Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

If Sanji was being entirely honest with himself, he was the one who usually started it. Still, it wouldn't keep getting so out of hand if Zoro didn’t have the emotional maturity of algae. Every insult had to be met with injury, like a direct affront to his honour. It wasn't like Sanji butted heads with anyone else on the crew all the time. Just that stupid, crass, brute of a plant.

And it was definitely not Sanji’s fault that the Merry had gotten so thoroughly trashed during their last scuffle. Or that Nami was currently dangling a room key in front of their eyes, telling them they were officially on time-out while they spent a night at this inn. Even Luffy and Usopp were not entirely disagreeing.

“Get along.”

“I love it when you're bossy, Nami-san! ♡”

“I’m not staying in the same room as the love-cook!”

“...or no booze money.”

So here they were. There were two beds, a pine bedside table in between and a sink. It was comfortable. Whitewashed stone and flat-woven colourful rags, a linen curtain swaying in the breeze. It was one night. They didn’t even need to talk to each other.

“I’m going shopping.”

“I’m going to find booze.”

“I’m hanging on to the key.”

“Whatever.”

꩜⚔

It was pleasantly warm as Sanji walked the stone-paved streets, pausing at the various stalls to pick up spices. He loved this island, a regular Baratie supply destination. He thought about what the spices on the Grand Line would be like with a fresh sense of excitement. A silly smile settled on his face. He was happy. 

He wandered for a while, looking at women walking past, his heart fluttering. That was another reason why he loved this island: the ladies. The real ones and the printed ones on the pages of the dirty magazine the little bookshop down this alley provided. He stepped in, nodding to the old woman at the counter who recognised him at once.

“It’s sold out,” she said, “but I kept you a copy.”

“Thanks Bertha, I appreciate it,” he nodded with a grin, pushing the exact change on the counter. “Say, you might need to hang on to the next one a bit longer. I’ll be away for a while.”

“Oh? Where you off to, lad?” 

“The Grand Line.”

“Well, I’ll be damned. Then you won’t be needing this local thing. They got much better stuff. Not just human either,” she leaned in with a wink. 

“N-not just… y-you mean they have m… mer…”

“Your nose is bleeding, sweetheart. Here, take my hanky.”

“S-sorry about that. Anyway, thanks, I’ll be off. I’ll miss your shitty shop, old hag!”

“Yeah, yeah. Take care, lad.”

He put the wrapped magazine carefully inside his shopping bag and headed back towards the inn. The air had turned and he could see dark clouds on the horizon obscuring the setting sun. He wondered if Zoro had gotten back and was waiting to be let in. He really hoped not. He had… business to attend to.

The enjoyment of the monthly instalment of Treasure Baps had become a ritual since his early teen days. It involved an hour of alone time as he flipped through every page, taking in each peak and valley of girls more beautiful than his wildest imagination. They posed in very little, looking directly into his eyes, promising things he would get on his knees for. It was a slow burn with a reliable crescendo, achieved before he even reached the final page. The headrush of anticipation put a spring in his step.

He poked his head inside the inn tavern. No sign of Zoro. This was looking promising. He all but ran up to their room, shopping bag and magazine clutched tight, abruptly coming to a stop when intercepted by Usopp. 

“Sanji! Nami says there’s a bad storm coming. I’m going with her and Luffy back to the Merry to make sure it’s secure. Everyone’s closing shop, we’ll stay in tonight.”

“Right, be careful.”

“Want me to take that bag?”

“Take the… oh. Um.”

“It’s food, right? l’ll put it in the kitchen for you.”

“Right, yeah. Wait, let me just, uh, take this one thing.” 

Thank all the gods for Bertha’s discreet wrapping. And Usopp’s inexperience. The cooks at the Baratie would have clocked it in no time.

“Have you, uh, seen the other guy?”

“Nope. Hope he finds his way back soon, it might get bad.”

“Yeah, it would just be awful if he couldn’t make his way back tonight.”

“You guys really got off on the wrong foot. Maybe alone time will actually do you good.”

Oh, shit. He hadn't considered that. If everything was closing down, they couldn't avoid each other for long. In any case, he was home free now. He let Usopp go and skipped up the rest of the stairs, magazine under his arm and key in hand. Even if Zoro came back, he could pretend not to be there. Everything was going perfectly. Wait for me, ladies!

꩜⚔

Zoro had strolled around for a while looking for a bar. He’d come across several outside his price range until finally finding the dingiest, dirtiest hole in the wall, with a crowd so rough that even Nami would think twice about scamming. 

He was sipping his third mug of grog contentedly in the corner, paying half-assed attention to a fight about to erupt over a game of cards, when an old-school pirate walked in. He was a tall man in his 30s, weather-beaten and rough around every edge, but the piercing green eyes and chiselled chin gave him a handsome face.

He got a drink at the bar and seemed to scan the room until he spotted Zoro. He took a moment to size him up, then smirked and approached his table. He sat down with aplomb, satisfaction on his face about something Zoro wasn’t privy to. It pissed him right off.

“What?”

“Not seen you around here before.”

“Won’t see me again. There’s other tables.”

“Don’t be like that. I’m just being friendly.”

There was something about the tone that rubbed Zoro the very wrong way. The hairs at the back of his neck stood up. There was no fighting intention coming from the man and yet he instinctively felt like reaching for a sword. 

“What do you want?”

“Told you, just making small talk. Want me to get you another?”

“I can get my own,” he spat, surprising himself. He couldn’t, in fact, he’d spent all his money. But he knew that he really didn’t want this guy to get him anything at all. The way he was looking at him like a piece of candy made him want to cut something.

“I love the way you’re glaring at me right now. Will you keep it up with my cock down your throat?”

Zoro’s hand was on a hilt like a flash, about to slice both table and person in half, which was really damn annoying because he still had grog left.

“Hey, hey! No need for that!” the guy pleaded, palms in the air. “Thought you'd appreciate the direct approach, but, damn.” His body language said surrender, but the way his eyes gleamed and his tongue wet his lips told another story. “I do like a boy like you. But maybe I’m not your type, huh?”

Zoro stood, downed his drink and walked out, leaving man and bar behind. He hated retreating like that, but what he hated most of all was the way his dick had reacted. It wasn’t the guy. It was anything but the guy and he wanted it to stop. He wasn’t in control of his own body.

He'd thought it'd get better as he grew up, but it'd gotten worse. Like there was a demon inside him, demanding. It would take longer to calm it down these days and even when he succumbed, it was never quite satisfying. He didn't want to give it up to scum like him. What the hell was he supposed to do about it?

He was not two blocks from the bar when a whirlwind of red in a straw hat mercifully took him out of his spiral.

“Zoro! We’re going to the ship, storm coming. Everything shutting, maybe. Have to go, tell Sanji!”

“Right. Wait, Luffy, which way’s the inn?”

“You’re standing right in front of it.”

“Oh, right.”

Almost on cue, Usopp came out the door with a bag in his arms.

“Zoro! Good timing. Sanji just got back,” he waved as he rushed to catch up to Luffy. 

“Don’t you need help?”

“You’re both on time-out. Don’t piss Nami off even more!”

Great. He made his way upstairs, unsure which one their room was, relieved to spot Sanji in front of a door.

“Oi, hold up.”

Sanji seemed to freeze, before spinning around, manic.

“Has anyone told you that your timing fucking sucks?”

“Huh?”

“Nevermind. Why are you back? Go get drunk.”

“Can’t. Ran out of money.”

“I’ll… give you money.” 

Zoro's eyes narrowed. He gave Sanji a once over: key in the lock, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, mysterious brown paper bundle under his arm. 

“What have you got there?”

“Nothing!”

“Nothing.”

“It’s a cooking magazine.”

“They special wrap cooking magazines?”

“It’s for Nami-san. New recipes. I didn’t want her to see it.”

“Uh huh.”

“Anyway, here, take this–”

Zoro watched Sanji’s face go white when he searched for a wallet he didn’t appear to have. A 100 berry coin looked up miserably from his palm, the sole survivor in his pocket.

“Don’t think that’s going to buy me much.”

The blond’s face was a picture of complete and utter defeat. 

“Fine! Come in.” 

“This wasn’t my idea, you know. If you’re gonna be pissed, be pissed at Nami.”

“Nami-san did nothing wrong!”

“You’ve got issues, cook, you know that?”

“I’m not the one who drinks like a plant!”

“Well, I’m not a cook who smokes, so. By the way, Luffy says we might be stuck in tonight.”

“Yeah, don’t remind me.”

Zoro kicked his boots off, rested his sword and slumped onto the bed near the window, hands behind his head. Sanji stood for a moment looking unsure of what to do with himself, before taking off his jacket and shoes and laying down too, magazine next to him, untouched.

The silence in the room was so charged, Zoro half expected the storm to break out inside it and yet, he felt somehow relieved. As annoying as the cook was, he was… safe. Whatever internal struggle was going on in his mind at any given moment was anyone’s guess, but he was dependable. He trusted him to be there where it counted.

Both men looked at the window in tandem when the first lightning struck. 

“It’s gonna be a big one,” said Zoro pulling the latch tight, just in time for a thunder so loud, the whole building seemed to shake.

“I hope Nami-san will be alright.”

“Luffy’s with them, I’m sure they’re fine.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

Sanji was impressed at the calmness in his own voice. Internally, he was screaming. 

He'd mentally prepared for indulgence and was now awash with latent adrenaline. He looked down at the magazine. Maybe a little peek would be alright. Just to take the edge off. Anything would be fine. Zoro had closed his eyes and would likely nap. And anyway, it was just a cooking magazine! Nothing wrong with looking at it!

He turned his back to him, facing the wall, and as carefully and slowly as humanly possible, peeled back the wrapping. The sound of ripping paper was the loudest thing he had ever heard in his entire life. It filled the dead silence of the room in the aftermath of the thunder. No other sound was heard outside, just paper endlessly ripping, on and on, like the last pieces of his dying self-esteem. 

He held his breath waiting for Zoro to say something.

Silence.

He took a deep breath and tore the last bit of paper off until finally, finally , he pulled the magazine free. He reverently stroked the back cover before turning it over. He swallowed hard at the sight of the model on the cover. The most perfect set of breasts he’d ever seen, under the skimpiest blue bikini. Oh lord, what kind of paradise awaited him inside?

He opened it carefully, breath catching. He was five pages in and already in heaven. He felt his blood-pressure rising. Calm yourself, Sanji, you’ve got this. It was the centre spread that proved his undoing: a voluptuous brunette with nothing but her hands covering her modesty. His cock throbbed so hard he had to force down a yelp. Fuck . What now? He’d gone way past the safety point.

There was no toilet in the room and going to the communal out in the yard with magazine in hand would shatter any illusion that maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t what it looked like. He would never live it down. Zoro would bring it up to be a dick. He would say it in front of Nami. 

He just had to wait a little bit for Zoro to fall asleep and then he’d slip outside. He wiped the trickle of blood under his nose with his hand and took deep breaths to try and relax. He was so pent up he could barely think. He didn’t dare have a smoke to not give away how his hands were shaking. He normally took care of things before starting his day, but this morning had been a bit rushed. This was a nightmare of the worst kind.

There was a massive sigh behind him.

“Cook, it’s fine, just do what you have to do.”

What?

“What?” he snapped around.

“Sort yourself out, I’m not judging.”

“I don’t know what you m–”

“You’re at that age and that, I get it.”

“What do– we’re the same age!” 

“Yeah… that’s why I get it.”

Sanji searched for an edge to Zoro’s words, but couldn't find it. He sounded sincere. And it was weird. Thing was, Sanji had never been around people his own age. Not for a long time, anyway. The cooks at the Baratie made fun of him relentlessly when he stared heart eyed at the pinups on their walls. The waiters laughed till they cried when he got his first nosebleed in front of a pretty lady. Zeff yelled at him for days when he spent his first salary on cigarettes and smutty prints. Nobody had ever said ‘I get it’.

“You do?”

“Sure.”

“Oh,” Sanji breathed cautiously. “How often do you…? You know,” he heard himself asking.

Zoro turned to look at him for the first time. Sanji scanned his face for any cracks. None seemed to be there.

“Once a week, I guess. Maybe less. Lucky, I suppose. You?”

Of course. Zoro had probably grown up surrounded by other boys in a dojo. He had points of reference. Sanji was nothing special to him.

“Every day. Sometimes twice.”

It was a relief to say it out loud, somehow. And it had to be to Zoro, of all people. But who else was there? Luffy probably didn’t know that you could do things with it other than pee and Usopp was the most uptight man alive.

“That tracks,” Zoro hummed. 

“What do you mean?”

“The daily showers.”

“Shut up! If you get it then don’t be an ass!”

The room grew darker as the rain reached the inn, pounding against the window like a monster. Thunder and lightning ripped the air apart.

“OK, fine. I’m… going to the yard.”

“Don't be stupid, it’s mayhem out there.”

He wasn’t wrong. It sounded like the world was ending.

“Look, just… pretend I’m not here.”

“That’s not going to work!”

“I can turn around.”

“You can still hear!”

Sanji twitched. He had to forget about it. This was already far too embarrassing.

Zoro’s hand seemed to attempt to rest on a sword hilt that wasn’t there, before giving up and dropping on his stomach.

“Would it help if I did it too?”

“...what?”

“If we did it at the same time, would that be better for you?”

Sanji stared. Zoro was serious. He really was. He wasn’t taking the piss, he wasn’t trying to bait him. He was as earnest as earnest can be.

“You… yeah, maybe.”

“Great.”

Sanji swallowed hard. Had he just agreed to this?

“Do you, uh, want the magazine?” he offered, producing it. No more point in hiding.

Zoro gave it a quick glance. “No, thanks, it won’t do it for me.”

Sanji looked down at the cover. 

“Not a tits man?”

“Nope.”

He heard Zoro unbutton his trousers and any doubts he had about being led into a trap were gone. He felt a strange elation as he caught the movement of Zoro’s hand with the corner of his eye. It was a second before his own belt was undone. 

He let out a deep sigh as he finally got himself free. He was already so hard. He tugged softly and let his thumb spread the leaking precum around.

“What, then?” he asked, somehow feeling less exposed if they could keep up the conversation.

“Hmm?”

“If not a tits man, then…?”

Zoro went quiet for a moment too long, enough to make Sanji wonder if he should just shut up.

“I don’t… I don’t like women very much.”

“Oh.”

It'd been said quietly, almost like a confession. Like it'd been entrusted to him.

“So, asses then?”

Zoro chuckled, surprising him.

“Not really. It's more… the thought of another body. Warm under my hands. Held in place, tightly.”

“Huh.” 

Sanji felt the cock in his hand jump at that. He imagined the woman in the centrefold pulled close, in actual contact, and it was definitely a powerful thought.

“I can see that,” he said and his voice had an edge to it now.

“Although, sometimes, hips can do it for me.”

“Hips?”

“Yeah, like, when they look strong.”

“Have you ever, uh…?”

“Nope.”

Huh. He’d half expected Zoro to be active with how casually he seemed to be acting about this.

“Me neither,” he admitted lamely.

Sanji slowly melted into pleasure as he stroked, all physical discomfort gone. He twisted his wrist for some variation, alternating the pressure of his grip, building himself up. His eyes lazily followed the curves on the page laid open next to him, imagining the softness of the skin, the suppleness of the muscle. It felt so good to finally indulge, any sense of shame forgotten.

