Chapter Text

Grand Line University (or GLU, as the students called it) was a prestigious University in the blues. However, unlike any other school, the students there were..different, as opposed to being the well-behaved, quiet students the public expected. It was a school for the gifted, after all. If strange and unique souls couldn’t be found here, then where else?

Only in Grand Line University could you meet students fluent in 12 different languages or students that could cook up a 5-course meal tasting like food directly from the Gods. Only in New World University were there a variety of courses for students to pursue. From acting to zookeeping - at Grand Line University, anything you set your mind to was possible.

Which is how a straw-hatted boy came to NWU to pursue a degree and ended up gaining more than just knowledge.

The watery rays of sunlight that managed to filter through the curtains shone onto the black-haired boy, who was still dozing off comfortably on his bed.

“Oi, Luffy, get up already! This is the 3rd time this week that I’ve had to call you up!!” A voice shouted from outside.

“Gah!” He awoke with a start. “Ace!! What’s breakfast?”

“That shouldn’t be your main concern!!” The same voice snapped back.

Some 10 minutes later, the boy - Luffy - was sitting at the table, munching away at his brothers’ cooking.

“Ace, Sabo, this is yummy!” He smiled while eating.

Ace - a tall man with dishevelled black hair - smiled, playfully ruffling his younger brother’s equally messy hair. “Yeah, yeah, we know. You’ve told us that so many times. Now hurry, you’re gonna be late again.” Ace concluded the conversation with a playful hit to his youngest brother’s head, causing Luffy to cry out in pain.

Sabo was only slightly taller than Ace with slightly wavy blond hair, normally kept tucked away under a hat. “Ace’s right, Lu. You need to stop waking up late, and given the distance from our apartment to the university..”

“Hmm, I know but there’s not much we can do. Besides, being late isn’t that big of a deal.” Luffy mused, finally getting up to head off.

He didn’t catch the look his older brothers shared.

“Say, Luffy..” Sabo started.

“Hm? What’s up, Sabo?” Luffy asked.

“Well, we were thinking that..” Ace continued.

“Maybe, just maybe..”

“It would be for your benefit that..”

“You got an apartment nearer to the university.”

“You got an apartment nearer to the university.” The words rang over and over in Luffy’s mind as he got off the bus. Never did Luffy think his brothers would say that. He wondered how much they must be trusting him to let him live on his own.

Thoughts continued to flood his mind, allowing him to walk in a daze until he bumped into someone at the gates.

“Oi! Watch where you’re going.”

The man Luffy had bumped into looked menacing, to say the least, with his sharp eyes staring pointedly into Luffy’s own. His shock of green hair was spiky and cropped. Luffy thought he wasn’t menacing at all - on the contrary, he rather resembled a moss ball.

“Sorry, I’m in a rush - I’ll make it up to you later, I swear. I’ll buy you lunch, how about that?” Luffy smiled up at the moss-haired guy. “Um, alright then.” The guy replied with an air of awkwardness. His attempt at scaring off this short, straw-hatted boy failed dismally.

“What’s your name?”

“Zoro. Roronoa Zoro.” He grunted.

“Wait, you’re that Zoro guy everyone talks about? You don’t seem very scary to me. I’m Monkey D. Luffy, nice to meet you!” Luffy smiled widely once more.

“Hm.” Was all Zoro said before walking away.

“Ahh wait for me! Where’re you going?” “To class.” “What’s your first class?” “Advanced Languages.” Their conversation continued with Luffy shooting questions at Zoro (to the latter’s slight annoyance) and Zoro replying with three-words-or-lesser answers.

Luffy continued to stick by his side throughout the day, even keeping his promise to buy him lunch.

“So,” Zoro said through a mouthful of rice. “That’s why you bumped into me at the gates?”

“Mhm. I live far away from here.” He said. “My brothers said it would be better if I- ZOROOHMYGOSHWAIT.”

A coughing and hacking Zoro angrily responded, hitting Luffy on the back, “DON’T SHOUT LIKE THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE EATING DUMBASS??”

Luffy stared wide-eyed at Zoro, “Share an apartment with me, Zoro! Come on, we can get an apartment nearer to school and neither of us will be late because we can help wake each other up!!”

“Why, on god's green earth, would you ask someone who you just met to share an apartment with you??”

Luffy stared the moss-resembling man dead in the eyes. “I'm desperate.”

A vein twitched visibly on Zoro’s temple. “Well, I did find a place, but it’s a little costly..”

“We’ll go check it out after school then!”

“Two people living in this big of an apartment?? No way, that’s amazing.” Luffy echoed as he roamed the apartment Zoro suggested. “Well, it’s bigger than average though. We’ll just have to find more people. Two of us here would leave too much empty space.” Zoro said.

“You’re right Zoro!! More friends to share the space with, yahoo!”

As Luffy returned home, he told Ace and Sabo about the apartment he found, and that he was intending to stay there with some friends.

“That’s great, Lu!” Ace grinned.

“Yeah!! I met this guy today who found the place. It’s SO big. Like, REALLY, really big. So we’re gonna find more friends to move in with us!”

As the weeks went by, both Luffy and Zoro tried to find more people interested in moving in with them, but not many people were. Only three people were interested. Nami - a smart girl in Zoro’s Advanced Languages class, Usopp, whom Luffy met through Physical Education class, and Sanji, a culinary student that Luffy insisted on joining them after having a taste of Sanji’s food.

Each of them did have their own reasons for wanting to move in, and while it was a little awkward at first, they started warming up to each other. Eventually, they became good friends.

After some more negotiations, everything was set and they were all ready to move in.

At this point, everyone had grown closer than words could describe, and made new friends too, though everyone agreed that there was now too little space for the newcomers.

Luffy had made good friends with a child prodigy, Tony Tony Chopper, who was studying medicine. Then Chopper introduced a close friend of his, Trafalgar Law, (studying medicine as well), who insisted on being called by just “Law” (but that didn’t stop Luffy from giving him a nickname that Law majorly disliked).

Nami was acquainted with a blue-haired girl by the name of Vivi, whose father was extremely influential. Despite that, Vivi was kind and loyal (while everyone suspected that Nami felt more for her than just friendship, they said nothing).

Eventually, the 5 (now known throughout the school as the strawhats due to them always being spotted together at scenes of mischief) were ready to begin a new chapter of their lives - together.

“Yahoo! It’s gonna be smooth-sailing from here on!” Luffy cheered. Chuckling, they made their way to the apartment, the same thought on everyone's minds.

“Maybe, just maybe, Luffy was right.”

“Maybe everything will be smoother from now on.”

Chapter Text

It had been a few months since moving in with each other. Everyone had grown inexplicably closer, no doubt.

