THE way he smiles, the way his eyes sparkle whenever he cooks, or when someone compliments his food—it makes my heart race. I try not to stare, but no matter how much I fight it, my eyes always find him. They follow him, drawn in as if under some kind of spell.
His golden hair catches the light effortlessly, standing out even from a distance. And those eyes—deep, endless blue, like the ocean itself, full of secrets and mysteries.
He understands me without words... sometimes. I don't hate him, though anyone watching us might think otherwise. The way I talk to him, the way we fight—it's the only way I know how to be close to him without making it obvious, without scaring him away.
He's an idiot. Always smiling at women like they're the only ones who matter. It looks real, but I know it's a mask—just another role he plays. But who am I to judge? I push him away so he won't see the thoughts I'm hiding, the ones that make my stomach twist with something dark, something dangerous.
Like how I can't stop staring at his lips—lips always wrapped around that damn cigarette.
What the hell am I thinking?
"LUNCH IS READY!"
I flinch at the sound of his voice, snapping out of my thoughts. Sitting up from my spot in the crow's nest, I peer down through the window and see him yelling at Luffy and Usopp. I shouldn't be thinking about him like this. I shouldn't even be looking at him. But he's an idiot, and I... I can't help it.
A quiet chuckle escapes me. Shaking my head, I climb down, forcing myself to head toward the kitchen. I don't want to, but if I don't, he'll come looking for me. And the last thing I need is to be alone with him.
I take my seat at the table, barely acknowledging Luffy sitting beside me—until I feel his stare. I turn to him, finding his mouth full, but his eyes... his eyes hold unspoken questions.
"Not now. Maybe later," I mutter before quickly shoving food into my mouth, eating as fast as possible.
I don't even get to finish before Luffy steals my plate.
"Luffy, you little—!"
He grins, cheeks full, and I can't help but laugh. The frustration fades, replaced by something lighter.
When I finally leave, Luffy follows behind me, but I can feel it—someone's gaze burning into the back of my head. I pause and turn, my eyes locking with Sanji's. He's frowning.
My brow furrows, ready to ask what the hell his problem is, but before I can, Luffy grabs my wrist and yanks me away.
"Oi, Luffy, what did I tell you about pulling?!"
"Sorry, Zoro!"
We make it to the boys' quarters, and I collapse onto my bunk with a sigh. Luffy plops down on the floor in front of me, watching me too closely for my liking.
"What?" I grumble, closing my eyes.
"What's bothering you, Zoro?"
"Nothing."
"Is it Sanji?"
My eyes snap open, my whole body going rigid. How the hell—?
Luffy may act like an idiot, but he notices more than he lets on.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I lie, rolling onto my side.
I should've known that wouldn't be enough. He crawls onto my bunk, settling beside me, forcing me to shift onto my back. He rests his head on my arm, completely unbothered.
"You're always looking at him," he says simply.
"And you don't hate him. So, it's either you're in love with him and too scared to say anything because he's straight, or... you're just in love."
The way he says it so casually—like it's the easiest thing in the world—makes me laugh.
"You're an idiot, you know that?"
But I don't deny it.
Luffy hums, grinning. "So, what about him made you fall in love?"
His eyes.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Not to everyone. Maybe Robin. Oh, and me."
That damn witch is always watching. I wouldn't be surprised if she's listening right now.
"His eyes," I admit quietly.
Luffy's grin widens. "You're smiling."
"Shut it."
"His eyes are pretty, though. Shishishi~"
I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "It's annoying that I fell for him of all people."
"Why?"
"He's straight. Even if, by some miracle, he had feelings for me, he'd still choose a woman over me in the end."
"But what if his feelings for you are real?"
I scoff. "We're talking about if, Luffy. Not yes, but if."
I sit up, ready to leave, but Luffy grabs the hem of my shirt, stopping me.
"Zoro, you should tell Sanji."
I exhale sharply, shaking my head. "Luffy, drop it—"
"Tell Sanji what?"
My blood runs cold.
Luffy and I both turn to see Sanji standing in front of us, cigarette between his lips, looking at me with something unreadable in his eyes.
Luffy grins mischievously, already stepping away. "Both of you talk. Now."
And just like that, he ditches me, running off to find Chopper and Usopp.
I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry.
Sanji takes a slow drag of his cigarette, exhaling smoke as he tilts his head slightly.
"Well, Zoro?"
Shit.
___
I walked off to the crow's nest, wanting to escape him. But at the same time, all I wanted was to sit there and look at him all day.
The contradiction was exhausting.
With a sigh, I shrugged off my coat, letting it slide down my arms before tossing it aside. I needed to focus. Training was the only way to quiet my thoughts, to push out the feeling of him lingering too deep in my mind.
The room was silent except for the steady rhythm of my weights swinging and the soft exhale of smoke from the cigarette he was smoking. The scent curled around me, unmistakably him.
Then, his voice cut through the silence.
"What were you and Luffy talking about?"
I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. He was standing by the window, watching the sunset. The golden light bathed him, making his hair glow, casting long shadows across his sharp features.
So pretty.
"Confessing to someone," I said casually, not stopping my workout, keeping my voice even despite the way my heart pounded against my ribs.
There was a beat of silence—then, he choked.
I smirked at the sound of his coughing, chuckling under my breath.
"Are they pretty?" he asked in a whisper, and for a moment, I braced myself, expecting him to laugh in my face.
"Very," I answered, smiling.
You are beautiful.
"Are they strong?"