But with shame gone, came a hint of curiosity. He risked a glance to his left. Zoro was flushed, eyes half shut. His hand worked fast and Sanji was doing everything in his power not to look directly at it, but the movement more than sufficed. He felt his cheeks heat up and quickly closed his eyes.

He pictured the centrefold girl on top of him, her hands fixed on his chest, beautiful round tits bouncing as she rode him. The pressure started to build.

“I'm… kind of close,” he managed, not sure if he needed to give a status report, but feeling it was somehow sporting.

“Me too,” he heard Zoro's voice, huskier than he'd ever heard it before. 

The image in his mind shattered.

He wasn't sure if it was a sense of competition that pushed him so abruptly over the edge, but it hit so hard, he bit down on his lip till it bled to keep from moaning. A low grunt from Zoro's side told him he’d also gotten there and he couldn't help himself from stealing another glance in the haze of his orgasm. 

Zoro's eyes were shut, his mouth slightly open in ecstasy, back bent and hand holding his cock so tight to keep from making a mess, Sanji was sure it was painful. He looked so completely lost in it. And something else Sanji couldn’t name.

He capped his own cock in both hands, feeling the warm cum spill contentedly and let himself ride the end of the high. They were both panting, barely heard above the pandemonium outside.

Zoro was the first one to break the silence.

“I think I needed that.”

“Yeah? Good for you.”

Sanji stood to wash up at the sink, a sense of panic taking over now that the deed was done. How had this fucking happened? And why had it felt so good? Was it really just that Zoro was a peer? Was this a normal thing for friends to do? Were they friends now?

Zoro’s bed creaked as he got up and for a moment they stood next to each other, Sanji drying his hands while Zoro washed off the incriminating evidence. He handed him the towel like they were doing the goddamn dishes and only then did he notice, in the fading light, how furiously Zoro was blushing. Huh . This hadn’t been normal for him either. Then why had he done it? Was it really just to put him at ease?

“Thanks,” came out of Sanji’s mouth unbidden, “for not being a dick.”

“It’s fine,” Zoro dismissed, heading back to his bed.

Sanji stood staring at the wall for a moment, feeling like he needed to say something else. He opted to run.

“I’m going to see if the others are back,” he said, grabbing his jacket, but Zoro was already asleep.

꩜⚔

“We're nearly there, stop drooling on my shoulder,” Nami was saying.

“But I'm so hungry!!”

The three of them had gotten back safe, if drenched, had a bath and collapsed without proper dinner last night, which was making Luffy delirious today. 

Zoro had slept through it all. They hadn't said a word to each other this morning. They were all heading downstairs for breakfast now, the storm having passed the town by.

“Oh, by the way, Sanji,” Usopp said, “here, you’d left your wallet in the bag.”

Sanji had forgotten all about it. He stared at it in Usopp’s hand. If he hadn't panicked when Usopp offered to carry the shopping, he'd have had money to give Zoro to go out, Sanji would have had his space, Zoro would have gotten drunk and lost and fallen asleep in the gutter and none of… that would have happened. It was a strange thought.

“Right, thanks.”

The inn tavern seemed unaffected by the storm, much to Luffy’s relief, with the added bonus of extra portions which they hadn’t been able to shift the previous night. They all ate them gladly, eggs and steak and rice and endless tea.

“We're going to need to find some treasure soon with how this one eats,” said Sanji, staring at Luffy's empty plates. 

“How this one eats and that one drinks,” said Nami.

“You spend more than anybody,” mumbled Usopp barely audibly, because he wasn't suicidal.

Sanji was acutely aware that he hadn't heard Zoro's voice all day. Not that he ever talked much when not fueled by alcohol or the urge to cut, but there was something subdued about how he let the conversation pass him by. Sanji felt a pang of uneasiness. Had Zoro forced himself into a situation he wasn't comfortable with? Had this fucked things up between them completely? 

“Did you hurt yourself, Sanji-kun? Your lip's swollen.”

Sanji touched the raised cut around the cigarette in his mouth. He flashed back to how hard he'd bit down to keep himself quiet. He couldn't remember the last time he'd come like that.

“Or were you two fighting?”

“What… no, we weren't, Nami-san, I promise,” Sanji held his hands up. “I was just clumsy.”

Zoro gave him a barely there glance, but said nothing. 

“So what did you guys get up to?” Nami asked, chin resting on her hand. “Sounds like you played nice?”

“Sure, first we braided each other's hair, then we looked at porn mags and jerked off,” said Zoro.

Sanji felt his soul leave his body.

“WHAT THE HELL!?”

“No need to be an ass about it! Jeez,” Nami stared at Zoro, cross.

“Don’t ask if you don’t want to know,” Zoro shot back dismissively.

“Zoro, you’re so mean!” Luffy said between cackles, finding the whole thing hilarious.

It was a joke, a joke, a joke… Sanji kept repeating to himself. Nobody had taken it seriously. Except maybe Usopp whose cogs seemed to be turning, something in there having clicked.

“YOU CAN’T SAY THINGS LIKE THAT TO A LADY!”

“Relax, I’m sure she’s heard worse.”

“APOLOGISE TO NAMI-SAN RIGHT NOW!”

“She shouldn't poke her nose where it doesn't belong.”

“I'm right here, Zoro!”

“Sanji is protesting a bit too much…” whispered Usopp.

“SHUT UP, BIG NOSE!”

“Okay, enough!” Nami yelled. “Zoro, you’re the worst. Sanji-kun, I don't need you to defend my honour. Luffy, finish up, we're going.”

She threw money on the table and stormed off. 

“But I'm not done eat–”

“Read the room, you idiot,” Usopp said, dragging him off.

Sanji glared down at Zoro furiously.

“You're a fucking asshole,” he spat and followed after them.

Friends? Not in a million fucking years.

Chapter Text

The East Blue sun bore down on the Merry as it lazily sailed its waters. Even though Luffy’s bounty had brought a sense of urgency, there wasn’t much to do but enjoy the fine weather as the ship steadily carried them towards Reverse Mountain.  

Luffy sat atop the great figurehead, gazing at the horizon. Usopp fiddled with new weapons in his makeshift workshop, mixing powders and slings and other terrifying and not so terrifying things. 

Sanji was in love with the Merry's galley. Its corner kitchen and makeshift meeting table was a far cry from the Baratie's grand galley and its line of cooks and stoves and freezers, but this was his. The place where he cooked for his crewmates and them only. The heart of the ship. Every plate went out with love. Even the ones for Zoro. Fucking Zoro.

He tried to forget about him and think about how cute Nami looked in her A-line skirt and floral top today. A veritable angel. He would make the navigator something refreshing to cool her down in this weather. Maybe chop up some fruit for her and drizzle it with something sweet. That would make him feel better.

Said navigator was reclining on a lounger on the rear deck, book in hand. Zoro napped against the rail to her right. She'd nearly turned back when she'd found him there, but decided that was far too petty. She did notice that his nose was starting to catch the sun. It would probably itch later. That should do for punishment.

She was two chapters into Weather Patterns of the Grand Line when he woke up with a yawn, surprised to find her there. She seemed to be ignoring him, but she also looked a little sad. It didn’t sit right.

“Oi.”

She gave him a tired glance, like he was a cat that'd already been fed, then turned back to her reading. 

“What?”

“You still mad at me?”

“I'm not losing sleep over it if that's what you're asking.”

“Look, I was angry at something else. I took it out on you, I'm sorry.”

She put her book down to turn to him. Sometimes she could still see some of the softness in his eyes from before the fight with Mihawk, but it was like some part of his boyhood had died that day. At least, she guessed that's when it was. She hadn't been there to see it. She regretted that.

“Did the great Roronoa Zoro, Demon of the East Blue, just apologise to me?”

“I know when I cross a line.”

“Apology accepted. Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I'm fine.”

It was a lie. He’d jerked off imagining a piece of trash pirate coming down his throat, all because he’d dirty-talked him for two seconds. It was pathetic. And he’d done it in front of the cook of all people, the ship’s resident pervert. But no, that wasn’t fair. The cook would not have crossed that ocean by himself. So who was the pervert now? 

If anything, the cook being there had made things softer, somehow. If he’d been jerking off to that horror in a toilet by himself, no amount of booze would have washed the filth away. But why? Why was having the ero-cook around safe? He couldn't quite nail it.

“Nami-san~~~♡ I brought snacks!”

Speak of the devil. Sweeping in like a hurricane, overpowering every thought.

“Thank you Sanji-kun.”

“There's some for you too, asshole.”

Zoro looked up at the sun-framed golden hair. Sanji's words hadn't quite matched his tone. He squinted, but couldn't make out the cook's face. 

“Did you poison them?”

“Don't tempt me. Nami-san, my sweet, can I get you anything else? A cocktail, maybe?”

How was this annoying love-fool safe?

He was safe because… because he wasn’t interested in him. He put so much energy towards anything with breasts, he had none left for the rest of the population. And since Zoro couldn't stand his stupid face, well, that made it safe in both directions.

He reached out for the plate. Melon and grapes and mangoes and honey. It felt good in the sun, if a little sweet.

“By the way… Luffy! Usopp!” Nami shouted to get their attention. “We'll be reaching the Polestar Islands tomorrow, that's where Loguetown is.”

“The Pirate King's execution site?” Luffy swung over.

“It's a big city, right? We should pick up some food supplies,” said Sanji.

“And ship supplies,” shouted Usopp from the bottom of the stairs.

Zoro looked down at his one sword. He needed some things too.

“It’s a big city alright,” confirmed Nami, “but given its location there'll be Marines, so it might be a good idea to land on one of the smaller islands first and get the gossip.”

“And then that's it, right?” Luffy said with big eyes. “We're going to the Grand Line.”

“Yep,” Nami nodded. “Whatever you need to do in the East Blue, this is your last chance.”

Sanji looked down at Zoro. He and Nami had been speaking softly enough, but the wind had carried their conversation. He’d been, to be honest, stunned.

So Zoro and Nami had their own rapport, they'd known each other longer, he'd have to bite down that bit of jealousy. But that Zoro had been angry at something? It couldn't have been him, they were mad at each other all the time. The only thing that genuinely upset Zoro, as far as Sanji could tell, was Zoro.

He played back the things the swordsman had said to him. They sounded practiced, like he wasn't vocalising them just for Sanji's sake. And anyway, since when did that insensitive idiot care about his feelings, especially about this sort of thing? It hadn't made sense, it was just a lifeline Sanji had wanted to grab on to.

Zoro was upset because… he'd submitted to his own needs? The way he'd spat the truth at Nami, like he himself hated it. Like he wanted her reaction to validate his own disdain. Sanji recalled how vulnerable Zoro had looked after, how embarrassed by it. 

But more to the point, did Sanji even care? Whatever was going on in the idiot's head was not his problem. But it had bothered him to think he'd messed up, somehow. The prospect of being friends had seemed pleasant. Sanji had had co-workers before, he’d had family before, but never friends.

Maybe, just maybe, he could try again.

꩜⚔

It was sunset when they arrived. At first look, it seemed an ordinary port town. A mix of merchant and pirate ships on the cove, not by any stretch a busy port, but enough to not stand out in a crowd.

“Three hours, then back to the ship,” Nami said.

“Want food. Nami gimme me money.”

“You can eat on the ship when we get back!”

“Actually, Nami-san, we don’t have much on board right now, may as well eat out.”

“Pleaaase, Nami.”

“OK, fine, let’s go eat.”

“I saw sea beast on that menu,” said Usopp.

“How can you read that?” squinted Zoro.

“REALLY!? LET’S GO.”

“Actually, we should split up if we’re not staying that long,” Sanji said. “Idiot, want to hit the bars? I'm buying.”

Bars were a good source of information. It was a solid pretext for the offer, no one would think much of it. He’d said it as casually as he could muster, lighting up a smoke, hands going back in his pockets. Just inviting a crewmate on some recon, on Nami’s orders. Nothing to see here at all.

Everyone had frozen solid. Zoro had been the first to recover.

“OK, sure.” 

“Right. See you all at the ship in three hours.”

The three waved lamely, standing rooted on the spot until they got their voices back.

“Did Sanji-kun just volunteer to spend time with Zoro?”

“Don’t think about it too much, Nami. Chaos that way lies,” said Usopp, eyes open wide.

“Heh heh heh, they’re getting along. Now come on, I’M STARVING!”

“I hope they have fish too. I mean, they would, right?” said Usopp, following.

Nami stared after the two men walking away a moment longer. What on earth was going on?

꩜⚔

The lesser island was known as a dark mirror to Loguetown, the seedier underbelly of the grander town. Not far from the port they found themselves in the entertainment district, bars and gambling dens and all manner of establishments huddled together in cobbled covered alleyways. 

“Glad we didn’t bring Nami-san down this way.”

“Yeah, she would have robbed them blind,” said Zoro.

They stopped under a pink neon sign flashing above their heads. A chalkboard declared happy hour.

“Here?”

“Sure.”

The tall woman at the door gave them a once over, waving them in once satisfied they weren't the legal kind of trouble. 

The place inside was cosy, illuminated by more neon and candles on small tables. Zoro went straight to the bar, Sanji lagging behind, inspecting. A mix of pirates and locals mingled merrily over grog. He’d never been to an establishment quite like this before, but he didn’t feel out of place either.

When he reached the bar he noticed him. The man sitting two barstools over to where Zoro was standing. He was older, 40s maybe, too well groomed to be an average pirate. Long silver hair and a hawk-like nose dominated his presence. His eyes ran up Zoro's legs to his ass, carrying a thirst Sanji recognised.  

Was Zoro attractive? He hadn’t thought so, but he’d always appraised him as competition. Even if he could be considered so, his brusqueness put women right off. But if that wasn’t a factor… then, he guessed, he could be seen as desirable. He had a powerful body and, despite the stupid hair, a rather cute face, especially with how the bridge of his nose was peeling today where he’d caught the sun.

But if the man had planned on following up, he never found out. He turned back to his drink when Sanji approached and put money down. Zoro was talking to the bartender, who was one of the seediest men Sanji had ever seen in his life, but seemed happy enough to chat.

“The navy, here? Nope. Loguetown, sure. Especially since that monster took over.”

“Monster?” asked Zoro.

“That Marine captain. He's a tough one. Just get in, stock up, get out. Keep your heads down and you'll be alright.“

“Will do.”

“Anyway,” he said, passing them their drinks, “enjoy the show, you two.”

There was a small stage, sure enough. And on it was a pole. Sanji's eyes lit up.

“N-no way…! Come on! There's a front row table!”

Zoro followed. There was free booze, he could put up with the cook's antics for a while. Besides, Zoro wasn't entirely indifferent to women, he just wasn't primarily invested. 

“That guy at the bar was checking you out,” Sanji said as they sat.

“Yeah, I know.”

“Not interested?”

Zoro wasn't sure how to answer. He was very interested. He just didn't want to be.

“Not especially.”

Sanji looked around. He wasn't sure what passed for attractive in Zoro land.

“Nobody else you fancy?”

“Are you trying to get me laid, cook?”

“What's wrong with getting laid?”

“Nothing. Just… sort yourself out first.”

“It's not that simple.”