Sanji, for one, being the observant, kindhearted chef and main 'caretaker' of the group, had noticed that his dear Nami-san's birthday was approaching. Yet he didn't know what to do for her.

Thus, he went to the one other person who knew Nami as well as he (thought that he) did.

A week later, her plan was put into action.

Strawhatz >>>

*Cat Thief has added ???*

???: Hello, I believe this is the Strawhat gang's chat?

Marimo: Nami who did u just add

GomuGomu: another nakama??"*???%£*"(?£_(_

Chef: Shut up luffy you're disturbing my cooking

GomuGomu: :(

Chef: Stfu

Chef: @??? You must be Vivi

Vivi <3: Correct! You are Sanji, yes?

Marimo: wait u r namis gf?

Vivi <3: yes!

Chef: gay

Marimo: like u arent urself

Cat Thief: @Chef no bitches????

Chef: ur eating veg for the next month

GomuGomu: guys talk to vivi >:((

Cat Thief: omg u said smth smart for once

Cat Thief: :0

Marimo: :0

Chef: :0

GodUsopp: :0

Chopperman: :0

Law: what the everloving fuck

GomuGomu: TORAOOO

GomuGomu: HIIIII

*GomuGomu has changed Law’s name to Torao*

Torao: bye

*Torao has left the chat*

GomuGomu: NOOOO DD:

Cat Thief >>> Torao

Cat Thief: mf u better get ur ass back in or we’ll make you deal with luffy for the next month

Torao: fuck you

Cat Thief: no thanks im gay and taken

Strawhatz >>>

*Torao has joined the chat*

Torao: fuck everything

Surprise Party for Nami >>>

*Vivi <3 has added GomuGomu, Marimo, Chef, GodUsopp, Chopperman, Torao and others*

Vivi <3: Title explains everything

Vivi <3: It will be held at my place, sunday, 3rd of july, refreshments provided

Vivi <3: @Chef would you mind cooking the meals?

Chef: Of course, anything for Nami-san!!

Marimo: I’ll bring alcohol

Chef: No u will not

Marimo: try me bitch

Chef: fuck u

GodUsopp: chile yall

GomuGomu: what should we get for namiii

Chopperman: maybe some new drawing tools for her maps?

GodUsopp: good idea chopper

GodUsopp: meet next saturday in town at 2? Bring as much cash as u can @Chopperman @Chef @GomuGomu @Marimo

Marimo: k

Chef: sure

GomuGomu: okeis

Chopperman: I’ll be studying w law in the library so I’ll be a little late

Torao: fuck i forgot

Torao: ill tag along w chopper after we’re done

GodUsopp: kk

Soon, the aforementioned Saturday arrived. Usopp and Luffy waited at the entrance of the shopping district, punctual. Chopper and Law followed, late by only a few minutes. Zoro and Sanji came last, with a frustrated Sanji pulling Zoro to their destination by the collar.

“Oi, Zoro, how come you’re getting dragged along?” Luffy asked, oblivious to the man’s navigational skills (or lack of, in this situation). Just as Zoro opened his mouth to speak, Sanji cut in.

“BeCAUSE,” He said, putting emphasis on the last syllable. “Grass-for-brains here can’t even walk in a straight line without getting lost.”

“Tch! I was getting on just fine; I didn’t need your help.” The green-haired man clashed foreheads with the blond.

“Yes, you did very much, excuse you!” The blond pushed back with equal ire.

“I was literally just north-west from the entrance!”

“You were north-west IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!!”

Sanji pulled back with a smug grin on his face, knowing he had won the argument.

Luffy easily defused the building tension with a chuckle and exclaimed, “Well, now that we’re all here, let’s go! Nami’s gift won’t buy itself!”

Nami was browsing the contents of a window display when she heard multiple familiar voices.

“Those look good - let’s get her that!” “Obviously NOT! Those aren’t even used for map drawing.” “At this rate, we’re never gonna find anything.”

Putting two and two together, she quickly went into the shop to avoid being seen. They - Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, Sanji and Law - were buying a gift for her birthday. “However, they didn’t seem like the type to remember special dates, so someone must be planning something.”

“Woah, look at these! A set of Cartographer’s tools!” The voice she recognised as Luffy’s shouted.

“Not a bad deal, only $38 for all these tools.” Law muttered under his breath.

“Great! So this’ll do then?” Chopper exclaimed.

“Yep. I’ll go ask some clerk for help and pay.” Sanji confirmed. Before heading into the shop, he called “Oi, marimo.”

“What d’you want curly??” Zoro snapped back.

“Come with me into the shop. You haven’t done anything except get lost and yawn all day.”

An embarrassed flush crept up Zoro's cheeks as he growled, “Fine, but you're paying for the gift.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.”

With that, both guys went into the store.

The store that Nami was still in.

“Thank god for dumbasses,” Nami sighed as she finally exited the shop. Zoro and Sanji walked right by her, not even glancing in her direction as they passed.

Thinking back to the previous events, she smiled.

“Guess there’s no need to get those tools now. How did they know those were the ones I had been eyeing for a while..?”

“We’re baaaack!!” Luffy shouted as they reached the apartment. “Eh?? Where’s Nami?” He wondered aloud.

Nami crept up behind him and hit him on the head. “I told you I was going out you idiot!” She angrily snapped at him.

“So, where’d you go, Nami?” Chopper asked.

“I went to visit Vivi.” Nami lied. Is Vivi the one organising this..?

“Vivi?? D-Did you say Vivi??” Luffy asked, eyes widening.

“Yes I did. Why? What’s the matter?” Nami pressed on. Bingo.

Sanji interrupted with an “Ahem, Luffy - why are you so interested in someone else’s love life??” Turning back to Nami, he said, “There’s nothing up with Vivi. Don’t worry, my lovely Nami-san.”

“Mm, if you say so..” She pondered. “I’m going to my room to draw some maps so don’t disturb me!”

As she turned to leave, she heard Luffy whisper, “Phew, she didn’t notice the gift…”

Finally, the day of the party came. Vivi was to come over and distract Nami, giving everyone time to set up at her house.

Ring~

“Someone get the door please!” Nami reminded.

“Of course, Nami-san!” Sanji rushed out from the kitchen to open the door.

“I’ll bring her over at 6.” Was all Vivi told Sanji before heading in. Vivi was supposed to take Nami out on a date as a distraction, giving the rest of them plenty of time to set up.

At Vivi’s place, many people had already arrived.

Surprise Party for Nami >>>

Marimo: @Vivi <3 who r all these ppl

Vivi <3: Mainly from her hometown. You should see her sister and mother there, Nojiko and Belle-mere respectively. Try talking to them first!

