but it does put him in the interesting situation of literally being in someone else's shoes. Sanji can feel the ache of his left arm over the tattoo, but when he tugs his clothes aside to check for an injury he finds none.

Nothing but the old scars from Cocoyashi Village, reddened against the skin.

Does this happen whenever it gets cold? Maybe he should tell Chopper about this.
Later though, because for now he's running around with Brook and Zoro and trying his best not to look like he's copping a feel as he holds a hand at the top of his chest to keep it in place.

"How does she run with these things?!" Sanji complains. "No wonder she tries to avoid combat, this is a nightmare!"

"It's not that hard! Come on, don't you want to save that samurai?!" Zoro snaps next to him. Sanji tries to fire back as usual but luckily enough that's the exact moment one of Nami's ridiculously weather-inappropriate kitten heels skids on the ice and he goes flailing backwards.

He's barely even had the chance to yelp before Zoro's hand catches him at the wrist, suspending him about halfway down. Judging by the surprised expression on the other man's face he hadn't expected himself to do that either.

Brook chortles. "How romantic!"

Zoro flushes and let go of Sanji's hand immediately, letting him crash to his back in the snow. "Shut up!"

Still, he waits for Sanji to get up, not-so-subtly checking him over for injuries before they're off again. Sanji tries not to be too flattered.

Things go to shit again, because this is the Straw Hats, and nothing ever doesn't, and by the time Sanji's gotten his head wrapped around the spectacle that is Zoro in a suit (truly, how the guy doesn't notice all the townsfolk of varying genders practically throwing themselves at him is a thing of wonder) Sanji's fucking ex-family is back in the picture, and more shit goes down. Sanji leaves the crew, rejoins it, bakes the biggest cake he's ever seen and heads to Wano, where- surprise surprise- even more shit hits the fan.

Still, it works out in the end. Luffy and Zoro are up and about soon enough, and after a brief misunderstanding about the necessity of murder Sanji and Zoro slip back into their usual banter.

It's nice. Sanji hadn't quite allowed himself to acknowledge it back on Whole Cake, but he had missed his swordsman and their interactions. Whether fighting or the more recent flirtatious developments (he still needed to unpack that but he wasn't mad about it), he'd missed having Zoro around. His constant presence was something he'd grown accustomed to; it felt weird not to have a friendly (fucking Yonji) head of green hair in sight at all times.

"Oi Star-cook, what're you doing out here by yourself?"

Sanji turns from where he stands at the top of a small hill overlooking the party. Zoro's coming towards him through the forest. He's using the path for once; either he's familiar enough with the area to keep his bearings or he managed to wander onto it and miraculously headed the right way. It looks like he's finally managed to shake Hiyori off his tail. Sanji can't even bring himself to be jealous of her, just vaguely sad that she doesn't seem to realize just how wrong of a tree she's barking up.

Then again, Sanji himself had once genuinely flirted with Nami so he can understand both sides of the situation.

"Hey, bastard," Sanji calls back. There's no heat to it- he hasn't got the energy for a fight right now. "What brings you out here to grace the forest with your indecorous presence?"

"Too many people," Zoro shrugs, "started to give me a headache. You?"

"The same, actually. While I understand the thought behind all the partying I'd rather keep my brain from oozing out my ears." And the blood in his body- he was still mad at himself for nose-bleeding when Yamato had joined them in the bath. He knew Yamato was a man and thought of him as such, but of course the first time anyone in the crew saw his nose bleed over a guy it was in the presence of a trans man. How the hell was he supposed to explain that it wasn't because of boobs, it was because of a hot guy with a big chest and just as much over Zoro as Yamato? That didn't even make sense inside his own head!

Zoro huffs out a laugh, coming up to stand next to him. "'D be a waste of a nice outfit if it did."

It takes a minute for Sanji to retrace his mental steps to the conversation at hand, but once he does he smiles.

"Nice to know you value me so highly, mossball."

"I do."

Huh?

Zoro looks him straight in the eye. Sanji abruptly feels as though he couldn't have moved if he wanted to.

"I do. Value you highly. You're important to me, and the crew. Don't go running off again, even for good reasons, okay?"

Sanji nods.

"I'm not done yet, Cook. You promised me you would let us help the next time something bad went down. I know you did eventually, but seriously did you really think we were gonna accept what you chose?! You said once that you'd stay as long as I liked- well I'm telling you now that I'd like for you to stay forever. Don't ever let yourself believe otherwise."