“Let me guess, you open your mouth and ruin it for them?”

“I'm gonna fucking kill you.”

“Just calling them how I see them.”

“I'll have you know all the pretty ladies loved me at the Baratie! They asked for me by name!”

“To cook for them?”

“To… wait on them mainly, but that's not the point!”

Zoro sighed.

“So they thought you were adorable. Like a puppy. Doesn't scream sex to me.”

“What the hell do you know about it, you shithead? You couldn't tell what a lady wanted if she screamed it in your face!”

“Maybe not. But I know what I want.”

Sanji sucked on his cigarette, beer in hand. 

“What do you want?”

Zoro didn't have a chance to answer because the stage lights came on. The barely there background music faded out and a heavier bass started to play. The crowd of rogues cheered, clearly regulars, shouting what was probably the performer’s name. 

A curtain was pushed aside and she appeared. Drop dead gorgeous, even by Zoro’s understanding of beauty standards, all in vinyl, tight bodice and stockings reaching up to a flared skirt, pink waist-length hair in a ponytail and platform heels that should require a devil fruit to master. 

Sanji went feral .

“Gahhhhhhh~~!! ♡”

Zoro chuckled at the cook’s reaction. As embarrassing as he found his constant fawning, at least now it seemed appropriate. The performer clearly appreciated it if the way she winked at Sanji was anything to go by. He nearly passed out as a result. 

For his part, he sipped his beer quietly, watching the dance. He liked the art of it, it was clear it took a lot of practice. The dancer’s legs were rock solid under the skirt she lifted teasingly as she moved around the pole. Admittedly, that was doing something for him. She seemed to notice, because she sent him a kiss, which made Sanji bristle, probably having forgotten Zoro was there to begin with.

His attention was quickly diverted to the back of the stage though, when a second performer came out. A man, this time, short but stocky, topless in leather trousers and a collar around his neck, looking tiny next to the endless legs of the female dancer. He felt Sanji deflate audibly, but the crowd’s cheers went up. 

Zoro got curious about their excitement. The man was made up for stage well enough, but he wasn’t anything much to look at. The woman completely outshone him in sheer presence, even in Zoro’s eyes. Were they swapping? Were they doing an act together? 

His curiosity was satisfied almost immediately, when the man got on his knees, the woman standing behind him. She pushed one heeled shoe down his back to bring him on all fours, much to the crowd’s delight. All other questions Zoro may have had faded to nothing when the woman lifted her skirt and untucked, revealing a strap with the biggest dildo Zoro had ever seen. Then she pulled down the man’s trousers and proceeded to ruin him without preamble.

Zoro and Sanji may as well have been pillars of salt, eyes saucer wide, drinks frozen mid sip, mouths gaping open. Sanji’s cigarette burned on the floor. If anyone was looking at them instead of the show, they would have laughed their hearts out.

The pegging unfolded among cheers and shouts of yeah and give it to him , with both performers clearly living up the reaction. The woman laughed the whole time she snapped her hips, the man below her moaning shamelessly with a smile. It was that smile that drew Zoro in, the blissed out expression that being railed was eliciting. It was an act and then again it wasn’t. When the man locked eyes with Zoro, directly in his line of sight, Zoro was sure there was no faking it. 

He felt his mouth water. He wasn't sure if he wanted to be the one causing that pleasure on someone else or being the one experiencing it, but he knew without a doubt that he wanted .

It wasn't until the performance was over that Zoro realised he was still holding his beer bottle two inches away from his lips. He put it down.

“Maybe we should go,” he heard the cook's numb voice.

“Yeah, good call.”

They both stared at the empty stage for another moment, then promptly sprang for the door. They didn't stop until they were outside and past the night crowds, backs to the wall of a dark and narrow passageway, sweating and breathing like they'd run ten miles.

“That was–”

“Yeah.”

“Did it get you–”

“Yeah–”

Sanji looked down at his trousers. There was no way he could walk anywhere further like this. He knew Zoro was the same.

“Maybe we could… do it together. Like at the inn.”

“Yeah, alright.”

The speed with which they undid belts and buttons would have won them accolades. They let out a sigh in unison as they took their cocks in their own hands, feeling the cool air against the comforting touch.

“Fuck.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, my god.”

“I thought I was going to come in my pants.”

That had been Zoro. Sanji burst out laughing, not unkindly. Zoro followed. They didn't stop what they were doing, but it shifted the tension to something less desperate. 

“Why was that so fucking arousing?” Sanji was practically squeaking.

“Cause they were enjoying it,” Zoro said, never breaking his movements. 

“Seeing a man get pegged shouldn't do this to me.”

“You wouldn’t be into it?”

“Right now, I think I’d get on my knees and beg for it.”

Well, that was something. Zoro had expected the servant thing to be an act to get into women's good graces, but turns out, no. Sanji would let a woman use him as a doormat and die happy.

Zoro didn't care for that. But he did care for how those hips were snapping. He fisted himself roughly at the memory, grunting as blood stopped and started. It was a rush.

“You… you like it rough like that?” Sanji asked, as Zoro sounded like he may have been more in pain than pleasure.

“Yeah. It’s good when... it hurts a little. You don’t like that?”

“No, I… like to tease it out more. Change it up, like…” 

Sanji realised he couldn't explain and Zoro couldn't see him in the shadow cast by his own body. He shifted himself to the opposite wall to catch the yellow street light.

“Like this… you know? Slowly then, firm then, like… ”

“Huh…”

“It makes it last longer.”

“When you come?”

“Yeah! And… stronger. Fuck, I can't hold off any more.”

Sanji closed his eyes and leaned his head back, movements now urgent. Zoro’s eyes hadn't left the cook's cock. He watched as elegant fingers worked, hips coming up to meet the strokes. The way the foreskin stretched and loosened, the redness of the tip under his thumb, the blond, short hair framing it all… fuck, what was he doing?

He looked up at Sanji's face to see if he'd been caught, but he was no longer present. Eyes shut tight, hand over his mouth to muffle the moans, blood drying under his nose, face flashed and surrendered to pleasure. He was… gorgeous. Fucking gorgeous.

What the fuck.

Zoro quickly looked down at his own cock and stroked with purpose, nearly there and ready ten minutes ago. The urgency had been replaced with overwhelming pleasure, building up around his stomach, ready to snap at any moment as he barrelled towards an end.

He wasn't going to look again, he wasn’t , but Sanji choked a moan and stilled and Zoro couldn't stop his eyes from wandering back to his cock as he came, cum spurting out onto the ground, thick and white and rich and so much and fuck. 

Zoro was hit with the force of a thousand exploding suns. Fuck it all to hell.

He didn’t make a sound, too overwhelmed to do more than gasp for air as his own cum hit the ground. He braced one arm on the wall in front, head down, waiting for his senses to return. They both panted, trying to calm down, Zoro leaning on the wall, Sanji letting himself collapse on his ass.

“What the fuck.”

Zoro had nothing to add.

“Well, thanks for the drink,” he said after a while, voice hoarse, and they both laughed, awkward and shaken, but also not caring very much. It had felt too good to ruin by worrying.

“You choose the bar next time,” Sanji said as he picked himself up.

They sorted themselves out and looked at each other, not even sure what was going through their own heads. 

“Come on, we need to head back,” said Zoro, looking away first.

“If you tell Nami-san anything about this, joke or not, I will murder you!” 

Zoro made a dismissive gesture as he started to walk.

“Or Usopp. Or Luffy! Or anybody!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“And you're going the wrong way!”

꩜⚔

“They’re late,” said Nami, “you think they got into trouble?”

“Sanjiiiiii~~ where are you!? I want dessert.”

“How can you possibly eat any more! You could barely walk up the plank!”

“I didn’t have dessert, though. I can’t go to bed without dessert.”

“You can’t go to bed because you can’t fit through the hatch,” said Usopp. “I’m sure they’re fine, Nami. Who would mess with those two?”

“You’re right, it’s just—”

On cue, Sanji and Zoro jumped onto the ship, straight from the dock.

“SAN-CHANNN! DESSERT!”

“ San-chan ? Didn’t he eat already?”

“Enough for ten. Where have you two been? You’re late.”

“This guy kept taking wrong turns.”

“How should I know they moved the ship?”

“Nobody moved anything, you idiot-swordsman!”

Nami looked between the two, her curiosity gnawing at her.

“So what did you– I mean, did you find anything out?” she asked, not repeating past mistakes.

“Marines in Loguetown,” said Zoro.

“Yeah, we heard the same,” said Usopp.

“San-chaaannnnn!”

“Yes, okay, already! I’ll go make something for this idiot. Anyone else want anything? Would you like some dessert too, Nami-san~~~? ♡”

“Booze.”

“No, thanks, Sanji-kun, I’m going to bed.”

“Would you like me to warm up your b— ? ♡”

“No, thanks. Night.”

“Booze.”

“I HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME.”

Nami left them to it. She felt the exhaustion as she washed her face and brushed her teeth after a quick shower. Tomorrow would be a long and exciting day. Some shopping in Loguetown would be just the thing. 

She was heading down to her room, when movement caught her attention on the deck. She looked through the porthole, trying not to be seen. Sanji had brought Zoro his drink. And smiled. And laughed. And talked. 

Huh .

What on earth was going on?

Chapter Text

So, this was the Grand Line. Depressed whales, insane weather, secret organisations and undercover princesses. And places with names like Little Garden, whatever that turned out to be.

It was nearly 4am and Zoro sat in front of the galley, looking at the stars. He was regularly on night watch as the ship's resident night owl, always giving himself a nightcap the few minutes before he woke up whoever was on rota. The creaking of the ship was a lullaby on clear nights. The only times the Merry was truly silent.

He looked curiously when the hatch to the men's quarters was pushed open and a blond head popped out. The two of them had not had much back and forth since the Polestar Islands, but it'd be fair to say the cook had been on his mind.

There was an image he'd filed away from that night and it wasn't the stage show. He'd lingered on the memory of the cook masturbating many times. The gone look on his face. The way his fingers moved around his shaft. The texture of his cum. It was mesmerising. And though Zoro had been shocked to discover it, he wasn't going to deny it. He found the cook attractive.

“Oi, asshole. What are you doing there?”

Shame about the shitty personality.

“Night watch, dickhead.”

“Why are you doing it in front of my kitchen?”

“Karoo is asleep on the rear deck. Why are you up so early?”

“Wanted some quiet time before I started work.”

“Sorry to ruin it for you,” Zoro grinned.

Sanji sighed and went up the stairs to take a seat next to Zoro. He lit a smoke as they sat in silence, listening to the waves.

“Not that I'm not glad for Vivi-chan, but this ship's not that big.”

“Not enough shower time?”

“Shut up!  But… no.”

“You can have one now,” Zoro shrugged.

“I was going to, but then I saw your face and lost my hard-on.”

Zoro laughed. “It hasn't bothered you before.”

Sanji smiled and blew smoke away. 

“Vivi-chan’s a light sleeper,” he said eventually. “If I go now I’ll wake her up.”

“Just get it done, cook, it doesn't have to be a ten course meal.”

“I’m not an animal! What’s the point if it’s not actually enjoyable?”

“You make life way too hard on yourself, you know that right?”

“You only say that because you don’t know what you’re missing out on.”

Zoro gave him a side look. He knew some things he was definitely missing out on and they included the sight of the cook's hands around his cock, but he wasn’t about to say that out loud. The image replayed itself in his mind and with the man himself so close, it was enough to get him distracted long enough that Sanji misunderstood the pause.

“Oh, but, if you wanted, maybe I could… nevermind,” Sanji backtracked, registering the look of surprise on Zoro’s face.

“Could, uh…?” Zoro asked, entirely certain he had not been about to hear what he thought he was.

“Well, I could,” Sanji cleared his throat, “talk you through it, kind of thing, you know.”

“You want to talk me through masturbating?” Zoro frowned.

“Nevermind, just forget it.”

“I’m not five, I know how to jerk off, cook. You’ve seen me do it,” he barked, not exactly sure what he was annoyed about.

“Well, obviously you don’t know how to do it properly!” Sanji snarled back, because if Zoro was getting snappy then he wasn’t having any of that.

“Huh? You think you’re better at jerking off than I am?”

“Of course I’m better than whatever shitty excuse of a technique you’ve got going!”

“Oh, yeah? Fine, prove it!”

“Fine! Tomorrow, same time.”

“And if you chicken out, I win by default.”

“You just better be here when I get up, idiot-swordman!”

Sanji snatched Zoro’s drink and stormed into the galley. Zoro jumped down to the deck and slammed open the trap door. He kicked Usopp awake for his shift and sank into his hammock. He stared at the ceiling, furious, then stunned. Sanji stared at the sink, fuming, then panicked. 

What… what had they just agreed to?

꩜⚔

“I defeated Kuro of the Hundred Plans all by myself, you know.“

“That’s amazing, Usopp-san,” said Vivi politely.

“That’s why when that woman invaded the ship, the Great Captain Usopp wasn’t scared at all!”

“I know you weren’t,” she smiled.

Wow, princesses must hear a lot of bullshit on a daily basis, thought Nami. Vivi didn’t even appear to be pretending, she just seemed legitimately kind. It was a contradiction how someone so good-natured had passed herself off as a Baroque Works agent. Those people were ruthless. 

She checked their course and sat back down on her lounger. The weather had turned towards something warm, with no sign of the fog that’d seen them out of Cactus Island. She was a bit concerned about the warnings against Little Garden, but there was nothing they could do but sail ahead and hope they could move past it as fast as possible. 

She sipped her drink and watched Luffy frantically chasing Karoo around the ship, trying to get him to play target for the new bow and arrow Usopp had devised. Zoro was at the back, training, as always. So when Karoo ran towards the rear deck in an attempt to escape the bow and arrow yielding rubber man, she saw the slowly unfolding cartcrash.

Sanji could hear the commotion outside, but he had other problems. Vivi thought his food was bland. Not that she’d complained, but Sanji could tell by the amount of pepper she added. Maybe Alabastan cuisine was heavily spiced? In any case, this sauce wasn’t quite right. Another chilli pepper perhaps? But what if it was too much? You couldn’t walk that back. A bit more coriander maybe? They’d gone heavy on that in Whisky Peak.

“Hey Sanji, what are you making? It smells good,” Usopp pushed past to grab a glass of water.

“Try it, tell me what you think.”

“Really? Okay.”

Sanji handed him a clean spoon and chewed on his cigarette in anticipation.

“It’s tasty, like always.”

“Like always, huh? That won’t do,” Sanji half-muttered to himself.

“Hmm? Why, what’s troubling you?”

“I want it to be different.”

“Well, you’ll figure it out, I’m sure.”

“Yeah. Anyway, thanks.”

Usopp walked to the door, turning to look at Sanji appearing lost. He wasn’t used to seeing him uncertain. Whatever this was about, it wasn’t food.

“Have faith in your skills, Sanji. If you're cooking it, it’ll be awesome.”

Sanji stared at the retreating sniper. He moved his cigarette from one corner of his mouth to the other, then stepped to the fridge. A scotch bonnet. Go broke or go home.

In that moment, an arrow crashed through a front galley porthole, flew across the room and went straight out the back. 

“QUACK!!”

“Waaa! Usopp! Did you see that!?”