As Vivi told them to, they went around in search of Nojiko and Belle-mere, finally stopping at purple-haired and maroon-haired women.

“Can we help you?” The maroon asked.

“Are you Belle-mere? We’re Nami’s friends, we came by to say hi!” Luffy grinned widely.

“Ah, so you’re the people she’s living with! I hope she hasn’t been any trouble to you all?” Belle-mere replied cheerfully, bombarding the strawhats with question after question, and Luffy replying with the same level of enthusiasm. Out of the corner of Zoro’s eyes, he could see Nojiko smiling at the scene.

The door creaked open punctually at six, with two slender figures standing at the doorway.

"Vivi, what's going on??"

On cue, Law flipped the light switch on and everyone jumped out from their hiding places, unanimously shouting, "Happy birthday!!"

As the girls' eyes adjusted to the sudden change in lighting, Nami's expression went from disappointed to overjoyed.

Her eyes drank in the sight: A large banner with 'Happy Birthday, Nami!' messily scrawled on it was draped from one corner of Vivi's house to another; A table full of gifts; Two white tablecloth-ed tables groaning under the weight of the food and drinks; Sanji positioned at the aforementioned food table, ready to serve his prides and joys to the guests; and her family laughing away happily with the remaining strawhats.

Words weren't enough to describe the overwhelming gratitude and happiness she felt. Except maybe five.

"Thank you all, so much!"

As the night wore on, everyone ate and drank and laughed.

On Zoro's fourth cup, he saw Sanji approach him from a distance. He was sitting in the centre of Vivi's massive living room, absentmindedly chugging cup after cup of beer.

"Oi, marimo." Sanji called. Zoro grunted in response. "Mind if I sit here?" He asked. Zoro shook his head, reaching for his cup.

Both men sat in silence for a few minutes - each sipping on their alcohol.

At last, Zoro broke the silence.

"You called Vivi up to arrange this, didn't you?" He turned to look Sanji in the eyes, and brown met a stormy blue.

Sanji nodded, sipping yet once more on his own glass.

"'S real thoughtful of ya'. If it weren't for you and Vivi, none of us would've remembered - we would've broken her heart, so thank you."

Sanji couldn't believe his ears. The Roronoa Zoro - resident moss-head of the group, incapable of walking in a single direction without getting lost, deemed as unable to feel or convey human emotion - was thanking him?

Maybe there was more than met the eye than his brutal-looking exterior.

"It's nothing. Everyone deserves to celebrate their birthday. If we can't even celebrate the day they graced the world, then can we even call ourselves friends?"

Zoro turned to him, “We might not agree on a lot of things, but cheers to that.”

He held out his mug to Sanji, a wide grin on his face.

Sanji returned it and clinked the neck of his bottle against the rim of Zoro’s mug as they drank deeply to his words.

Finally, after many cups of beer (Zoro couldn't keep track past his ninth cup- or was it his tenth?), they finally wrapped up the festivities. "Thanks everyone! Get home safely!" Nami and Vivi were standing at the doorway, bidding the guests farewell. Vivi's hand was on Nami's shoulder, and the latter's hand on the former's waist.

Luffy had somehow knocked himself out. He was dozing peacefully on Vivi's couch, a white and black-spotted hat covering his eyes and a long black coat over his torso.

Sanji and Zoro stared at each other. “Isn’t that-?”

They caught sight of a very flushed Law standing in the corner, chatting with Chopper. Chopper seemed to be smirking at Law.

“Why did I do that, Chopper? Why did I do that??? I don’t know what made me do it but he looks so peaceful and cute but he might catch a cold so I want to take care of him- oh my god ChopperwhydoIwanttotakecareofhim??” Law asked Chopper, grabbing the poor boy and shaking him by the shoulders.

That night was a night for relationships all around indeed.

Later, when all the guests had left, the strawhats decided to (Vivi was kind enough to let them) stay the night at Vivi’s place, since the day after was a holiday.

Law, Usopp, Luffy, Chopper, Sanji and Zoro had one room to themselves, while Nami shared a room with Vivi.

In the boys’ room, Chopper stared up at the ceiling, surrounded by the others:

On his left? Law and Luffy. Law had stayed up a little to ensure that the straw-hatted boy was comfortable - laying his arm under Luffy to maintain some heat, glancing down at Luffy with a rather fond look on his face (was it fondness or something else? Chopper couldn't tell): Admiring how peaceful the boy looked when he wasn’t shouting and running all over the place. Admiring how the moonlight shone beautifully through the large windows and illuminated even the shadows of his cute, resting face. He really was a wonderful guy, despite driving Law up the wall most times. The way his eyes shone when he was talking about something he was especially passionate about, the big, goofy grin he gave when he was satisfied, his strong willpower to never give up on his dream…

On Chopper’s right were Zoro and Sanji. While the tension between them was admittedly still present, it definitely had lessened. Sanji and Zoro now slept with their backs to each other in an attempt to push each other away, yet still drawing closer to each other’s heat for comfort. Zoro had also stayed up a little to check on everyone (to think). He stared down at the blond, then at the glowing, surreal orb in the dark sky. He looked almost saint-like, Zoro thought, with the bright light illuminating his relaxed face. Thinking back to the cook’s words earlier, he realised that what he said wasn't reciprocated by a kick to his face (or some other place). It was a start, he supposed. Yet, surely those words came from somewhere. The cook wouldn't have said them if they weren't. Maybe he had more in him than Zoro had realised. Well, that was enough. “Night, Sanji.” He muttered, before flipping over and calling it a night.

In the girls’ room, they were lying comfortably in bed when Nami started, “Y’know…”

Vivi, on the brink of sleep, murmured sleepily, “Hm?”

Nami chuckled at the sight, and shook her head. “I’ll tell you in the morning. Good night.” She whispered back, planting a kiss on Vivi’s lips as the blue-haired girl drifted further and further into dreamland.

“Thank you for arranging this whole thing for me. I know it must’ve been so tiring for you, so get some rest. I love you.”

Nami chuckled as the girl beside her shifted slightly, a small smile splitting her face.

Chapter Text

Today was not Sanji's day.

Of all the days this had to happen, why today?

The moment he woke up, he could feel his palms becoming clammy. His whole body was shivering, and he could feel a slight aching in his head.

Was he imagining things? He'd just sleep it off; there'd still be time to make them all breakfast and prepare a bento for them.

Yes, he'd do just that, after he slept for a little. Just a few minutes...

Next time he woke, everyone was gathered around his bed as though mourning his death. "You're alright!" Nami cried out upon seeing the blond awake. Sanji propped himself up on his elbows, staring at them with a quizzical look. "What? I feel fi-" He began, in the midst of pushing himself up to sit when a splitting headache decided to pay a visit.