You have one hell of a kick.
"Not as strong as me, but yeah, real strong."
"Are they a pirate?"
It's you, idiot.
"Yeah."
"Can they cook?"
No one can cook like you, Sanji.
"The best."
"Do I know them?"
You see yourself in the mirror every day.
"Yeah."
Silence stretched between us again. The only sound was the rhythmic movement of my weights. I couldn't stop now. If I did, I'd have to face him—have to let him see my expression, see the truth reflected in my eyes.
See that I love him.
Then, barely above a whisper, I heard it.
"...Why can't it be me?"
I froze.
My breath caught in my throat. My grip tightened around the weights, fingers going numb. I wanted to believe I'd heard right, but hope was dangerous. If this was a joke, I wasn't sure I could take it.
"Huh?" I said, putting the weights down. I turned to him, and my chest constricted at the sight.
He was crying.
Tears ran down his cheeks, catching the fading sunlight, his usual composure crumbling right in front of me.
I didn't think. I just moved.
In a second, I was kneeling in front of him, brushing his hair out of his face. His eyes, those beautiful ocean-blue eyes, were glassy and red-rimmed, overflowing with something raw, something real.
And still—he was breathtaking.
Damn it, Zoro. Not now. Stop thinking like that.
"Why are you crying, idiot?" I asked, smiling despite the tightness in my throat.
His watery eyes widened. He sniffled, hands clenching into fists at his sides.
"Why can't it be me, huh?" His voice cracked as he hit my chest—not hard, just enough to make his frustration known. "I'm strong. I'm handsome. I can cook better than anyone. And I know you better than anyone. So why can't it be me, Zoro?"
My breath caught.
God, he was so stupid.
"You're such an idiot, you know that?" I muttered. "Do you really not know who I love?"
He hesitated, then looked away. "I... I don't want to know."
"Really?" I raised an eyebrow. "But you see them every day."
His head snapped up, eyes wide with panic.
"Wha—wait, is it Luffy?!"he cried, looking even more horrified, tears still clinging to his lashes.
I had to physically stop myself from laughing.
He was worse than Luffy.
Shaking my head, I stood up and walked over to a cabinet, grabbing a box of tissues. When I turned back, he was still sitting there, cheeks red, eyes still glistening.
I sighed, returning to his side. Before he could react, I pulled him onto my lap.
He let out a startled squeak, hands gripping my shoulders, his face burning against my chest. I could feel the heat radiating off him, his whole body stiff with embarrassment.
I ignored it. Holding his face gently, I wiped his tears, then tilted his chin up. His breath hitched.
I leaned in and kissed him.
Soft. Warm.
Real.
When I pulled back, his entire face was crimson, his lips parted in stunned silence.
"I really can't hide how much I love you, idiot," I murmured, smiling against his skin.
His blue eyes were impossibly wide, darting across my face like he couldn't believe what had just happened.
Then—blood.
"Oi—what the hell?!"
Sanji yelped, pressing his hands over his nose as blood dripped down his lip.
I groaned, grabbing a tissue and shoving it against his face. "Geez, Sanji, are you okay?!"
His voice was muffled behind the tissue, but I still caught his words.
"You... you called my name."
I blinked. "Huh?"
"You called my name," he repeated, voice thick with emotion.
"You don't want me to?"
"No, I like it," he mumbled, his grip tightening on my shirt.
I exhaled, pressing my forehead against his.
"Should I take that as a yes?" I asked quietly.
His fingers curled into my sleeve. "Yeah... I like you."
I tilted his chin up again. "Say it again."
His breath trembled. But he met my gaze head-on, cheeks still burning.
"I love you, Roronoa Zoro."
A slow smile spread across my face.
"And I love you, Sanji Vinsmoke."
Then, I kissed him again.
This time, I didn't hold back.
And finally—finally—he was mine.
____
"They're making out," Robin observed, her usual calm demeanor intact as she turned away from the scene and grinned at Nami.
"Shit!" Usopp groaned, slapping a handful of berries into Nami's waiting palm. He had bet that it would take at least a few days before Zoro and Sanji started making out, but apparently, love (or whatever those two had) moved faster than he anticipated.
"Shishishi! We won!" Luffy cheered, grabbing his share of the winnings from Nami's hand. He had known from the start that Sanji liked Zoro, so when Nami suggested a bet, he was already certain of his victory. With Robin also siding with Nami, only the two of them had won.
"What's making out?"
Silence.
Complete and utter silence.
Everyone slowly turned their heads toward the door, where Chopper stood, blinking innocently at them.
Panic set in.
They had gone through the trouble of keeping him away from their little gambling session, not wanting to taint his pure, innocent mind. But, of course, they had forgotten about his ability to sniff them out.
Franky was the first to react.
"Wow, would you look at the time! I've got important stuff to do!" he announced dramatically before standing up and all but sprinting out of the room.
"I, uh, have some milk on the stove—it's running over!" Brook added hastily, despite the fact that he didn't even use the stove without sanji's permission, and then promptly fled.
Luffy and Usopp didn't even bother with excuses. They simply snuck out the door, leaving only Nami, Robin, and an increasingly confused Chopper.
Nami sighed, rubbing her temples. "Something lovers do," she said, deciding to spare him the details.
Robin chuckled softly before lifting Chopper into her arms. "Come, Doctor-san. Let's read a nice story instead." She sat down on the couch with him, flipping open a book, while Nami watched the others disappear one by one.
Cowards.