Sanji would have blown a gasket, if Zoro hadn’t blown one first.

꩜⚔

“This chilli is amazing, Sanji-san!”

“I’m glad you like it, Vivi-chan!”

“It’s really spicy, I love it.”

“Huh? I didn’t think it was that spicy.”

“I made yours the way you like it, Nami-san!”

“But… why did you… also… make ours… so spicy?” asked Luffy, sweating, but not slowing down any. He sported a number of band-aids over sword-looking wounds.

“You lot eat what you’re given!”

“You know, this could be weaponised,” mumbled Usopp.

“It's good training against fire attacks,” said Zoro.

“Quack!”

They were all sitting around the galley table, the usual banter erupting as food was devoured, a good time on the Merry, normally. Homely. Wholesome.

Awkward. 

For one thing, they couldn’t completely avoid eye contact. And, oh, how they had been. It wasn’t intentional, rather the natural consequence of one having backed oneself into a corner one cannot get out of without losing face. And they would rather die than that happen. Except they weren’t really sure what was supposed to happen. How exactly do you assess a jerking off competition? 

Which was thing number two: thinking about jerking off at the family table. Everyone knew that was a Very Bad Thing. 

They jumped up at the same time, cheeks red at the realisation.

“I need to train.”

“I need to do the dishes.”

“Thank you for the meal.”

“Yeah, sure.”

Sanji lit a smoke and started scrubbing. Behind him the others lazily laughed over leftovers. The same feeling of panic came over him as it had done that morning. He puffed out smoke annoyed. He’d already made up his mind. He had to fight these nerves. He drew down on his cigarette to even his breathing, exhaling confidently. He was playing the only way he knew how: to win.

 ꩜⚔

The rear deck was empty when Zoro came down from the crow’s nest. Karoo was sleeping with Vivi in Nami’s room, probably more afraid of him now than Luffy. The arrow was still lodged on the mast next to where Zoro's head had been. 

He’d stopped training some hours earlier and had settled into a watch proper, but in reality, he’d just needed to think. This was what he wanted, wasn’t it? All he’d done at Whisky Peak, as men threw themselves at him, was sneak sly peeks at the cook with his twenty women.

There were obvious reasons why he’d turned everyone down then and different reasons why he’d turned everyone down before then. They all came to this: he wasn’t ready. He wasn’t ready for the mind games that came with the territory. For the power he didn’t want to concede. For the vulnerability that letting go entailed.

But the cook was… the cook. He didn’t fuck with him. He snapped and he snarled and he kicked and he challenged him every step of the way, but he would never deceive him. He always was and always would be… straight as an arrow, Zoro huffed, eyes fixed on the protruding piece of wood before him. And wasn’t that exactly the thing.

A hatch was opened. Steps followed. Zoro turned, back to the sea, eyes to the approaching figure coming up the stairs.

The appointed hour had come. Two men, one battle. They stood facing each other on the rear deck. One with hands in his pockets, cigarette in his mouth, the other resting a hand on his swords, ready to pounce. 

“Ground rules,” said Sanji. “No weapons.” 

“Fine,” said Zoro. “Don’t blow that smoke too close to my face.”

“Deal,” said Sanji, taking one last drag and throwing his stab over the railing while Zoro took his swords off.

“This is not going to work if we’re doing it simultaneously. We have to be focused on the application.”

“Agreed,” nodded Zoro. “Also, the recipient has to assess fairly.”

“Absolutely. Impartial evaluation.”

“Anything else?”

“This is a learning opportunity. We will demonstrate technique,” insisted Sanji.

“But each can teach in his own way.”

“Naturally.”

“So it’s settled. Who goes first?”

Sanji pulled a coin out of his pocket.

“Heads,” he said.

“Guess I’m tails,” said Zoro.

The coin spun in the air, landing on Sanji’s fist, palm slammed over it. They both looked down.

“Heads. I go first,” said Sanji.

Zoro smirked. It was on. He looked at Sanji defiantly. 

Neither moved.

“Well?” Sanji said after a while, nodding at Zoro’s crotch. 

“Oh. Right.” 

Zoro started undoing his buttons so clumsily, he may as well had never seen clothes before. He leaned back on the railing, trousers finally open, boxers down, soft cock out.

Sanji stared. Was he really doing this? Was he really going to touch another man’s dick? But it wasn’t another man’s. It was Zoro’s. Just Zoro’s.  

He reached out a hand. Then stopped.

“I… I can't do it this way. Turn around.”

Zoro realised the problem and turned. Unfamiliar angle. He felt Sanji step closer behind him, right arm reaching around, left arm coming to his waist. Sanji’s chin rested on his right shoulder as he tried to see in front. 

Zoro hadn’t expected this much physical contact. Sanji’s chest was pressing against his back, his breath close to Zoro’s face. He could almost smell his hair, shampoo and tobacco. He was glad Sanji wasn’t looking at him because he was sure he'd turned crimson red.

“Right, so, I start like this.”

The feel of the cook’s hand on his dick nearly paralysed him. He looked down to confirm it. Those delicate fingers he’d thought so much about really were touching him. Thumb on top, palm underneath, working him to hardness. Undemanding, never grabbing, just encouraging. His blood flowed readily to meet the challenge. 

“OK, here we go. So now…”

Sanji's fist closed around him. Just a couple of times, to trigger stimulation, then back to gently kneading him, leaving him space to get harder. Zoro watched as his cock filled out in Sanji’s hand and his mind automatically tried to compare with how the cook’s own dick had looked in his fist. Was he smaller? Longer? Wider?

“Does it feel good for you here?”

Zoro was drawn to an index finger pressing just under the head. He’d never isolated that spot as more sensitive. He tried to speak and realised his mouth had gone completely dry. He swallowed hard and hoped his voice wouldn't come out cracked.

“Yeah… it’s good.”

“Okay, I’ll focus on it a little.”

“Uh, huh.”

“Sometimes I come just by playing with it.”

“R-really? Just from this?”

“Yeah. If I’m aroused enough. The pleasure intensifies.”

Zoro could feel it, the build up. A different kind of stimulation. It was working, if the leaking precum was anything to go by. Or maybe it was just Sanji's touch. No. This wasn't that. He had to stop himself from getting too lost in the sensations. They weren't making out, they were just… training. This was training.

“How do you know so much about… all this?”

“I just know what I like. Don't you?”

“I get it done.”

Sanji found that a little bit sad. To not make the most of sexual pleasure seemed like a tragedy. He was suddenly filled with a desire to show Zoro what he was missing out on.

“You should spend more time with yourself. You might learn things that surprise you.”

His index finger pushed at the slit, dipping into the precum to spread it around the tip. It looked, more than felt, fucking hot and Zoro had to swallow hard not to make a sound, but he couldn't suppress the shiver.

Sanji felt it in his core, Zoro's trembling body against his and he was glad for the distance between their hips so that Zoro couldn't tell what it'd done to his own dick. A reaction he would not examine now or ever.

He sped up a little, alternating between firm and loose, fingers playing along the length, then pressing down his finger again against the slit to get that full shudder back. He was ready for it this time, his hand around Zoro's waist tightening, rewarded by a gasp and the ghost of a moan as Zoro's hands tightened around the railing.

“Yeah? You like that?”

“Cook…”

Sanji loosened his grip, feeling Zoro chase after it, hips bucking forward. He held him in place, regaining control.

“Don't rush it, let it come.”

Zoro grunted now, head falling back and eyes squeezing shut as he fought with everything he had to not push Sanji's hand away and get what he wanted. 

Sanji turned just enough to look at his face. He'd seen Zoro like this before, at the inn, only this time he was doing it to him. He squeezed the cock tight and Zoro's eyes flew open as his mouth parted. The choked gasp that escaped his lips nearly caused Sanji to lose his rhythm. Either Zoro was choosing to make himself vulnerable to him or he had no control. And Sanji didn't know which of the two was better.

He kneaded more to see how sensitive a reaction he'd get and Zoro's breathing quickened. Was it time? He looked ready. He sped up and went for the kill, firm then loose then–

Zoro looked down, breathing hard and trying to keep some semblance of composure.

“Cook, I'm… I'm going to come if you don't…”

“It's okay, I'll see it through.”

“You don't have to, I can–”

“Just enjoy it, you idiot.”

Zoro all but whimpered as Sanji's arm wrapped around his chest. He let his head rest back on the cook's shoulder again and let go. He felt himself sink under a warm protective blanket. Then he was swallowed whole.

“I'm…!”

He didn't have time to say it before his body jerked in Sanji's arms, hands white against the railing as he pushed back, as if to escape the overwhelming sensations. Sanji's body was a rock against him, his left hand letting go of Zoro's chest to grab the base of his cock, right hand cupping the tip as he emptied. 

Sanji looked at it, enthralled. He'd done this. He'd made Zoro come. He didn't move until the last of his panting had quieted down and realised Zoro was also looking down, softening cock still in Sanji's hands. There was so much cum.

Sanji gave one last soft tug, pulling the foreskin over, a job well done. No more reason to stay here. He pulled back.

“Well?” He asked.

Zoro had to take a moment to remember what the question was about. Oh, yeah.

“Okay, fine,” he said, buttoning himself up, trying to stall before turning to look at the cook.

“Told ya,” Sanji said, lighting a smoke with one hand.

“But my way is better,” Zoro grinned.

Sanji took a deep drag. It made him dizzy. He didn’t have time to reply because a voice came from around the galley.

“Hey, Zoro. I’m up, where are you?” 

They both looked towards the main deck in disbelief. Luffy had woken up on his own for his shift. It was beyond unheard of. It nearly outshone anything else that had happened tonight.

“Did you fall asleep? Nami will kill you if we're off course.”

Zoro and Sanji looked at each other.

“Tomorrow,” said Zoro.

“Same time?”

“Same time. Goodnight, cook.”

Sanji waited till Zoro had gone below deck and Luffy had finished rampaging the fridge. He breathed in the sea air, finishing his cigarette. He flicked the remains into the water and walked to the galley. Dawn would soon break.

He stood over the sink to wash his hands. He did a thorough job, as a cook always does, getting under the fingernails, between the fingers, above and below the palms and all around the thumbs. He grabbed a towel to dry off with, swinging it over his shoulder and pulling out his notebook to start planning today’s meals.

He was very pointedly going to go about his day ignoring the raging boner.

꩜⚔

Zoro had slept like a rock. Then he'd woken up with a yawn, staring at the ceiling as the previous night's activities had come back to him with the force of a whole brick building.

He'd had, not that he'd admit it at pain of death, one of the best orgasms of his life. This morning he felt like he was floating, every ache in his body forgotten, every worry and every anxiety on hold. Sex was even better than–

But no, he shouldn't be getting carried away. That's not what that was. It was a stupid competition he and the cook got themselves into. So what if he thought Sanji was attractive? He would never seriously pursue him. A friend, at a push, but more? The guy was–

There were crashing sounds above, followed by running and yelling and threats of deadly violence if the idiot duo did not stop stealing food.

“Nami-saaaan! Vivi-chaaaaan! I made you mid-morning snacks! ♡”

–a predictable, annoying, love-sick fool.

There was breakfast for him in the galley, everyone else already sorted for the day. He grunted good morning as he sat down, stuffing his face with the plain rice, egg and soy sauce bowl the cook had made for him, then drank his tea quietly. Everything seemed normal.

“And how are we feeling this fine morning?” the cook grinned as Zoro brought his plate to the sink.

“Like a winner,” Zoro smirked.

Everything was normal.

“I’ll see you later,” he tapped Sanji’s shoulder before heading off. A bet. It was a bet. 

“Yes, you will,” answered Sanji with a grin that vanished the second Zoro walked out the door.

꩜⚔

Zoro had trained all day and it had helped take his mind off the anticipation of the evening or, well, technically the morning after. Alabasta was getting closer and Zoro knew not to underestimate it. He was excited to test out the results of his training, but a warlord was a warlord and he wasn’t taking anything for granted. Not again.

He'd gone for a bath when he was done, soaking very tired muscles, and hadn't realised he'd fallen asleep until Nami banged on the door for him to hurry up. His watch had been spent meditating on a new attack he'd been thinking up for a while, but couldn't quite get how he wanted. Something inside of him was incomplete. 

Sanji had gone to bed at his usual time and had not failed to notice that Zoro had not only grabbed clean clothes, but had also headed to the shower room. It had made his mind go to weird places, like was he doing it for him and what would he smell like tomorrow. It kept him up far longer than it should. It was a competition, that's all it was. And Zoro would lose. Nothing more to think about. They would get this second part done and then never speak of it again.

Now that the time had come though, nerves were getting the better of him. He got dressed as normal, climbed up to the deck, lit a smoke and looked around. Zoro wasn't in front of the galley. He went into the kitchen and grabbed some dried fish and pickled cucumber for him, sure that booze had been sorted. He left his jacket on a chair, took a deep breath and made his way around.

“Brought you something for your drink.”

Zoro was sitting with his back to the wall, hands behind his head, an open bottle and cup beside him, swords resting near-by. He took the plate and set it aside.

Sanji continued to hover with his hands in his pockets, trying not to look as nervous as he felt. He attacked the cigarette hanging from his mouth while waiting for Zoro to say something. Anything. Instead, he looked up at him with a smirk, pulled his knees up and patted the empty space between them for the cook to sit his ass down. 

“Tsk, not even a good morning,” Sanji grumbled, eyeing the seat made for him uncertainly, but sitting down regardless. 

“Good morning,” Zoro said as Sanji settled in, his back to him.

There was a gap between them and Sanji wasn't filling it. If he did, he'd be in Zoro's arms, and that was not a place he'd volunteer himself to. Zoro's legs still cradled him and that was bad enough. His nerves threatened to overwhelm him and for a moment he wondered if he could really do this. They'd started this together, but now he felt alone.

“If you want to chicken out–”

“I'm not chickening out!” he snapped, nerves forgotten.

“Then come closer.”

He took a deep breath and moved back, until he could feel Zoro's warmth. He let himself fall into it, unsure of what to do with his hands. One skimmed Zoro's cup and without a second's thought he grabbed and downed it. Then he poured another and drank that too. He threw his cigarette butt in the empty cup, the last drops of alcohol making it sizzle as it went out.

“Better?” Zoro asked.

“Yeah,” he said and relaxed into Zoro. He smelled of shampoo and washing powder. And a hint of polishing oil.

“It felt really good last night.”

Sanji wasn't sure he heard right.

“W-what?”

“What we– what you did felt good. You told me to enjoy it, so I’m telling you the same. Let me do this.”

Sanji short-circuited. Zoro was admitting he had liked it. He knew on a level, a very physical level, that he had done, because he'd experienced it. He'd seen it. He'd heard it. But Zoro had been so dismissive afterwards and then again this morning that if it weren't for the confirmation of their future plans, Sanji may have thought that he'd imagined the whole damn thing. And the hard-on he'd carried around all day until he gave up and dealt with it, would have begged to disagree.

Zoro had liked it.

“Okay. Show me.”

Sanji undid his belt and opened his trousers. He stopped short of lowering his boxers until Zoro had gotten comfortable around him. He felt taller than him sitting this way, his chin by Sanji's temple, right hand pulling Sanji's leg open to give himself a better view. His left hand rested by the chain on Sanji's hip, waiting.