"Sanji?? It's gonna be alright, I'll get Law over!" Luffy exclaimed upon seeing Sanji flinch because of the headache, sprinting out of the room to dial up their medicine-studying friend. Sanji turned his glance over to the rest of them, who he just realised were in uniform already.

"Guys, I'm fine. Just help me inform one of the teachers that I'll skip today. Don't let me hinder you." He managed to choke out - along with a few coughs - due to his throat feeling like sandpaper.

"Nuh uh, cook. If you're calling in sick, I'm staying with you." Zoro stated firmly.

"He's the only guy who can afford to miss today. The rest of us have major exams, with the exception of the two of you." Nami sighed. "We'll be off now. Can't be late - I have a geography exam first thing."

Usopp nodded diplomatically. "I have an archery test for PE today too. Can't miss that one." He said with (fake-sounding) gusto, puffing up his chest.

"See ya! Try to get better!" They bade farewell to the two and rushed off.

"Shit! I didn't make breakfast or prepare lunch for them!" Sanji stumbled as he sat up, wincing yet again when the headache came back.

"Cook, focus on yourself today. Rest and recover." Zoro said brusquely.

"I will not. I have to at least make lunch for the two of us." He muttered, fumbling to get up to reach the kitchen.

“Well, if you need help, I’m always here.” Zoro awkwardly offered.

Sanji immediately shot him a glare. “You don’t even know the difference between cutting and dicing. I think I’m good.” And with that, stumbled sleepily into the kitchen to check on ingredients.

“Cook, are you sure you don’t need my help? Like, with anything? Even washing stuff??” Zoro hesitated.

“I’m fine, marimo. Oh, shit-” Sanji cursed through gritted teeth. The knife he was using to slice vegetables slipped through his clammy hands and he was now nursing a cut on his finger.

“I can help, y’know.” Zoro chimed in yet again. He’d been repeatedly telling Sanji that - ever since his finger got cut, Zoro noticed the cook couldn’t afford to be careful any longer.

Zoro watched with curiosity as the blond turned and bent down to check their freezer compartment. His curiosity spiked even more when Sanji pulled out an eggplant from it and held it up. “What’re you doing-”

“You,” Sanji growled, waving the purple vegetable in the air. If anyone else had done the motion, Zoro would have laughed in their face - but Sanji? He made it look threatening. “Have been loitering around in my kitchen for the past fifteen fucking minutes. Despite me saying I’ll be fine! And you still haven’t left??” He shot a look at the walking cabbage that practically read ‘I am about to lose my mind because of you’.

Zoro swallowed. Hard.

“If you don’t get the fuck out of my kitchen in the next ten seconds, this eggplant is going out of my hands and up your-”

Zoro didn't stick around long enough to hear the rest.

After making his and Zoro’s lunch, (upon much insistence from the latter) Sanji was forced to take some pills and sleep. “I’ll take care of everything else. Get some sleep.” The moss had insisted.

Sanji’s mood was rather inconsistent that day. He was annoyed with a hint of discomfort, a sprinkle of tiredness, and a pinch of ‘Jesus Christ get out of my damn kitchen’.

The rest of the strawhats had gotten back a little after 5, which meant that they’d come back to the smell of their soon-to-be dinner.

“Out.” Sanji shot at Luffy, who had stuck his neck in to see what was being prepared for dinner. Sanji would’ve been fine with the man just poking around for a short while - if it were the first time. The straw-hatted boy had entered Sanji’s kitchen more times than he could count, pestering the man with question after question and a billion other things that Sanji couldn’t and didn’t bother to remember.

“But-” Luffy began to whine.

“Unless you want to end up in the same state as moss man, I strongly suggest you leave.” Sanji smiled menacingly as he held up the knife in his hand, an irk mark appearing on his forehead. Zoro steered clear of the kitchen after Sanji had made the threat (and whenever someone mentioned something about ‘purple’ and ‘vegetable’, he’d steer clear of them too - nothing short of traumatised, Sanji liked to think).

“Sanjiiii!! You’re so mean!!” The leader pouted, finally exiting the kitchen.

Now savouring their dinner, Sanji thought back to what happened when he was still preparing dinner.

First came their Leftover-Wheat donning captain, then his Doctor Dude Who Wore a Fungus on His Head and called it ‘style’. Thank god the walking Broccoli avoided the kitchen - he couldn’t deal with another vegetable in his space.

Law was alright, in Sanji’s opinion. He could tolerate Luffy at the boy’s maximum hyperness. Sanji viewed Law highly because he could do just that.

However, Law did have flaws. One major one being that he’d do whatever the straw boy told him to - which, in this case, was to take a look at Sanji and give a diagnosis.

Sanji didn’t want that. It would disturb his cooking time.

So when the familiar Spotted Mushroom hat was sighted in their apartment, Sanji groaned in exasperation.

“Sanjiiii! Law’s here!” Luffy practically bounded into the kitchen despite having been told to leave just a few minutes ago.

Law shuffled into the kitchen, a look of loathing on his face. Loathing for being a sucker for Luffy.

“Just get it over and done with.” Sanji grumbled.

One diagnosis later, Law was finally gone, dismissed with a ‘get some rest, he should be better by tomorrow’.

“Can I finally get back to dinner??”

After a while, dinner was finished and everyone was satisfied. While it passed without too much incident, Zoro looked a little wary of the dishes served (Sanji had chosen Chinese cuisine that day - he’d made a cucumber salad with steamed fish and tofu, along with some dumplings to satisfy Luffy’s meat craving).

When asked why he didn’t touch the cucumber salad, he simply shook his head and downed his mug of beer.

Luffy snickered. Sanji shot him the glare usually reserved for Zoro, which read ‘I’m gonna kill you’.

Plates? Empty (Luffy’s appetite really knew no bounds). Dishes? Washed (thank god it was Usopp who was on dish duty). Table? Cleaned (Nami wiped it spotless - he’d have to give her a dessert as thanks later). Sanji was ready to ‘Hotel? Trivago’ the night and go to bed. He had had enough of everyone today; he also felt sorry for not making them breakfast.

He’d make up for it tomorrow.

Once he’s recovered. Again, tomorrow.

Sighing, he reached for his cigarettes after realising he hadn't been able to smoke earlier. Unfortunately, his hand got slapped away by Zoro. “Oi, what the fuck marimo??”

“You,” Zoro started gruffly, making eye contact with the blond. “Are sick.”

Sanji maintained eye contact. “And?? I’ll do what I want.”

“Leave the cigarettes and go lie down.”

“Yeah, Sanji…” Luffy hobbled in from nowhere, musing aloud.