"Zo-"

"You don't have to say anything. Just know that I mean it, okay? I love the others but it's not the same without you there."

Sanji reaches up to rest his hand on the side of Zoro's neck, brushing his thumb through the earrings.

"I know what you mean. Every time I caught a flash of green I had to stop myself from calling out to you. I knew you weren't on the island, that it was just Yonji but I still- how stupid is that, huh?"

He sniffles. He hadn't meant to cry but it wasn't like he could stop himself now. Zoro would just poke him until he let the emotions out anyway. Zoro's eye softens; his arms come up to wrap around Sanji's shoulders and waist and pull him closer. It's warm in Zoro's arms, and surprisingly comfortable. Sanji always forgets that muscles aren't really hard when they aren't in use, making Zoro one of the better pillows amongst the crew. 

Not that Sanji makes a habit of sleeping on crewmates, but Chopper does and it's not like Sanji is ever going to argue with him about it.

He sinks into the embrace, resting his head against Zoro's shoulder. The hand on his shoulder moves up to hold the back of his head, while the other moves in slow, gentle arcs over his back.

"I would have gone," Zoro whispers, "I really would have, but when have I ever been stealthy?"

Sanji snickers into Zoro's robe. "I don't know if you can call what they did 'stealth.'"

"Maybe- but if I'd gone I would have hacked the entire island apart until I found you. The more I hear about it the more I'm tempted to have Jinbe turn the ship around and wipe out the whole fucking fleet. And besides. I knew you'd come home."

This really shouldn't be as heartwarming as it is, but Sanji smiles and lifts his head to press a kiss to the hinge of Zoro's jaw.

"I love you too, Mossball."

Zoro laughs through his nose, dropping a kiss of his own to the crown of Sanji's head. "I know."

A vein throbs in Sanji's forehead and he pushes himself out of the hug, throwing in a kick to the knees as well. Zoro goes down, still laughing as he lands on his back in the short grass.

"You green bastard, I'm trying to be romantic here!"

"I know, I know, I just couldn't resist!" Zoro claps his hands as he laughs- Sanji's half-sure he can see actual tears in the man's eyes. Sanji rolls his eyes and flops down next to him, poking Zoro hard in the chest before resting his head on it and snuggling up to his side. Gentle fingers rake through his hair.

"Your hair is really pretty," Zoro whispers, "it looked really good long."

"Maybe I'll grow it out, experiment a bit." Sanji replies, propping his chin on Zoro's chest so he can look at his face. Zoro's not avoiding his gaze, and Sanji takes the time to decide what color Zoro's eye is today. He's always liked how they change with the light; right now in the cool glow of the moon it shines pale silver, almost blue.

"I'll braid it for you, if you do." Zoro says. He brushes Sanji's bangs from his face, smiling at the sight of both eyebrows at once. "I love your hair. And you."

Sanji buries his face into Zoro's robe, though he knows the burning of his ears will give him away.

"You fucking- I hate you so much."

"No, I don't think you do," Zoro hums, "I think you love me."

Sanji raises his head.

"I do," he says, and presses a kiss to Zoro's lips, "and you'll never be rid of me again."

"Good thing I like onigiri, I guess."

"Fuck you."

"No thanks, I'm good with just this."

"...shut up."

"You know you love me."

"I should never have told you."

"You didn't have to." Zoro smiles at him. "Actions over words, remember? It was obvious."

"Well so were you!"

"Never claimed I wasn't." shrugs Zoro. Sanji smacks him lightly in the chest, breath hitching as Zoro catches his hand afterwards to press kisses into each knuckle.

"Hey Zoro-"

"Mmn?"

Sanji pauses for a minute, trying to think of how to say what he wants to ask without being confusing. "You haven't called me anything related to my eyebrows since I got back. How come?"

Zoro shrugs. Sanji's face gets dragged forwards slightly with the motion. "You never seemed to enjoy it much and then Brook said that those Vinsmoke assholes had spiral-brows too, so I figured I'd just drop it. No sense dredging up bad memories for the sake of an insulting nickname. Besides, it's not like you've ever called me 'cyclops' or some shit like that."

"When did you get so soft?" Sanji teases. Zoro huffs, but doesn't release his hand.

"I always have been. I just feel like showing it right now."

Sanji hums. 

"I can be okay with that."

They lay there in the grass as the sounds of the party float up to them, and as Sanji slowly drifts off listening to his partner's heartbeat, he smiles. 

Zoro is fascinating. And Sanji knows exactly how to read him.