“Can I?” 

Sanji pulled himself free. He felt exposed immediately, soft dick in the night air. His breathing was impossibly fast.

“Close your eyes,” said Zoro.

“What? Why?”

“You’d rather I was a woman, wouldn't you? Close your eyes and think of one.”

“That's cheating!”

“It's not against the rules.”

“We're comparing techniques!”

“Can't compare anything if you don't get hard.”

He couldn’t argue that.

“Okay, fine.”

He closed his eyes and let his mind wander. His breathing slowed and with it rose the awareness of his environment. Zoro's chest rising and falling against his back. He tried to match it, like they were one. Everything was still for a moment.

Then he felt it, a gentle touch, a caress almost, against his cock. Timid and uncertain. He breathed in, breathed out. A palm pressed down more assertively. He felt himself fill up and tried to imagine something, anything, but found he didn't want to. He just wanted to feel this… the clumsy hand forcing him to life, the warmth against his back, the smell of cleanliness and salt.

The hand wrapped itself around him and he let out an exhale so deep, as if he'd yearned for this his whole life. The touch of someone else, wanting to make him feel good. He deeply, deeply wanted that. To be taken care of. To be looked after. But he couldn't just give into it like that. It made him feel too vulnerable.

“It's… it's too weird in silence.”

“So talk. I'll only break the illusion.”

“I can't just talk by myself!”

“Tell me what you're thinking about.”

Shit.

“T-the bar,” he lied.

“The show?”

“Y-yeah.”

“Are you on stage?”

“No! I'm…”

Think, think, think.

“The woman's there.”

“What is she doing?”

“She's walking towards me.”

Zoro's movements got faster. It wasn't so much technique as it was brute force, but it was working well enough. The roughness of his hands against Sanji's soft skin, the friction of his calloused palms. 

“What's she gonna do to you?”

It wasn't a question, it was a threat. A promise. It came with a tightening so hard, the blood stopped and started with a sting.

“Careful!” Sanji sucked a breath in.

Zoro didn't reply, but he used his other hand to cup Sanji's balls and squeeze, just enough to move along the sensation as he pumped faster. Sanji gasped as he felt the same sting, again and again and–

“Fuck, you’re too rough!”

“What's she gonna do, ero-cook?”

It was a growl. Low and rumbling. Sanji's breath hitched. 

“She's… she's going to…”

“Is she going to get you on your knees?”

“Nnng.”

“Do you want her to get you on your knees, lover-boy?”

“Y-yes. Yes, I do!”

He squirmed in Zoro's arms, no longer able to keep any distance. Fuck. Fuck. How had he lost so much control of this so fast? Zoro was attacking him. Literally attacking him in every direction. 

He opened his eyes just to see… just to peek a little. His cock was leaking, the red and swollen head poking out of Zoro's fist as he relentlessly pumped him with one hand and held his balls in the other. He stared, shell-shocked. 

“Where is she now, cook?”

“B-behind me.”

“What is she going to do to you?”

“She's going to… she's going to…!”

A shock of pleasure coursed through him and he shut his eyes as his head fell back, surrendered to the onslaught, Zoro's breath fanning down on his face.

“She's going to make me come!”

He quickly brought a hand up to his mouth to muffle the cry that he couldn't hold back as his cum shot up his cock. It made a mess of Zoro's hands and Sanji's stomach, unimpeded in its course, Zoro too hypnotised by the sight to do anything to stop it. It was so beautiful. Seeing Sanji's cum freed. He wanted to do this to him so much more. Watch him come every fucking day just like this. See him make a mess like this. Be in that mess.

Fuck.

He pulled his hands away.

“Sorry, I didn’t… I mean, I didn’t catch it all,” he said in a panic.

“Huh?” Sanji looked down confused. “Pretty sure that’s on me,” he managed, but there was no bite to it, still dizzy from the mind-blowing orgasm. 

Zoro looked around for something to use, which Sanji misunderstood as his signal to get off him. He experienced the lack of Zoro’s warmth as a loss, a comfort he would have liked to hang on to a little bit longer. But they were done and there was no other excuse to be there. He panted, unsure what to do for a moment, trying to navigate the come-down. 

“Here,” Zoro produced the napkin from under the plate, wiping his own hand and waiting as the cook cleaned himself up. He wanted to do it for him, but it felt far too intimate now that they'd moved on from the moment.

Sanji took one more breath before sorting out his clothes and moving to rest his back on the wall beside Zoro.

“So…” Zoro said, offering Sanji one of his snacks and then placing the plate between them. They made eye contact, an open question.

“Verdict?”

Sanji lit a smoke and nodded in thanks as Zoro shared his bottle.

“Okay, yes, it was really good,” he admitted, “but…”

“...it’s not in the technique,” Zoro finished.

Sanji nodded.

They carried on drinking and snacking. Zoro took the plunge.

“So what we’re saying is…”

“...that what we actually liked was…”

“...someone else’s hand on our cock.”

Zoro drank the last of the booze. Sanji finished the snacks.

A dusting of blue could be seen on the horizon. They heard the sound of a hatch opening and closing below them. They stood.

“Tomorrow?” Sanji blew out smoke.

“Same time?” Zoro fastened his swords.

They nodded.

“Night, ero-cook.”

“Night, shitty-swordsman.”

So. This was the Grand Line.

Chapter Text

Zoro liked watching Sanji come. He tried to get his hands on him every chance he got to see it happen. It’s not that he didn’t like being made to come too, but out of everything they did together that was the thing he looked forward to the most. The precise moment when thick, translucent white spunk shot out in rivulets and covered his fingers.

He wanted to lick it. The spunk and the cock. Neither on the list of approved activities. They got each other off, that’s all they did. Hands only. Service only. No fucking around, no overthinking it. Just helping each other out, like the crewmates that they were. It was part of what made that particular element of it so pleasing. The climax was the agreed upon outcome. The proof that he was doing a good job. Sanji just wanted to get off. He got him off.

Was his thought process in the spirit of the agreement? Perhaps not. But that was to be expected when a (mostly) gay man and a straight man decided to give each other a helping hand. There was bound to be an imbalanced experience. And that had been understood. Weirdly, addressed even. Sanji had asked if it would get complicated for Zoro. Zoro had asked him the same back. They’d both agreed it wasn’t a problem.

Having each other’s hands on each other’s cocks felt good. That was that. End of story. They learned exactly what the other liked and used it against them, or, well, for them. It was all the same to be honest. Sanji had gotten a little rougher, Zoro had gotten a little gentler. Sanji still tended to tease it out of Zoro, Zoro still tended to overwhelm Sanji. The outcome was the same: many happy returns.

They’d done away with taking turns as soon as they hit Little Garden. Speed is of the essence when wild beasts are around. They’d gotten a handle on it enough by then to get it done at the same time without losing too much momentum. One would come before the other, because it was still a bit of a competition, but the loser always saw it through. Zoro preferred it that way, so he could focus on that precious moment. When the cook muffled his moans and gorgeous cum painted his hand.

Not that he would ever say it. I mean, what would he say? “I love the sight of your cum?”. It was just not a thing said among crewmates. And it was definitely not a thing he was about to say right now as the cook was manhandling him into the galley.

“Why is that stupid bird out there again?”

“He likes sleeping there. This is fine, isn’t it?”

“I don’t like doing it near the kitchen.”

Zoro decided not to comment on the fact it didn’t seem to be slowing him down any. He’d already undone both his own and Zoro’s trousers and had pushed Zoro against the far wall.

“Do you think he might wake up?” Sanji said, hand on Zoro’s cock, eye on the duck outside.

“Are you really going to be keeping watch?”

“I can multitask.”

Ah, a new challenge. There were a couple of things Zoro had learned that the cook particularly liked and then a whole load more that he wasn’t sure about. Testing his theories out was always fun.

“You need to try harder, love-cook, I’m barely hard.”

“Fuck off, we just started.”

“And yet you’re already leaking,” Zoro smirked.

“I just woke up you moron, I already had a hard-on!”

“Or maybe I’m just a little too good at this.”

“All you do is pump me. Trust me, it’s not you!”

Zoro rolled his eyes.

“How do you manage to be so easy and such hard work at the same time?”

“I’M NOT—!” 

Sanji shut his mouth abruptly when he remembered the sleeping duck. Zoro's strategy had been working.

“I’m not easy!” he whispered. “And your partner might be hard work too, so learn something.”

“I really doubt I'm gonna have a straight man for a partner.”

“Yeah, but they'll still have to look at your stupid face, so get used to having to try a little.”

“Maybe they won't. Maybe they'll have their face shoved into a pillow,” Zoro smirked.

“Don’t… don’t be so crass,” Sanji stuttered.

“Maybe they’ll be too busy moaning to care about anything else.”

There was an unspoken distance whenever they did this face to face. It was about an arm’s length. Except when Sanji was close to coming when he tended to lean on something. A wall, the railing, a tree, a mast. If none of those things were present, he’d press an arm to Zoro’s shoulder.

“Sh-shut up.”

Zoro was used to Sanji compromising the distance. It told him he was about to get his reward. Maybe it’d be something he said, maybe it’d be how rough he worked the cook’s cock, despite his protests to the contrary. Right now though Zoro was getting mixed signals. Sanji moved close and then pulled back.

Hmm. Another one to file under ‘unsure’. But the bird seemed to have been forgotten, so mission accomplished. And Zoro felt good. Somewhere in all that, Sanji had redoubled his efforts. No teasing tonight, he was giving it to Zoro exactly how he liked. 

Zoro gasped and closed his eyes. He might miss his favourite moment, but maybe it’d be worth it. The hand around his cock was rough, squeezing him past comfort as it worked him fast. A bit of pain made everything so much better. He came on a silent choke, body trembling in the come-down, feeling something wet on his hand. Damn, he had missed it. Sanji had already come.

He opened his eyes to look at his palm, but the cook’s face caught his attention. Lips parted, a hint of blood under one nostril, glassy eyes and… something else, searching Zoro’s face. No hand on his shoulder, Zoro realised. He felt like he’d missed something more than just the act. 

There was an awkward silence for a second too long before Sanji abruptly jumped back, eye fixed to the left of Zoro’s head, prompting him to turn to be faced with the giant feathery head standing on the other side of the window. Karoo, it seemed, was awake.

꩜⚔

Breakfast prep was helping take his mind off it, but not enough. A straight man. Is that what he was? He'd never put words to it. He'd not had to make a conscious choice about calling it anything before. 

He'd never liked men.

Bacon sizzled in the pan, eggs on plates with butter-seared fluffy whites, bit of East Blue salt, bit of black pepper from the Conomi Islands. Bread cooling on the rack, tea leaves soaking in 80 degree water for 90 seconds exactly.

He'd never met a man he liked. 

Bread cut and placed in a basket, eggs plated, fresh tangerine juice and coffee now ready, five plates including Karoo, extra bacon on one, extra extra bacon in the middle, ground red pepper for Vivi.

Had he? Met a man he liked.

He sipped his tea standing, eyes to the far wall on the left where this morning Zoro had changed his brain chemistry. Hot fire in his chest, a pit in his stomach. He could still taste it. 

“Have you eaten already, Sanji-kun?”

“Yes, my angel, don't worry about me.”

Why had Zoro talking about fucking someone been so… hurtful? Not at first. First it was hot. Until it’d registered as the rejection that it was. 

Not you, Zoro had basically said. It’ll be anyone but you.

Why did that sting? And why had it made Sanji so desperate to prove himself. To make Zoro fall apart in his hand. To let go for him. It was a show-stopping thing, the way his lips parted and his head fell back, exposing his adam’s apple. The way his body tensed and veins popped before everything going lax. 

No one else had seen Zoro like that. Something inside Sanji felt comforted at the thought. He smiled awkwardly as he took another sip of his tea, perfectly brewed.

He waited till everyone was done, cleared the plates and started on the washing up before prepping for round two. The newest addition to their crew was a late riser, it seemed, or at least hadn’t yet found his rhythm on the ship. And Zoro had been waking up late lately. Nice for him, Sanji mused, who was starting to feel the lack of sleep catching up to him. Their early morning meet-ups were seriously eating into his rest time. 

He’d gotten the rice and miso ready and keeping warm so decided to start on a mid-morning snack for the ladies. The smell of melting chocolate filled the galley, a velvet warmth that reached the soul. He smiled satisfied at the presentation and turned to set the table when he heard the sound of hooves approaching.

Below deck, Zoro was woken up by the trapdoor closing. It took a few seconds to realise he had a hard-on. That was unusual. Instead of feeling sated by the nightly escapades, his libido had instead gone into overdrive. Not only had his weekly orgasms become daily, but they seemed to just make him hornier. All this messing about was like dangling a raw steak in front of a beast, thinking the dripping blood would satisfy it. 

The demon was not satisfied. The demon was famished.

He waited it out and headed up. He’d been waking up later since this whole thing started, but if anyone had noticed, they hadn’t said anything. Luffy and Usopp were at the fore, Nami and Vivi at the rear with Karoo. Sanji burst out of the kitchen carrying a tray of something.

“Ladies~~! ♡ I made chocolate parfaits!”

He ignored the cook's swirling and stepped into the galley to find his breakfast freshly served on the table, their newest crewmate sitting on the opposite end of it.

“Morning, Chopper.”

“Hi Zoro! Did you sleep well?”

“Yeah. How're you getting on?”

A rubber arm stretched through the open door all the way to the fridge, before pulling something meat-looking out and disappearing. Sanji could be heard yelling before storming in.

“Everyone's very lively,” Chopper giggled.

“That idiot has nearly eaten all the dinosaur meat we packed. I really need a damn fridge lock,” Sanji sucked on his smoke with fury like it was personally responsible.

“It’ll work itself out, cook,” Zoro said, wiping his mouth. The rice was delicious.

“I wanted everyone well fed before Alabasta. Things might get rough.”

“We’ll make do, no need to worry.”

“You’re one to talk. You’ve been training non-stop.”

“We’ll be fighting a warlord, I’m excited,” Zoro grinned.

“Excited, huh? Is that it?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Nothing.”

“Is a warlord tough?” asked Chopper, munching.

“If that scar across Zoro’s chest is anything to go by.”

“What did you say!?” Zoro snapped.

“Crocodile did that!?” squealed Chopper wide eyed.

“No! Tsk… don’t listen to the moron-cook.”

“Oh, okay, but the right nutrition is important to keep up one’s strength.”

“Don’t worry, Chopper, even if the rest of us starve you can always eat this idiot’s hair.”

“Hey!”

“I would never eat Zoro’s hair!” said the horrified reindeer.

“You sure? Bet it’s got all kinds of nutritional value.”

“Your face has got all kinds of entertainment value.”

“I’M GOING TO KILL YOU.”

Chopper sipped his drink, looking at the ensuing fight which resolved itself when the two butted heads so hard they nearly knocked each other out. He thought back fondly on his own first fight, a soft smile on his face.

Zoro growled, fixed his swords and headed outside, hand clutching his head. Sanji puffed on his cigarette, straightening his clothes, a bruise about to form on his forehead.

“You guys are good friends, huh?” said Chopper with a big smile.

“HUH!?” Sanji yelled and snatched Chopper's mug. “OUT!”