“Mhm! Maybe you fell ill in the first place because of those things.” Now it was Usopp who came in.

Chopper had joined them for dinner (and to look at Sanji) and was packing up to leave when he tottered in next. “Listen, Sanji. Just go to bed.”

Sanji stared, a look of plain incredulousness on his face. “The fuck is this, an intervention??”

“Eh.” Zoro shrugged.

Sanji was admittedly a little pissed. “Whatever.”

“No. Go lie down, or Zoro will force you back into bed.” Chopper firmly insisted. “Doctor’s orders.”

“Sanjiiii, Torao says the same thing Chopper did!” Luffy now was on the phone with Law, who wore the same look on his face, mushroom hat and everything.

He was really ticked off now. God, sometimes he wondered how he could stand them all.

“Don’t tell me what to do! I got it, I was intending to lie down in the first place, but I couldn't because I've had to deal with you guys disturbing me! You,” He shot at Zoro. “Arugula man. How about instead of telling me what to do, you tell yourself to navigate to the nearest device and install a GPS in your head. Maybe that’ll help with the lack of directional sense!”

“And you, wheat-wearing boy. Just because you pay the rent doesn’t mean that I won’t hesitate to give you the diet of a rabbit for a few months. Actually, forget that. You don’t even deserve well-grown vegetables. Go choke on some grass.”

“Now you, melon-cap guy. Your aim? Even my great-grandmother’s is better than yours, and she’s fucking six feet under!”

Turning to Law, who was still somehow connected, he said, “I have less against you than I do compared to the rest, so I'll make it quick. Your hat looks like a spotted mushroom that some hobo picked up from the streets and sewed back together. Honestly I'm surprised you don't get made fun of by others for looking like you skinned a cow to get that hat, and don't get me started on your clothes. Jesus fucking christ please burn that disgusting jacket. I know who you're trying to impress and thank Jesus Christ on a bicycle they're a dumbass. I swear to the Gods above I don't even know how they started liking you when you go around everywhere like a talking mustard packet!"

The realisation of what he'd said hit him. Maybe he should go to bed.

"Do NOT disturb me!! All of you! Moss head, wheat boy, fungus man and Pinocchio reject!"

With that, Sanji stormed off.

Once Sanji was in his room, Luffy started, “He’s just upset ‘cuz he knows we’re right.” He was somehow immune to the damage Sanji had dealt against his ego.

“Still, he seems more irritable than usual.” Usopp wondered.

“You think it's a symptom?” Luffy cracked jokingly.

“Yeah.” Zoro deadpanned.

He held up his phone. On it, 'symptoms of fever' was displayed in his search bar. They looked at the results.

'Symptoms can include chills, headaches, muscle aches, sweating, general weakness, irritability and more.'

“No wonder the cook's kicks today felt so weak.” Zoro said.

“Well, he should be better tomorrow morning. If he weren't, I don't know what we'd do.” Luffy laughed it off.

“Should we leave it to Nami??” Usopp's brow furrowed. Nami was the one who mainly called the shots, especially when it came to wellbeing and Chopper wasn't here.

“Are you guys doubting his immune system and Law and Chopper's diagnoses?” Zoro stared at them in slight disbelief.

“Ohoho sticking up for the cook now?”

Sanji was semi-awake when he heard his door creak open. Quickly, he feigned being asleep. He didn't want to deal with whoever just entered.

“Hey, cook…” The voice started.

Zoro?? He sounded softer, less of a brute and more of a caring friend.

“Recover soon. Get lots of rest. Good night.”

With that, Sanji heard his door close.

Well, he better get to bed then.

Chapter Text

Usopp frowned in frustration, brow furrowed as he stared at the orange-haired girl sitting opposite him. “Nami…”

“Shut up Usopp. I told you, didn’t I?” Nami smirked devilishly as she eyed the papers in front of her.

“Argh! How did you know this was gonna happen? How??” Usopp groaned inwardly, almost tearing his hair out.

“I told you, I have a gut feeling for these things.”

“Not fair!” He whined at the loss of his money.

On the paper were some bets written, along with ticks and crosses to indicate who won and who lost, who owed whoever money, etcetera…

“Pay up, before I double the amount.” Nami stared at Usopp, a glint in her eye.

“Fine, fine…”

-

“Luffy, why’d you make me lose money??” Usopp shook the boy by his shoulders, while the former stared at him with a look of confusion.

“What’s up, Usopp? And why are you manhandling Luffy?” Law walked into their living room. “You.” Usopp sent him his most threatening glare. “We need to talk.” With that, he dragged Law by the collar into his bedroom, leaving a still-confused Luffy stranded in the midst of their living room. “Oi, Usopp! What did you meannnn?” He whined.

. . .

In his bedroom, Usopp slammed the door shut, immediately asking, “Why, on god’s green earth, haven’t you asked Luffy out yet??”

An instantaneous reaction was drawn from Law. His normally-expressionless face flitted to a look of embarrassment and fluster for a few seconds, before slipping on that mask of almost-boredom that he wore everyday. “Aha! I knew it.” Usopp snapped his fingers.

“Listen, Usopp. He just doesn’t get hints.” Law hesitated, then gruffly replied, trying to blame it on the other man’s denseness.

“He gets hints when he wants to. Like that one time where Sanji got so pissed with him Luffy got the hint to scram with a single glare from Sanji, or that other time where- Well, you get it.” Usopp cut his rambling short.

Law hesitated again, before saying, “Well, I’ve dropped a lot of hints already.”

Usopp couldn’t believe his ears. “Okay, tell you what. We’ll go ask him now. See what he’s thinking.”

Law stared, eyes going wide. “Are you crazy?? No- I- Absolutely not- I could never-” That mask of collected composure slipped out of his hands and broke into pieces.

“I don’t care what you say, let’s go.” And with that, he pulled Law out of the room again.

. . .

“Listen., listen, listen, listen.” Usopp shook his head as he paced back and forth in front of the two guys, now seated side by side. Law flushed as Luffy unashamedly wrapped his arms around the former.

“You two,” Usopp started. “Need to work your relationship out.”

Law’s face was flaming. Luffy, on the other hand, simply stared at Usopp questioningly.

“Whaddya mean, Usopp? Our relationship is worked out.” Luffy mused.

“What do you mean, Luffy?” Usopp groaned. Luffy really couldn’t take the hint.

“I meant what I said. Law and I are dating!” Luffy smiled from ear to ear.

What…

They…what??

“Fucking WHAT??” Usopp shouted.

Law looked as though he was caught between deciding to jump off a building or to slap Luffy and then himself. “Luffy…”

“You don’t remember?? I asked you once over text what you wanted and you replied ‘to date you’ and then ‘oh for dinner? I'll come over’.” He pouted.