It was a bright sunny day and Nami was doing her best to keep Vivi distracted. Chocolate parfaits had been half eaten and an East Blue card game was being played. Not for money, because Nami was not a complete monster. She would settle for the 1 billion berry in due course.

“Hey Chopper, what's wrong?” Nami looked up.

“Sanji kicked me out.”

“Oh. He's a bit like that sometimes. What did you do?”

“I said he and Zoro were friends.”

“Yeah, that ought to do it,” nodded Nami.

“Those two are funny,” smiled Vivi. “Do you want the rest of my dessert, Tony-kun?”

“Thanks!”

“What do you mean, Vivi?” 

“Well, they seem to fight a lot, but they're always hanging out at night.”

“Quack.”

“I'm sorry, they're what now?” Nami raised her eyebrows while Chopper licked chocolate from his face.

“Well, I can't sleep well sometimes so I hear them talking. Can't hear what they're saying though.”

“Yeah, they were friendly in the galley just now,” nodded Chopper. “But then Sanji kicked me out.”

“Huh,” Nami said, staring in the direction of the galley.

Well, ain’t that a thing.

꩜⚔

So here they were: Alabasta. Weird animals, Baroque Works agents, marines, strange clothes and a hit and run cameo from Luffy’s brother. 

Their first stop, Nanohara, had been a whirlwind. In the hour they were there, he’d been hit on by the merchant who sold him his head scarf and the grog seller who offered him a sample. It didn’t seem to matter where Zoro was or how many weapons he carried, there would always be someone who thought he looked like prey and he was not about to cut them down for staring at his ass too long to set them straight on the matter. And anyway, he had bigger problems right now.

The heat, for starters.

It was hard to think about anything else as they crossed the desert, clothes and sand sticking to wet skin, sweat running down Zoro’s back like a river. It was getting to everyone, even Sanji, which was a sign things were bad. His porcelain skin was not as delicate as it looked, but the back of his neck had caught the sun where he stubbornly kept his hood down. Probably not to mess his hair up. Idiot.

Which led to problem number two.

The second they’d reached Sandy Island, it was like the cook had drunk a love-love juice and saw everything through heart-shaped goggles. If he had to hear him call himself a prince one more time, he might just have to knock him out and carry him like Chopper.

Their early morning trysts had been put on hold to focus on the task at hand, but the idiot was doing anything but focusing. It made him want to shove him against a ruin and jerk him off just to shut him up.

It was all he could think about when they reached Yuba with its precious accommodation, but sadly lack of water (problem number three). 

Tired as he was, he wandered outside after everyone had settled. Anything to get away from the cook's antics. He sat on the broken steps of a nearby building, a few lights inside windows around town breaking up the darkness down the empty streets. 

He looked up at the Alabastan sky, not as vast or star-filled as the ocean one, but enough to take his mind off the minutia of earthly desires. His earlier conversation with Nami played in his head.

“Doesn't it piss you off the way he's always fawning?”

“Well, Zoro, if it was pissing me off, that'd be for me to say something. The question is, why does Sanji-kun fawning after me upset you?”

He closed his eyes and felt the sand between his fingers. He breathed in deeply, faint hints of perfume and spices, chased by the smell of tobacco, the first sign he wasn’t alone. Footsteps followed and the sound of smoke pressed out of the cook’s lips.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“Just clearing my head a little. Can’t sleep?”

“Didn’t want to smoke in the room,” said Sanji, taking a seat beside him. 

They sat in silence, like they were prone to lately, between moments of getting tension out of their system and building it up all over again. It never lasted long, the lull where both seemed suspended before gravity caught up with them. 

“Did you really think Vivi was going to sleep with you?”

“I never–! Oh, I see. I thought she might need comforting. She seemed quite distraught.”

“Are you sure it wasn’t you that needed a hug?”

“Shut up, you idiot!”

“She’s not going to sleep with you, cook.”

“You don’t know that!”

“So you did want her to–”

“I never said that!”

A lull.

“Do you ever wonder what it's like? The real thing.”

“Sure,” Zoro answered easily. 

“How do you imagine your first time?”

Awful, Zoro thought. He'd always imagined it awful. Some guy, some alley, some pain. And it'd be done.

“I don't know. You?”

“I'd do whatever she wanted.”

“You're so whipped, cook.”

“Shut up! There's nothing wrong with wanting to make a lady happy.”

“Yeah, but what do you want?”

Sanji thought for a moment, then seemed to struggle for words, like he knew what to say, but not how to articulate it.

“I just… want to feel the warmth when I'm inside. I bet it's the best feeling in the world.”

Zoro hummed as he looked at him. He had a distant but soft look on his face. Very different to his usual simping. The back of his neck looked painfully red and Zoro wondered if there was some cream he could put on it.

“You should get some sleep,” he said abruptly. 

“Yeah, I guess…” Sanji said awkwardly. “You staying up?”

“Maybe a bit. Night, cook.”

“Night.”

Zoro stared back at the sky. There was no point wishing for impossible things. 

Sanji walked back quietly, finding Nami still sitting up. 

“Are you worried about her?” he whispered.

“Sanji-kun… yes, I am. She takes so much on.”

“We’ll help her.”

“Yes, we will,” Nami smiled. “And don’t you ever get into her bed again.”

“Are you jealous, Nami-san~~? ♡ I can come into your bed instead if you–”

“No, thank you.”

“Say... did you notice that guy hitting on the idiot in Nanohara?”

“What, Zoro? Sure. I mean guys hit on him all the time.”

“They do?”

“What, you’ve never noticed? He must be a type. Are you jealous, Sanji-kun?” she grinned.

“W–Why would I be jealous if someone hits on–? Oh! I mean, I can get way more girls than– I mean than he can get b–”

“He never seems interested, anyway.”

“He doesn't?”

“Maybe he’s not wired that way. Anyway, night, Sanji-kun.”

“Yes, night, Nami-san.”

Oh, he’s definitely wired that way, Sanji thought as he lay on his bed. And right now he wished they hadn’t made that stupid agreement to keep their hands to themselves until they were done in Alabasta, because he would quite like to see him unwire.

But he just couldn't keep his mouth shut, could he. Being a support pillar for Vivi any way he could was one thing. Straight up telling Zoro that his dream sex was with a woman was another. He was a Grade A idiot, wasn’t he.

Maybe he did need a hug.

꩜⚔

“Ten minutes minus… how many seconds will this take?”

“Don’t waste time talking.”

It took two seconds to buy the others time to escape, a pile of bodies around them in the middle of the battlefield that was Alubarna. Sanji looked worse for wear, suit torn, skin bruised, bones broken. It was nothing compared to Zoro, soaked in his own blood, barely breathing, upright on adrenaline, reflexes sharp as ever.

They’d fought hard to get this far, but weren’t there yet. Stray bullets flew around them, the clash of swords and fists and yells a wall beyond the sandstorm. There was no time. They’d all be dead in ten minutes minus two seconds if they didn’t act, yet neither moved as they locked eyes. 

Don’t die. Don’t die because we’re almost done.

They ran.

꩜⚔

Sanji woke up in the palace in the middle of the night, the smell of rain coming through the open window. He looked around, pain registering all over his body. His crewmates were safely asleep on the beds either side, faint snoring a whisper in the silence. He lay back down and let himself go under again.

When he next woke up it was morning, a breeze swaying the curtains, a different kind of stillness to the room. He noticed the empty spaces, Luffy to his left some beds down, Zoro on his other side, breathing evenly. They’d all survived, but the image of Zoro’s already sliced up body getting shot mid-air refused to leave his mind.

Sanji had felt the need to get off for many different reasons in his life. Because he was sad, because he was hurt or frustrated or angry or agitated. But never because he was scared. So scared that if he didn't touch Zoro, if he didn't share this moment with him right now he would go mad.

He got out of bed quietly to approach his, no voices outside, just the quiet of the breeze and the square patches of sun on the floor. He looked at Zoro, pale and bandaged. He sat next to him softly, careful not to disturb his body too much. Dark eyes opened to stare up at him and before any sound could escape Zoro’s lips, Sanji brought a hushing finger to his own.

He pulled up the covers and climbed on top, legs either side of Zoro’s hips. Zoro looked around in alarm as he registered the cook’s intentions, confirming only their sleeping captain, too far away to be disturbed. Sanji had stopped, waiting for permission, an intensity to his face Zoro hadn’t seen before. A near desperation.

Zoro gave a nod, reaching up for the cook’s boxers under his white cotton robe, pain distorting his face at the merest movement. His whole body was on fire still, the broken bones and cuts and bullet wound screaming up at him. Sanji quickly slapped his hand away, his expression indicating he thought he was a fucking moron for even trying to do this much.

He reached under Zoro’s robe to find him hard to Zoro’s own surprise, his cock reacting to the cook’s proximity without even passing through his brain any more. The coolness of Sanji’s hand brought deeply yearned relief and he let himself get handled, body lax and stirred by the cook’s movements.

It was good, but it wasn’t enough. Zoro wanted to see him, to see Sanji’s cock fill out in his hand, the precum drip and wet his fingers, his hips snap to chase the high, his eyebrows furrow as he got close. He needed it more than he needed his own release and all he could do was beg for it with his eyes, trained on the cook’s cock visibly tenting his robe, flipping back up to meet his face, pleading silently.

Sanji seemed to understand and if he thought it strange he didn’t indicate so. Was it any stranger than him wanting to get Zoro off without an exchange? Was any of this making any sense any more? Did it even matter, when Sanji’s cock was finally freed, both the cook’s hands now working them in tandem, their breathing getting faster as the desperation to get to the end filled the gap between them left by lack of words.

It was the compromise to the distance that alerted Zoro that Sanji was close, the faltering moments, the break in momentum, left hand leaving his own length to rest by Zoro’s head for support, white sheet gripped in frustration he couldn’t get them both there together. Zoro wanted to motion for him to forget about him and sort himself out, but Sanji’s hold on him told him he wouldn’t let go.

His hands touched the sides of Sanji’s knees, a ghost touch at first, then firmer, thumbs caressing. Unnegotiated contact, but his only way to get his point across. Sanji’s movements slowed, never letting go, his eyes searching, confirming Zoro’s permission in his gentle nod. 

Sanji seemed to freeze, deep breath released, before bringing both their cocks together in one hand and moving. 

The first stroke nearly destroyed them, mouths open, eyes fixed as they navigated the mechanics of it, both looking down at the indescribable sensation. They stared as Sanji held them tight, his hips driving the movement, fingers tightly wrapped around them, leaking onto each other, impossibly hard. 

Sanji drowned a cry, then sped up, too close to the edge to be able to savour it. He looked at Zoro desperately, begging him to catch up, but he needn’t have worried because it was two more strokes before spiralling to a point of no return. 

Zoro wanted to look down again, but he was incapable of tearing his eyes away from the cook’s face, overwhelmed and barrelling towards relief, and he knew without question that Sanji would not be able to hold back.

He wanted to pull him down and kiss him and swallow his moans as their cum mixed together, but he would never be forgiven.

So he pulled off his bandana and he shoved it in Sanji's mouth instead, pain of the effort a current of sensation in the sea of pleasure he floated in. And Sanji bit down hard and screamed and the last thing Zoro registered in his orgasmic haze before passing out, was the cook collapsing on him.

Chapter Text

“Oh, it’s a big town!” said Nami as they approached the unknown island.

“I can see resorts down there,” squinted Usopp.

“Boooring.”

“We need a break, Luffy!”

“I’m with Nami-san.”

“Boring is good. I like boring.”

“It’s a popular crime-syndicate holiday destination.”

“You’re a little scary, Robin.”

“I’m getting cant-be-near-crime-syndicates-itis.”

“It should be fine. There’s an understanding that everyone minds their own business.”

“Booooring.”

“I hate to side with Dartboard here, but we do need the break.”

“Oi!”

“They’re also famous for their cuisine.”

“LET’S GO!”

“Besides,” continued the newest Strawhat member, “I think cashing in one of Crocodile’s precious jewels to get us some nice hotel rooms is rather apt.”

They picked the second most lavish resort with each getting a room to themselves, a luxury of luxuries for a bunch of yet to hit it big pirates. Multiple swimming pools and plenty of bars filled the complex, with shops and casinos waiting to rid rich crime lords of their money. 

Sanji looked out at sea, the scent of jasmine under his window refusing to give way to the intruding cigarette smoke. He’d ditched his suit for casual clothes and popped on his sunglasses, ready for a walk around town. They were staying for a few days, there was time for everything. Even catching a glimpse of the girls in bikinis.

He’d just left his room when he bumped into Zoro.

“Isn’t your room down that way?”

“Yeah. I was looking for the stairs.”

“Just… follow me. Where are your swords?”

“No weapons policy.”

They’d never talked about it. Sanji had cleaned them up while Zoro was passed out and that had been it. Back on the ship, he’d been too invested in making Robin feel welcome, and Zoro too suspicious to let her be, that days had passed by without contact and that was it. Like Sanji had imagined the whole thing. The only sign of something changing was Zoro seeming rather… agitated. It was hard to pin down. A bit more impatient, maybe.

“If you’re looking for the pool, I think the others went to the one over there,” Sanji pointed when they were downstairs. 

“You’re not coming?”

“I’m going into town, want to check out the produce. I’ll catch you all later.”

The town was all colourful houses and flower-draped balconies scaling up a mountainside, awash with people strolling the streets or sitting around small tables sipping coffee. Sanji had been walking for a while, stopping at the odd shop for local condiments, when someone came out a door carrying a discreetly brown-wrapped package. 

He looked up to see a bookshop sign, smiled to himself and pushed the door open. He was greeted by two extensive floors of books and magazines, with a sign pointing towards the back of the top floor, not at all discreetly marked ‘adult’. It was a world apart from Bertha’s under-the-counter deal and he headed towards it mesmerised.

He stopped to take in the various sections clearly marked by theme and origin, with the East Blue having a shelf to itself, the humble Treasure Baps sitting proudly among it. How nostalgic. His eyes trailed across the other shelves and landed on Fish-man Island, the tip of a fin peeking out above the thick shelf border. He gulped, stepping forward with trembling hands, feeling his blood pressure rising. 

He was about to reach out, nose ready to gush, when a different section on the far corner caught his eye. A wall-to-wall selection of male-fronted magazines. He wondered briefly if they were aimed at women, but then realisation dawned. He approached, picking up the first thing that stood out. Muscled pinups. Pass.

He picked up something from the top shelf and flipped through. Oh. He shut it. Then he opened it again. He turned the pages, each depicting something more explicit than the last. He’d never seen anything so… uncensored before. Pushing through the embarrassment, he took in what was actually on the pages. Huh. He put it down and picked up another. He put that down too.

None of this was doing anything for him. But if he thought of Zoro, that was a completely different story. He sighed in frustration. A different style of magazine took up a very small section on the shelf below. Far wordier, he noticed as he scanned the pages. Maybe this was more his speed.

It was nearly an hour later when he walked downstairs to find Chopper at the counter.

“Oh hey, Sanji. What did you get?”

“Just browsing. You?”

“A book on white lead disease." 

“I’ve heard of that,” Sanji said as they walked downhill towards their hotel. “Wasn’t that the Flevance thing?”

“That’s right! Wow, Sanji, you know a lot.”

“I pick things up now and then.”

The warm wind from the sea carried with it the smell of salt, mixing in with the scent of orange blossoms. Sunlight started to turn golden as they descended, leisurely taking in the view of the open sea. A group of girls laughed openly over cones of ice cream. A cat stretched on a roof and fell back asleep.

“Say, Chopper… what’s a prostate?”

꩜⚔

Zoro woke up on the beach, starving. He couldn't find the others, so he'd had a dip in the sea instead and napped. He realised food wasn't going to land on his lap as it often did on the Merry, so he put his shirt back on and went in search of it. 

He didn't find a restaurant, but he did find the pool he'd been searching for earlier that day and with it most of the rest of the crew. And they had food. And booze.

“Hey, Zoro!” shouted Luffy from atop his rubber ring. “Where have you been?”

“The beach.”

“Why didn't you come find us?” asked Nami from her lounger, cocktail in hand, already many in, going by the empty glasses.

“Where did you get that?”

“Did you get lost?” asked Usopp from inside the pool. A rubber duck was attached to his head. Zoro didn't ask.

“That guy can take your order.”

“I didn't get lost, I was asleep. Do they do food?”

“Zoro, get the sea king, it's the best!”

“Here, swordsman-san, you can have my sandwich,” said Robin from under her sun umbrella.

“Thanks. Where's Chopper?”

“He went into town. Said he had enough of the sun for a while.”

Pools were not a reindeer's natural environment, he supposed, though he suspected it was only a matter of time.

It was after he’d stuffed his face and downed a few drinks that Chopper came back. And with him Sanji. 

He ignored the cook as he twirled around Nami and Robin. He'd resigned himself to it. Any hope that maybe there was a chance after that morning in Alabasta had died the second Robin joined the crew and all attention turned to her.

He wasn't going to sulk over it, he just wished there was a way to push past it a little faster than his brain would currently allow.

“What have you guys been up to?” Sanji asked.

“The four of us have been here all day,” Nami said.

“What about Marimo?”

“He just showed up.”

“He got lost.”

“He fell asleep,” everyone said at once.

“The pool was literally in front of you this morning!” screamed Sanji. “How did you miss it!?”

“Shut up, Curlybrow, your instructions were bad.”

“You're an actual lost cause. Anyway, Chopper and I ate on the way. I was going to freshen up and then hit a bar. What's everyone else doing?”

“I've had plenty already,” grinned Nami.

“I'm going to relax,” smiled Robin.

“Food,” nodded Luffy.

“I'm going with him,” pointed Usopp.

“I'm beat, I'm off to bed,” said Chopper.

“What about you, Marimo?”

“Guess I'm coming.”

“Right, walk with me now, I'm not letting you out of my sight.

“Don't boss me around!” Zoro growled, but went anyway.

They changed and met in the corridor to head back down. Sanji was in his suit trousers. A blue striped shirt brought out his eyes and Zoro wished his brain would stop pointing these things out.

Zoro himself was back in his usual clothes, white top replaced by a black patterned short-sleeved shirt, feeling fidgety without his swords. He couldn't wait to get his hands on more grog.

They wandered around the resort till they hit two bars, a group of women going into the tropically themed one on the left. The one on the right seemed more relaxed, with a seriously stocked bar in the middle, stylish leather sofas and moody lights.

“It's my treat,” said Zoro, “and my pick.”

Sanji smiled at the reference, hands in pockets, cigarette in mouth. Wind was gently tousling his hair and Zoro hated himself for noticing how soft he looked when he wasn't frowning.

“Lead the way,” Sanji bowed theatrically.

Zoro scanned the place for enemies at first, then for his usual pre-emptive sweep for guys who were likely to chat him up. He grabbed them drinks, thankful Sanji had found a spot on a sofa away from likely suspects. 

“I don't see a pole,” quipped Sanji.

“I'm sorry to ruin your night.”

“Come on, Marimo,” Sanji laughed, “when all's said and done, it was a good time.”

“You got to stare at a woman without looking like a creep, good for you.”

“Have you really never seen a woman you liked?”

“...that dancer was alright.”

“So you liked the lady with the giant dildo. That's the gayest thing you've said yet.”

And there it was. The elephant in the room. Zoro's sexuality. How much longer would they pretend it wasn't a thing? Or maybe it was just Zoro who was pretending. Sanji had never shied away from it.

He grabbed their empty bottles and headed back to the bar. He was waiting for the barman to approach when he felt it, the tell-tale prickling at the back of his neck that someone was checking him out. 

A man in his 30s stood a few spots away against the bar waiting for his drink, black spiky hair with a white streak, yellow-green eyes, scar down his lip. Black tight suit and a knowing smile. A better class of scumbag than Zoro usually attracted. 

There was one way for his brain to move on from the things his heart desired. He kept the man’s gaze noncommittally, watching as his tongue poked out to lick at his lips, want on display as he looked down Zoro’s body.

Maybe it was time to let the demon feed.

The bartender replacing the empty bottles broke the moment and Zoro grabbed them to head back to his seat where Sanji waited, cigarette in mouth, laid back and effortless. He’d need a few more drinks to play out this game. And some distance between him and the thing that tortured him.

They were a few beers in and Sanji knew he hadn’t imagined things. Something in Zoro was different. The way he had been scanning the room was not strategic, it was downright predatory. Zoro was looking to get laid. It was impossible to miss the long stares towards one particular black-suited creep, drinking on his own, dressed like he might be able to afford the place.

Every interaction they’d had since they shared that room back in the East Blue replayed in Sanji’s mind. Zoro’s shyness, the way he’d shaken in his arms that first time on the Merry, how he moaned when Sanji got rougher with him, how he’d looked at him that morning in Alabasta, hurting and vulnerable. 

Sanji hated to admit it, but Zoro did have men throwing themselves at him. How could he not, he was fucking beautiful. Even now, five beers down, sea salt in his hair and sun-kissed chest, he was perfect. He didn’t need to sneak around for handjobs at the break of dawn, he could have the real thing. But he’d chosen what they had, for some reason. He'd trusted Sanji with something. 

He couldn't let Zoro leave with this guy. He couldn’t let him go like this.

“Hey, let's head back,” he blurted.

“I'm staying.”

“Come with me.”

“What? Why?”

“Cause you’ll end up in my room with your sense of direction and wake me up.”

“Don’t worry, I'm staying out.”

Sanji's heart cracked. Zoro really was planning on leaving with that guy and there was nothing he could do about it. He glared daggers at him from across the room and noticed something shifting in his expression. The beginnings of a question mark. That was it. If he thought they were together, maybe he'd consider Zoro not worth the trouble. 

He relaxed, cigarette between fingers as he rested both elbows on the sofa's back, nearly claiming Zoro’s space, if not quite. He leaned in close to Zoro's ear, seemingly not to shout.

“Hey, give me a sip of your beer.”

“Huh? Get your own.”

“Hey, come on, I just want to wash this last cigarette down, don't want to get a whole one.”

“Fine,” Zoro conceded, handing it over.

“You're a star,” Sanji smiled, pressing it to his lips and taking a swig that was far more than a little. The result was what he was after. Zoro tried to grab the bottle back with a frown.

“Oi, what the fuck.”

Sanji pulled his hand back holding the bottle, forcing Zoro into his space with a laugh.

“You're too easy to tease, Marimo.”

“Give it back.”

“Are you gonna fight me over a half-empty beer?”

“I'm gonna fight you cause you're being a dick!”

He was, but it was working. Zoro's attention was on him and their proximity was hopefully looking beyond friendly.

“Yeah, yeah, here,” he smiled as he returned the bottle and leaned in to speak again in Zoro's ear, before he had a chance to pull back. “Don't be pissed, I'll owe you one.”

Zoro looked at him, annoyed, before mumbling something affirmative, but Sanji's attention had turned back to the man at the bar. His stare had shifted from Zoro to Sanji, who met his gaze head on.

Mine.

He should have felt the joy of victory, but instead something stung when the stranger looked away, talking to another mark. He should have fought for him. He should have fought for Zoro. You didn't deserve him.

“Damn,” Zoro said next to him.

“What?”

“Never mind, come on, I'll head back with you.”

“Right, good, yeah. Let's go.”

They got to their corridor, doors opening and closing around them as drunken guests came and went. Zoro had fidgeted all the way back, looking like he might bolt at any moment and Sanji had held his breath and begged to all the gods they'd make it there. He was not going to fuck this up now.

“Want to come to mine?”

The surprise on Zoro’s face took him aback. Like they’d not exchanged handjobs a dozen times. Like Sanji had not dragged him to the rear deck, the galley, the gun room, the middle of the jungle to get his hand down his trousers every time no one looked. Like he hadn’t rubbed their dicks together and come all over him. Like they weren’t… they weren’t…

“Sure.”

They opened Sanji’s door, barely two steps in before Zoro had pushed him against the wall, hand tangled in Sanji’s hip chain, the other about to pull at his belt when Sanji put a hand to Zoro’s chest to signal a pause.

“W-wait. I was thinking… You know your fantasy?”

“My fantasy?”

“Yeah. You said you liked the thought of another body close to you. Held tightly.”

He had said that. What felt like a lifetime ago.

“What about it?”

“I… I can do that for you.”

Zoro stared, trying to comprehend the offer.

“That was it, right? Nothing more. So, it's fine. Do it with me.”

“Why?”

“Because you want to. And this is what we do. Try things out. Help each other out. Isn't it?”

“...right.”

“Right, so…” Sanji took Zoro's hand and placed it on his hip. He tried not to let his voice tremble. “So… use me.”

Their faces were clearly visible in the full moonlight. The sound of owls outside bridged the silence. The smell of lilies filled the room. 

Zoro's gaze was steady, something dangerous lurking within, his hand resting where Sanji had put it, body perfectly still. He seemed to be turning over the invitation, an intensity behind dark eyes that Sanji couldn't interpret until a decision was reached. Hand on Sanji's hip suddenly tightening.

“Turn,” he said, voice deep and barely contained.

“W-what?”

“Turn around.”

Sanji did, facing the wall, heart racing. He knew in his heart he could trust Zoro not to cross any boundaries, but he didn't know what he was consenting to, just that he really wanted it to be good for him. He needed it to be good for him.

“L-like this? Is this okay?”

He felt Zoro's breath at the back of his hair as he stepped forward, both hands now around Sanji's waist, pushing him closer to the wall as Zoro closed in, his body flat against his.

If the hardness of Zoro's cock pressing against his ass was not enough indication that it was more than okay, then the moan that reverberated through his chest when he moved his hips left no question.

His hands moved down to Sanji's hips to get hold of where he needed it as he ground against him and Sanji knew he'd be bruised blue tomorrow with how deep Zoro's fingers dug into him. And found that he didn't care. The pleasure Zoro was experiencing was everything. Just from being close to him. From rubbing against him.

He pushed his hands against the wall for more resistance, but stood still, letting Zoro take. His own painful arousal leaked inside his trousers, but he was going to ignore it because this wasn't about him, this was him being a body for Zoro to grind against, to live out his fantasy, to satisfy his urges. 

Zoro wrapped an arm around his waist and pressed impossibly close, trying to muffle moans against Sanji's shoulder and failing. Sanji could feel him shaking with the effort to hold back. He knew that's what it was by the pained tone of his grunts, by how he moved, deliberate and measured.

“Zoro… It's okay. Do what feels good.” 

He couldn't turn to face him, eyes fixed on the wall, the alcohol in Zoro's breath so intoxicating that he didn't trust himself to not try to chase it on his lips.

Zoro let out a whine in response, speeding up, the force of his movements rattling Sanji's body. It left him breathless, the intensity of it. Is this what the real thing was like? Is this what it would be like with Zoro? It was frightening, the headiness of it, the gaps that his imagination filled. Frightening, but also… also…

He could tell Zoro was close, the desperation of his moans giving away the countdown. One hand reached down to grab Sanji's thigh from the inside and lift, bringing him almost onto Zoro's lap as the other kept his waist wrapped tight, thrusting up and pushing Sanji down at the same time. 

Sanji had never been more aroused in his life. He wanted Zoro to touch him, to shove his hand down his trousers and jerk him off, pull him into his arms and force his orgasm out of him. Like that first time. When Sanji had lied so shamelessly about his thoughts. To himself? To Zoro? He didn't know.

Zoro's hand moved towards his crotch, stopping short, squeezing around Sanji's thigh with a grunt. He pushed his hips up one more time, cock digging into clothed flesh, teeth tearing into Sanji's shoulder as he came, ripping through fabric to draw blood. 

Sanji gasped in shock, but didn't make a sound, waiting as Zoro came down from the high, panting against his neck now that his mouth had left his skin. Blood soaked through Sanji's shirt where teeth had been. 

He didn't dare move. Zoro was still hanging on just as tightly and Sanji was grateful. That he hadn't just dropped him. That he wanted to be close. 

“That good, huh?” he managed.

His voice brought Zoro back to reality. The reality of wanting to stay there all night, smelling Sanji's hair, licking the wound on his shoulder, not letting go. The reality of this not being what Sanji had offered.

He let go. 

Sanji fought his body through the shock and arousal. The warm place where Zoro had been now cold and empty. Anxiety took over at what he would find if he turned. Would Zoro make fun of him if he realised how shaken he was? He held his breath and braved it.

It was just Zoro. Flushed and still breathless and more dishevelled than usual, but Zoro. His Zoro. More unsure than even Sanji was moments ago.

He breathed out.

“You have… some blood on your…” Sanji reached unthinking to wipe it off Zoro's lip. It didn't feel unnatural.

He took him in, lips puffy and wet, sweat covering his forehead, earrings messed up where they'd caught on Sanji's hair. Post-orgasmic haze in his eyes. He was so handsome it wracked his heart and Sanji burned with a lust he'd never known. Maybe never would again.

“I’m… I’m sorry for…” Zoro managed, looking embarrassed, eyes on Sanji’s shoulder.

“You've done worse,” Sanji smiled.

Zoro huffed, but relief seemed to wash over him. The confidence in his gaze coming back.

“Your turn.”

“Ah, it's…” 

Somehow their usual handjob didn't seem like the right follow up. Calling it a night and jerking off felt far more appropriate.

“Your fantasy,” said Zoro.

“My…?”

“To feel the warmth inside. Isn't that what you wanted?”

Sanji blinked. The words were there, but they didn't translate.

“What do you–”

“‘I bet it's the best feeling in the world.’”

The air got punched out of Sanji's lungs. 

“What are you offering?”

“It's what we do, right? Try things out.”

“But that's… I mean, for your first time? Wouldn't you rather… I don't know.”

“I'd rather try it with someone I trust.”

Trust.

“Before the real thing, of course,” Zoro added.

“Of course, yeah, this wouldn't be…”

“Wouldn't be your first time, either.”

“Right, no, it wouldn't be. Of course not.’

“So…”

Holy fuck.

“Yes.”

“Alright.”

“Alright?”

“Tell me how you want it.”

With you.

“T-the bed.”

Zoro nodded and started getting undressed. He’d taken off his boots and shirt before Sanji realised he was standing dumbfounded and snapped himself out of it.

“W-wait, let me…”

He got to Zoro's trousers before he'd had a chance to, unbuttoning them with practiced ease, next step not as familiar as he pushed them down.

“You don't have to undress me,” said Zoro, looking awkward.