Usopp turned on Law. “You- Him- What- Huh????”

Law was equally surprised. “Luffy, that was a joke.” Usopp shot him a glare. “Okay, not really, but you get what I mean.” His face twisted into one of uncertainty.

Luffy frowned, a childlike expression on his face. “I don’t care! You’re my boyfriend now.”

Usopp eyed the ‘new’ couple with mixed feelings.

Law never thought that Luffy could ask someone out. Apparently, Law also never thought that he’d get asked out by Luffy.

. . .

“Everyone! Dinner’s ready!” Sanji called, bringing out dish after dish, still hot from the kitchen. Law was joining them that day, like he had on so many others. Nami rubbed her hands together delightedly (in more ways than one), as she started placing food on her plate.

“Oi, guys!” Luffy stood up from the table, grinning. Out of the corner of Usopp’s eyes, he could see Law slide deeper into his chair. “Me and Torao have something to tell you all.”

Nami snorted sarcastically, “What? That you two got together?”

Usopp swore that he could see Law shrink in his coat.

“Mhm! How’d you guess?” Luffy replied, oblivious to the awkwardness of it all.

Almost everyone did a double take at Law.

Nami was at a loss for words. “You and him- He- And you-??” Her hands shook.

Sanji was mid-plate delivery when the news had been delivered. Now he stood, frozen but poised gracefully in the motion of setting down another plate. He blinked owlishly, stunned.

Zoro had just inhaled a mug of beer before and was currently attempting to cough the lodged beer out of his throat; a swift kick from Sanji helped him, albeit however painful it was.

Usopp? Well, he really didn’t have anything to say. He just clasped his hands together, and did the only sane thing left.

He prayed.

. . .

Nami rubbed her temples in frustration. “Listen. if you’re going out with that guy,” She jerked a thumb at Luffy, who was currently devouring plate after plate of food. “Please keep him in check. He’s your responsibility now.” She had pulled Law aside to offer words of advice, and to check his mental state. “Are you feeling alright? Been having any headaches recently? Or any hallucinations?” She stared at Law.

Law glared back, “Last I checked, I was the one studying medicine here. And yes, I feel fine.”

Nami could only shrug. “Just being sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. Still, you and Luffy…”

‘Usopp was right,’ She thought privately.

-

Chapter Text

The night wore later and later on as a group of individuals clinked bottle to bottle and mug to mug, laughing and cheering and whatnot. Zoro let his eyes wander on the group settled in front of him, locking onto one of them.

Trafalgar Law. He wasn’t one to drink much, let alone get wasted, but tonight was special, in a way. Zoro had somehow convinced the premed student to drink, and one thing led to another. So now, Law was wasted beyond the four seas, and about to pass out on his couch.

“Oi Luffy, come get your man. He’s on the verge of KO-ing at Sanji’s, and you know how much Sanji hates it.” Usopp grumbled, eyeing Law’s flushed face.

A tired-sounding Luffy muttered back, “I’ll be there in ten.”

-

While Usopp believed that Luffy would not lie, those ten minutes were the most awkward ten minutes of his life.

Zoro had gotten slightly buzzed and was now pestering Sanji - to the latter’s extreme annoyance. Given how they were everyday, Usopp wouldn’t have understood Sanji’s feelings - if he wasn’t there himself. In the span of those ten minutes, Usopp watched as Zoro tackled Sanji multiple times, starting by being clingy at first and then ending by whispering something into Sanji’s ear that made him turn a deep shade of red. By the time Sanji had had enough, Zoro was forcefully dragged back down the hallways and into a room for a reason that only God knew.

When Luffy rang the doorbell to finally take Law back, Usopp visibly relaxed. “Sorry about him. He’s not usually like this.” Luffy apologized with a tired chuckle, hauling his buzzed boyfriend over his shoulder by the arm.

“No prob, just make sure he drinks lots of water and gets to bed soon.” Usopp advised. A drunk Law was unfamiliar, and therefore not something to take risks around. But then again, wasn’t Luffy all up for the unknown?

-

Luffy was hauling his boyfriend to their car when he’d gotten whiny. “Luffy~? Where are we..? Are we home?”

“No, Torao, we aren’t. We are on the way there though. If you could get in the car-”

“Mmh, can we get food though~?”

“Anything, but you need to get in the car first.”

-

After many struggles, they were finally on the way back. Groans and whines from Law (haphazardly pushed into the backseat) mixed with the music blaring from the car speakers from the radio station Luffy was currently locked onto.

“Luffy~ Fuck me right now in the backseat of the car~~” Came a whine.

Luffy sighed. This wasn’t the first time in the history of their relationship that Law had randomly demanded sex out of nowhere. “Damn, Torao, I really don’t wanna have sex with you right now - not in a bad way. It’s late.”

Law, however, continued whining the same thing until they hit the next red light. As Luffy breaked at it, he took a glance back at his boyfriend in the back - followed by a double take.

His aforementioned boyfriend lay across the backseat with his legs spread wide open, while his arms rested on his lap, his back ever-so-slightly curved. The alcohol he’d consumed earlier had now faded to a tint on his cheeks, and his eyes were clearly full of lust. The eyeliner Law had put on earlier before heading out was smudged at the ends, making his eyes look more sharp, more beautiful - but also more dangerous. A very obvious bulge was in Law’s jeans, which Luffy had taken notice of and had also eyed a little too much - for someone who was supposed to be ‘uninterested’.

Was it just Luffy, or was Torao seemingly more attractive tonight?

"Luffy, please..~"

Luffy sighed once more as he hit the accelerator with more force than usual, a smile playing its way onto his face.

"You make it so hard to resist when you ask so politely."

Chapter Text

When most of them had woken up, Zoro was already gone.

His room was tidied: bed made, desk cleaned, no dirty clothes littering the floors, nothing. Everyone thought nothing of it. Maybe he went to the gym, or to the nearby youth centre to teach kendo - he sometimes had early classes. Even still, he’d leave a text or a note. But this morning? Nothing.

At first, no one really bothered as they’d assumed he’d be back soon. But when the clock struck ten and he still wasn’t back, almost everyone started to worry. Almost everyone.

“He’s not picking up my calls!”

“Tch, stupid marimo…”

“I’ll call up the youth centre.”

“Luffy! Don’t just sit there and stare! Zoro could be missing.” Nami groaned.

“Nah! Zoro’s not missing, he’s with his family. Y’know, Mihawk and Perona.” Luffy said, putting a spoonful of yoghurt in his mouth as he said so.

“He’s WHAT?”

“Mhm! Ee ‘ord me ee was goinf out wif dem to cewebrate ees borfday.” Luffy said thickly through a mouth of yoghurt.