“I know, but it's just weird, alright?” Sanji hesitated before pushing Zoro's boxers down, messy and sticky, cock spent.

He'd seen Zoro naked many times. None like this. He wanted to touch. To caress down his chest. To tell him how perfect his body was, better than any of those plastic pinups, real strength and real scars and real tanned skin.

“I owe you a shirt,” Zoro said as he unbuttoned Sanji's, pushing it open.

“Don't worry about it,” Sanji said, stepping back to finish up.

Zoro glanced at the bed.

“All fours?”

“No…  your back.”

“Really?” Zoro frowned, then seemed to nod to something he'd thought of. “Right, I'll close the curtain.”

“Why?” 

“So you can't… so it's darker.”

“Are you… shy?”

“I'M NOT SHY, YOU MORON.”

“Then leave it.”

“Tsk, suit yourself, it's your fantasy.”

Zoro thought that Sanji would… pretend he was somebody else? And was okay with it? In what world would that have been okay? That same sad feeling that he'd felt hearing Zoro talk about his needs before came up to choke him.

“Just… wait here,” he said when he was done getting undressed and disappeared into the bathroom.

Zoro relaxed on the bed. Or tried to. Now that the haze of arousal had passed, reality was hitting back. He had no second thoughts about this, but he knew this wasn't what Sanji really wanted. He would never be what Sanji wanted.

He heard the shower run and his heart sank. Sanji was overthinking it and Zoro just wanted it over with. The sooner they got to it, the sooner it'd be done and Sanji wouldn't have time to build it up as something else and he wouldn't disappoint him.

He fidgeted with the sheets nervously, sitting up when he heard him coming back.

“What have you got there?” he asked suspiciously when he spotted a bottle in Sanji’s hand.

“Oil.”

“Oil?”

“We don't have anything better, alright? It’ll do.”

“Do for what?”

“For, you know, lubricant.”

If Zoro had been tense before, he now felt ready to snap.

“Cook, just… do it.”

“No. If you're asking me to just shove it in, I'm not going to do that.”

Zoro rolled his eyes in resignation and lay back on his elbows. This was not going to be quick.

Sanji knelt on the bed between his bent legs, pushing them out gently. The bite mark on his shoulder had been tended to, bruises starting to form on cotton white skin. Zoro’s marks all over him like they belonged there. Like he could ever own any of him.

“Zoro… relax, okay?”

Only then did he notice the soothing touch of Sanji's thumb on his thigh. And the way he looked at him concerned.

“I'm relaxed! I'm so relaxed I'll fucking fall asleep if you don't do something!”

“Is this ‘something’ enough for you?”

An oil-covered finger found Zoro's entrance and pushed in. Every muscle in Zoro's body clamped down. Sanji sighed.

“Like I said…”

“I'M FUCKING RELAXED.”

Shit, if he didn't get hold of his own body, Sanji would never let him live this down. He got his breathing in order and allowed the foreign object to intrude, Sanji looking seemingly satisfied.

“Why are you fingering me, anyway? That wasn't the plan,” he managed, as Sanji pushed deeper then pulled out to push back in.

“If you think my cock is going to fit in there without some work, you're crazy.”

“Your cock's not that big.” 

“It's bigger than yours.”

“No, it's not!”

“Are you really…” Sanji pressed a second finger in, “going to antagonise me…” and started thrusting, “when I've got my fingers up your ass?”

Zoro wanted to snap a reply back, fingers up his ass or not, but then something felt so good he forgot that they were arguing.

“You just hit something,” he gasped.

“Did I hurt you?” Sanji stopped moving.

“No, it… felt good.”

“Oh,” Sanji looked interested, then smiled. THANK YOU, CHOPPER. “Was it here?” he pressed again.

“Y-yeah. It's… ah. It's nice.”

Sanji resumed his movements, comfortably stretching him out now, Zoro’s muscles not feeling the need to fight against it anymore. Now and then, Sanji curled his fingers and massaged that spot and every time it was more intense than the last. 

He'd really hoped he wouldn't get hard, but he had to let go of that ambition pretty fast. If it hadn't been for this newfound sensation, then seeing Sanji's fingers disappear inside his ass would have surely done it. One hand was pressing Zoro's thigh towards his chest to keep him open, the other working him with a speed he'd only seen Sanji utilise before when holding knives.

His jaw went slack at the realisation it was those same hands working him open. He flashed back to images of the cook preparing meat. He hadn't registered them as erotic at the time, but now he'd never think of them any other way. A curl of Sanji's fingers in that moment sent a moan unbidden through his mouth. He looked up at the cook, who seemed far too pleased for his own good. 

“Don't look so cocky just cause you found a spot,” he all but panted.

“Want to feel what it's like against my cock?” Sanji smirked.

“I was starting to forget you had one. Hurry the fuck up.”

Sanji pulled out gently and reached for oil. He coated his cock with it before lining up, squeezing Zoro's thigh as he held him open.

“Lay back,” he asked and Zoro did, feeling more nervous for it.

He felt pressure and then… his whole world changed. It wasn't painful, but it was like nothing he'd felt before, his insides getting rearranged to make room for Sanji's cock as it slid in, inch by inch, all the way to the hilt in one smooth go.

He breathed, looking down at the object inside him, letting his muscles shift around it until it was seated comfortably, feeling something wet hit his skin before he looked up at the cook's tear-streaked face.

“Hey, what’s…?” he started, concerned.

Sanji closed his eyes and bit his lip. When he opened them again, he smiled.

“Zoro… it's the best feeling in the world.”

He hadn't moved, still buried inside, too intimate for Zoro to cope with when emotion threatened to choke him.

“If you come right now, I'm gonna laugh at you forever.”

“Shut up, you asshole. I'm not anywhere near.”

“Oh, yeah? Let's see you,” Zoro smirked.

Sanji moved. It didn't wipe the smirk from Zoro's face because the more he did, the more gone he looked. It made Zoro want to drive him crazy, if he could only figure out how to. He squeezed around him as a starter for ten.

“F-fuck…”

“Yeah?”

“Am I… am I hurting you at all?”

“No. You're doing good.”

Sanji smiled. 

“Good, cause… I want to go faster.”

“Do your worst,” Zoro smirked and wrapped his hands around both thighs, bringing them as close to his chest as he could to prop himself wide open. 

Sanji didn't need telling twice, hips snapping against pelvis, not even needing leverage to produce all that power. It did mad things to Zoro to see him work him so effortlessly, hands softly trailing down Zoro's legs in direct contrast to the violence of his thrusts.

“I-is this okay?” Sanji managed.

“How’s it for you?” Zoro smiled, able to see the answer.

“Fuck... fuck… it's so tight, you're so… it's… ah.”

Zoro squeezed down again to hear more of the lovely sounds coming out of the cook's mouth. He wasn't prepared for the look of lust that Sanji gave him, hands digging into his flesh now, any softness gone, pressing down on his thighs past the point of comfort.

Zoro didn't care. He only cared to see Sanji's face like this, hot with desire, drunk on want and need and fixed on him, truly on him, not the act, not the pleasure. Looking at Zoro like he wanted to devour him.

“I want you to come,” Sanji said, voice so low it was barely recognisable. “I want to feel what it's like when you come.”

Zoro nodded, not able to argue. He would come if it made Sanji feel good. If he was doing it for him. He reached for his cock, neglected till now, wincing in pain the second he touched it. Rutting with so much force, fully clothed, had done damage.

“Let's try something else,” Sanji said and shifted his angle.

Zoro gasped when the same spot that'd made him feel good before was pressed on again on the second try.

“There!” he said, almost pleadingly to a satisfied Sanji, before closing his eyes to get lost in it being hit repeatedly. The pleasure spread and leaped in intensity as he tried to process the confusing sensation.

“Is it good?”

“Fuck, yeah.”

“Good enough?”

“I think so… I think I'm…”

“Come. Fucking come.”

Zoro did, crying out at what could only be described as every part of his body screaming in pleasure and relief as his cum shot out of him for the second time that night.

He opened his eyes to see Sanji barely holding it together before moaning like a wild beast and pulling out, spilling all over him, their cum mixing on Zoro's body. The perfect sight to his perfect high.

They both panted helplessly, Sanji pulling himself together faster, hands rubbing Zoro's legs briefly as he gently pulled them down.

“Are you okay?” he asked, breathless.

Zoro nodded, which was all that seemed to be needed for Sanji to collapse next to him.

They stared up at the ceiling, feeling the endorphins, heart rates slowing down, breaths syncing. Fingers nearly touching.

“How was it?”

“You don't need to ask,” Sanji looked at him.

“Good,” Zoro looked back, then frowned.

“What?”

“You made me come like a chick.”

“I didn't… You came like a guy! That's how guys come,” according to Men's Monthly, a gentleman's complete guide to ultimate pleasure.

“It is?”

“Why did you think anal felt good?”

“I didn't think it did,” Zoro admitted.

Sanji looked thoughtful, but didn't say anything. There was a lot in Zoro's own mind, none of which he would be able to sort out right now.

“I'll let you sleep,” he said and stood up, not waiting for a reply. He went to the bathroom to wipe himself down, his reflection in the mirror catching his eye. He looked wrecked and felt it too. And was getting emotional again, which wouldn’t do. He breathed it out and went back to the room to retrieve his clothes.

Sanji was leaning by the window in a t-shirt, hair messy, cigarette in mouth. He looked on quietly as Zoro got dressed, putting out his cigarette on the ashtray by the bed when Zoro pulled his boots on.

They looked at each other from across the room, choking on things to say, saying nothing. 

“Night, cook.”

“Night,” Zoro heard after a moment as he closed the door behind him.

꩜⚔

Sanji woke up anxious. The bed was big and empty and Zoro had been in it last night and now there was just empty space. He brought the spare pillow close and breathed in Zoro’s scent. Last night he’d... he’d done something new and he needed to talk about it with the only person he could talk about it with. 

He jumped up and pulled on some shorts hastily, hair messy, same t-shirt he’d slept in. He knocked on Zoro’s door, but got no answer. Had he gotten up already? He went downstairs looking for him, heart skipping when he spotted green hair by a pool, sinking at realising he wasn’t alone.

“Hey, Sanji-kun, did you sleep in?” Nami looked up from her lounger. Robin next to her put down her book to acknowledge him. 

“I guess I did.”

“The coffee here is very good, cook-san, I can recommend it.”

Zoro gave him a glance from further away. He was chatting to Luffy, whatever they were saying making them both crack up.

“Are you joining us, Sanji?” yelled Usopp from the pool. He was fiddling with some kind of strange gun-looking thing.

“Yeah, dive in, Sanji. It’s good!” smiled Chopper from his rubber ring.

He would have, if for nothing else than to let the water provide some comfort, but even if the bruises on his body could be explained away, the bite mark on his shoulder definitely couldn’t be. He fixed his t-shirt nervously.

“Maybe tomorrow, I had a bit too much last night.”

Zoro had given him an apologetic look at that, in between talking to Luffy. There was no way he could pull him away without it looking suspicious and the last thing he wanted was to look needy.

“I think we’re all up for drinks tonight, if you’ve recovered,” smiled Robin.

“Yeah, let’s check out that bar by the beach,” grinned Nami.

“I’d be delighted to join you ladies~! ♡”

“Oiii, Sanji! Come here!” yelled Luffy. “There’s a spot,” he shouted, pointing at the deck chair next to Zoro he had just been sitting in.

Sanji walked towards Zoro, relieved. He was stretched out, taking in the sun, one arm behind his head, one eye open as Sanji approached, hand shading his face so he could look at him.

“Hey, Curlybrow.”

“Hey.”

“You gonna just stand there?”

“No, I… no.”

He sat awkwardly in silence. In the pool, Usopp, Chopper and Luffy sprayed each other with water from that weird-looking gun. Nami and Robin were chatting pleasantly. Everything he had wanted to say now felt out of place.

“You alright?” Zoro had sat up.

“What? Yeah. Why?”

“You don't look it.”

“It’s probably the sun.”

“I’m going to get a drink, I’ll get you some water.”

“Yeah, sure, thanks.”

“It’s what friends are for,” Zoro patted him on the shoulder as he stood up.

Sanji felt numb. He watched Zoro dive into the pool, swim across and come out the other side. Heads turned, men and women alike, as he stepped dripping to the bar. 

The sun was so bright it hurt his eyes. He stood and walked so fast he nearly ran. 

“I need to get some shade, I’ll see you later, ladies~! ♡” he crooned and disappeared. 

꩜⚔

He’d paced, he’d managed to nap, he’d showered and now he was fixing his tie. He would look perfect for Nami and Robin and he would spoil them rotten. Anything and everything they wanted, he would get. He would be an errand boy all night, Zoro’s sneering comments be damned.

They all walked together to the beachside bar, the ladies looking particularly gorgeous, Zoro quiet, Usopp and Chopper excited about something, Luffy in an even better mood.

They grabbed a large table outside, Sanji offering to get everyone drinks before they even sat. He went inside the bar, waiting his turn, trying not to falter. Seeing Zoro again had shaken his resolve, but he would sooner die than let cracks show.

“Well, well,” an unknown voice beside him huffed. He glanced when its owner appeared to perch beside him. He had spiked black hair with a streak of white running through it, a scar down his lip and silver rings adorning fingers that played with the empty glass he'd come to refill. His suit looked like it cost as much as everyone else's in the room combined.

“Nicely played last night,” the man smiled with a tip of his head.

“I don't know what you're talking about,” said Sanji.

“Sure you don't,” he said with a wink that made Sanji feel like he needed to scrub his skin for an hour. He bounced his leg, mentally willing the bartender to hurry it up.

“Must say, wouldn't have thought you were his type. How did you swing it?”

“Swing it?”

“Don't play coy, you must have good game to bag a guy like him. They usually go for older guys.”

“They? Who's they?” Sanji narrowed his eyes. 

“You know... cute face, all muscle and not much going on upstairs.”

Sanji's leg had stopped bouncing.

“He bottomed, right? It's fucking sweet when they're so young, let you get away with anything,” he laughed. “Just horny as fuck.”

“Whatever happened to Sanji-kun?” asked Nami, trying to see inside.

“Must be busy at the bar,” said Robin.

At that moment, the wall next to their table exploded. Nobody had a chance to react because, along with the exploding wall, a man had landed on their table, now out cold. He wore an expensive-looking suit. Sanji stood staring him down through the hole, fists tight on his sides, leg that’d caused the damage still up. 

Zoro looked down at the unconscious man, recognition dawning. He looked up at Sanji, eyebrows pinched in confusion.

Sanji started to say something, then abruptly shut his mouth, guilt and anger choking him. He gave out a frustrated grunt before giving up and storming off.

“Oi! Wait.”

Sanji wasn't slowing. He pushed his way through crowds of onlookers, pointedly not getting involved, until he could reach the outside, Zoro running after him.

“Cook, hang on! Hey!”

“What! What do you want?” he snapped, finally turning to face him.

“Can we just–”

“I can't do this anymore! Whatever this is, this… thing we have.”

Zoro froze, not saying a word.

“I'm clearly not gay enough or cool enough or whatever the fuck I need to be to navigate this shit, but I'm done! I'm out. It's over.”

“Cook… “

“I don't even fucking like men!”

All that Zoro had strength for, was to watch Sanji walk away.