“His birthday?”

“Eleventh November. That’s today. Sanjiiii!” He said, pulling the spoon out and whining when both tub and spoon got snatched away by an angry Sanji.

“It’s his birthday and we have nothing planned?” Chopper cried.

“Um, okay, okay, don’t panic, we can quickly rush out and get something!” Nami sweated nervously. “Usopp? Can you check if Zoro’s coming back for dinner?”

“Uh, if he picks up…”

“Guys, calm down. We have half a day to plan, we should be fine! What can we get him?” Luffy asks.

“Easy, alcohol.” Usopp shrugs.

“Just alcohol? There has to be something else.” Nami insists.

“Right. What about, um…”

And everybody freezes, minds blank. Because Zoro is their friend, and they should know his interests, but...why is nothing coming to mind?

Sanji re-enters the living room, “What’s wrong? Why’s everyone so quiet?”

“We…”

“Don’t know what to get for Zoro.”

They were met with a judgemental look from the chef. “Are you serious? He’s like an open book, it’s that easy to read him. He’s been eyeing this book on Japanese Sword Fighting, it’s like, thirty-ish bucks at the local book store? Of course we’ll get him some alcohol. Maybe we should look into getting him new earrings. Those with built-in trackers, I mean.”

Beats of silence passed before Usopp turned to Sanji and asked, “How do you know all of this?”

“Huh? Because it’s Zoro we’re talking about. How wouldn’t we?”

“Um, who’s we? Because the rest of us sure don’t.”

Stunned, Sanji stands there in shock. “What…do you mean?”

“Yeah, Sanji! We didn’t know you knew all of that. Especially ‘cuz you’re always fighting with Zoro, shishishi!” Luffy chuckles.

Nami can see Sanji’s expression flit from panic to nonchalance in a second. “Okay, okay, nevermind. Let’s go with Sanji’s idea. I’ll ask Robin and Franky to accompany Chopper to the bookstore, and then to get the alcohol. Usopp and I will go pick out the jewellery, and Sanji can stay home and make Zoro’s favourite onigiri. Luffy, um…” Nami hesitates, then adds, “Just sit tight, I think a surprise is coming your way.”

“Ooh, surprise?”

“And Sanji, dear? C’mere for a while, won’t ya?”

“Yes, Nami-swan~!”

“We will be talking about this later, you hear me?” She demands. Sanji’s expression is unreadable as he buries his reddened face in his hands, yet he manages a nod.

“Good! Now, I’ve called Torao to force him to take Luffy on a date, so Luffy won’t try and eat all the food.” She smiles sweetly, despite her intentions.

True enough, the doorbell rang several times. First was Robin and Franky, taking Chopper to the book store. “What time do we have to be back, Usopp-kun?” She smiles. “Um, before dinner is the earliest timing Zoro’s giving me, so I guess then.” He awkwardly smiles. “Alright. We’ll take good care of Chopper.” She promises, flashing yet another gleaming smile before leaving.

“See ya!”

“Nami, what surprise are you talking about?” Luffy pestered.

“Just sit still.” Nami grumbled, then straightened up. “Sanji! Usopp and I will be heading off first! Look after Luffy for us, thanks!”

In a few minutes, the doorbell rang again. Sanji hurriedly rushed to answer it, already knowing who it was.

“Hey, Torao.” Sanji greeted. “Sanji-ya-! I came here to, uh-” Law flushed at what he was about to say. “No explanation needed, Nami told me. Also, would you mind helping me pick out a gift for Zoro? It’s his birthday and I need to get him something but I’m stuck in the house.” His request was returned with a particularly judgemental eyebrow raise from Law. “Anything you have in mind?” Law asked. “I’ll send you a text later. Hey, Lu!” Sanji turns his back and shouts into the house, his voice reverberating off the walls.

“Hm?” Came the reply.

“Get your ass changed!” Sanji calls, before turning to Law. “Where’re you guys headed?”

Law clearly hesitates on telling Sanji their plans, but in the end decides to do so anyways. “Cafe hopping.”

“Cool, cool.” He remarks, then adds on to Luffy, “Bring a sweater!”

Some ten minutes later, the couple was on their way. Sighing, he pulls out his phone, running through his notes app to find his list of gift ideas for each of his friends. He searches through until he gets to Zoro’s section (which was - unsurprisingly - the longest section). Scrolling through, he grumbles, “Picky marimo. I’ve already listed the main gift ideas to the others…”

More mindless scrolling tells him that he’s out of ideas. Heaving another large sigh, he shuts his phone off and gets to work on the cooking.

Even while cooking, Sanji’s mind wasn’t really there. It strayed far, far away. What could he give to Zoro that showed how much Sanji cared for the mosshead, while being memorable enough?

Eventually, his misfocus caused his hand to slip and carelessly nick a section of the skin of his finger. Wincing, he scowled as he rummaged around a section of Nami’s room where she normally kept band-aids. As he dug deeper, he uncovered a battered and worn brown box, which had clearly seen better days. Inside? Multiple different-coloured threads and boxes of needles. This sure as hell ain’t the band aids.

And then it clicked.

He hadn’t done it in a long time, for he had left it and pushed it aside when his mother passed. He remembered the joyous times when his mother hadn’t been bedridden, when she taught him how to embroider. Despite being a boy, she had insisted that all her children learn it. Strangely enough, when she passed, it was one of the things he remembered about her.

Sighing yet again, he picked up the box and set it on Nami’s desk. He supposed that this would make a better present than anything.

After more rummaging, he bandaged his finger up and got back to preparing dinner. By the time he was done, he still had time to look up ideas for his embroidery.

“Where did I put the frames and cloth…” He muttered, searching deep into drawers. He swore he still had some left — he vaguely remembered taking them with him when he left his dad’s. “Argh- This is killing me. Stupid marimo better appreciate my efforts…”

The weight of his words hit him, and he stood up right as he muttered, “What am I even saying? Why would I care about what he thinks of my gift anyways?” Flushing, he dug deeper and finally uncovered rolls of plain cloth and circular wooden frames.

Setting them down on his desk, he began taking out threads of many different colours. His hands trembled ever so slightly as he threaded the first string into the miniscule needle hole. Yet once he first pushed the needle through the cloth and pulled it back out — hand poised gracefully as ever though not without experience — he had found that his hands moved of their own accord, pushing and pulling the thin metal in his hands: a movement that could only come from hours and hours of repetition. Finally, after nearly three hours, he had finished it. As he snipped the last thread and tied it, he set down the framed cloth and admired his handiwork. A bouquet of flowers was stitched right in the middle, with stalks of tulips and honeysuckles nestled against those of heliotropes and yarrows, while evergreen leaves adorned their sides. Sanji supposed it had gone rather well, considering the lack of practice in a long time.

Around half an hour later, everyone had returned home to a fragrant aroma. Sanji smiled as he called out to them, checking on the gifts and whatnot. In a few minutes, the food was all cooked.

“Guys! Zoro says he’ll be back in a few minutes!” Usopp shouts. “Okay! Everyone has the gifts ready?” Nami asks. On the coffee table, the gifts — now neatly wrapped and organised — sat as everyone waited in suspense.

Those mere few minutes felt like hours to them. At long last, the door opened with a ‘click’, and a familiar shock of green hair was seen before everyone cried out, “Happy birthday!”

A surprised expression was drawn out from Zoro, as he appeared in the doorway with gift upon gift in his hands. “How did you guys know?” Is all he asks, smirking slightly as he sets down all of his other presents. “Oh, Luffy spilled it.” Nami pointed directly at the boy, who whined again. Zoro could only chuckle as he admitted, “Yeah, I only told Luffy about it. Sorry, I just didn’t think that celebrating birthdays — especially mine above all — was that important to you guys. But, thank you anyways.”

Robin smiled as she ushered Zoro to unwrap his presents, gesturing to the wrapped parcels on the table as she spoke

Zoro delicately picked each one up and scrutinised it before opening each one. First came the book, then the earring. The alcohol was simply wrapped with a bow around the neck of the bottle, but no one had any idea about the last package.

“What’s this one? A bracelet with a tracker?” He joked as everyone laughed along awkwardly, having no clue themselves except for Sanji. With one tug, the ribbon came off as the thin wrapping paper slowly sank to the ground, leaving an embroidered cloth trapped in a wooden frame in Zoro’s hands. The embroidered flowers were lifelike, almost exact replicas of their realistic counterparts.

“Oh, wow…” Was all Zoro could manage, because honestly? It was one of the most beautiful things Zoro had ever seen in his life.

“Ahaha! Well, let’s eat, shall we? I bet everyone’s starving.” Nami awkwardly chuckles as everyone gains back their voice to agree. When Zoro’s back is turned, Nami mouths, “Sanji? You told me you gave up on embroidery!” Sanji awkwardly blushes, shrugging.

One dinner later, Nami enters Zoro’s room, closing the door behind her. “What d’you want?” Zoro bluntly says. “Eheh, I actually didn’t get to have a look at that embroidery, I was wondering if I could take a closer look?” She lies, face contorting into a look of fake sheepishness. “Here,” He grunts, passing her the embroidery with gentle hands.

She scrutinises the flowers, identifying all four. Immediately, her brain clicks and she pieces something together that she can’t believe. “Great! Thanks a lot, bye now!”

As she shuts the door behind her, she contemplates her next move. Walking up to an unsuspecting Robin, she whispers what she had gathered from the embroidery and leaves it up to Robin to settle. Robin immediately takes action, excusing herself under the guise of needing to use the restroom, and instead slinks into Zoro’s room.

“Zoro-kun,” She greets. “I hope you’re having a nice night so far. About that embroidery, may I please see it?” Zoro hands it over. She quickly understands what Nami was talking about.

“Say, Zoro-kun, do you know the exact reason for this choice of flowers?”

“Beats me.” Zoro replies, shrugging.

“The flowers here are yarrows, honeysuckles, tulips, and heliotropes. There seems to be an abundance of yarrows over the rest of the flowers, suggesting that the yarrows are the most important part of his embroidery. Do you know what each of these flowers mean?” Robin rapid-fires information as Zoro stares.

“No. What do they mean?”

“Honeysuckles represent pure happiness, due to their aroma, while tulips represent deep love, normally given to those whom the gifter feels an unconditional love for. Heliotropes have the same meaning as tulips, and yarrows simply mean to say that they love you in spite of everything.”

A moment of silence, before—

“Do you know who sewed this?” Zoro questioned. Robin thought, before answering, “I will be honest with you, Zoro-kun. None of us knew about this specific gift. Everyone was out the entire day: Franky and I took Chopper out, while Nami and Usopp went shopping, and Luffy went on a date with Law. The only person accountable for this would be none other than Sanji-kun.”

Zoro didn’t know how to respond to that.

“Maybe you should go talk to him.”

He didn’t know how to respond to that either.

“It wouldn’t hurt to do so. In fact, I think this may well enough benefit you both.”

More silence. Robin was afraid that she had overdone it, but Zoro muttered, “I’ll go.”

Robin nods. No words needed to be exchanged for her to know. “Good luck, Zoro-kun.”

—

A knock on Sanji’s door pulls him away from his thoughts. “Hey,” A gruff voice says. “Can I come in? I wanna talk.”

Reluctantly, Sanji opens the door a crack, before facing the mosshead. “Not now? Maybe tomorrow.”

As he’s about to close the door, Zoro sticks his foot in the crack, leaving Sanji irritated. Left with no other choice, he grumbles, “Fine, come in.”

—

“So, what’s up?” Sanji offers. They were seated awkwardly, side-by-side on the edge of his bed. “Um, the embroidery…” Zoro starts. Fuck. I knew it was too risky.

“Were those flowers chosen on purpose?” Oh god there’s the question.

“Why?” Great job, Sanji, you’re handling this so well. Couldn’t be any better. Fantastic. Wonderful.

“‘Cuz I found out what they mean.” Here it comes. Brace yourself.

Zoro’s gaze changed from the floor to Sanji’s eyes before continuing. “Did you really mean…all of that?” His voice breaks on the fifth word and it takes all of Sanji’s self-restraint from grabbing him and kissing him breathless.

A simple answer would suffice, wouldn’t it?

“Yes.”

That was not what Zoro was expecting. In all truthfulness, Zoro was expecting a scowl, along with a snide remark about how he ‘only had eyes for women’, but this?

This was not what Zoro was expecting. It wasn’t, but in the best possible way.

“You mean it? Like, really mean it?”

“Yes, Zoro, yes I mean it.”

The exhilaration when Sanji said those words made Zoro feel euphoric. He can’t stop himself from blurting out an ‘I love you’ to the blonde.

Thankfully, the blonde responds with the same thing, pulling him into a kiss right after.

Chapter Text

hello hello! as you can tell this fic has been collecting dust on tje shelf with all the other fics. ive sort of lost my hyperfixation with one piece and this'll remain on hiatus until i have more time and also the inspiration! thank you all for loving the fic as much as i had fun writing it <3

jesus christ how long has it actually been since my last update

checks notes

2022??? what the shit

the ao3 authors curse didn't get to me!! but i did sprain my ankle in 2023 so maybe there's that.. other than that im alive and well and not cursed by an internet joke so!