Looking through a black fog that only he could see made Zoro a little testy to be around. He didn't mean to be grumpy but, dammit, his head hurt. He had been having headaches like this for a while now. Not daily but they seemed to be getting worse and more frequent as time passed. Not wanting to go to chopper for something as lame as a headache he decided on a nap instead, his preferred method of dealing with most things, in a dark, quiet corner of the ship somewhere. But since Luffy made no area off limits if he thought it might be a game of hide-n-seek and it was his job to find the missing member, namely Zoro, in order to win the non-existent it was difficult to find such a spot.
Looking around the Sunny for a place to rest his aching head he decides the best places were either the crow's nest or the men's bunk room. It was a sunny day so his usual spots of under the tree or leaning against the mast were out of the question. Below deck would be too loud with sounds the waves hitting the sides of the ship not to mention those of Franky and Usopp tinkering with something or other. Kitchen wouldn't be comfortable and the shit-cook would start yapping at him for no good reason so that was definitely out of the question.
Taking long, deliberate strides towards the area that housed the wooden hammocks the male crew members called beds; Zoro passed Luffy with a mumbled, "Nap," as they passed each other, he headed toward the darkened quiet room. The shrug the rubber man gave in response let him know that he wouldn't be a victim in some sort of hunt Zoro down game moments after leaving the deck.
Throwing the door open in his haste, cringing at the sound of it bouncing off the interior wall of the room, Zoro rubbed his temples while gently closing the door. Heading to his bunk it was like heaven to rest his head on the cool pillow in the dim room. A deep sigh was the only sounds to break the silence before he drifted off to sleep.
The feeling of something be off had been hovering around the edges of Sanji's mind the past few weeks. Not sure what the source of the niggling feeling was he started keeping an eye on the other crew members, especially one strange acting marimo.
He found it strange how the sun loving moss-head suddenly preferred to take his naps in areas the sun didn't penetrate. He hadn't been training as much either. He went up into the crow's nest, where all his weights were, but the usual sounds didn't flow down to the cooks ears. No metal clanging of weights being moved around and no grunting sounds from those same weights being lifted by strong tanned arms.
Lighting a cigarette while his eyes followed the tanned man's progress to the bunk room, Sanji realized that meals had also been either missed completely or not finished. Having left overs were never a problem even if they were half eaten since Luffy didn't care and would eat pretty much everything and anything as long as it was tasty. But it wasn't like the swordsman to not finish a meal. He had one hell of a training regimen so he needed the nutriment in order to become stronger.
Thinking back over the past few weeks he realized that Zoro was getting worse. Well, whatever was making him give up on training and food was happening more often anyway. A visit to Chopper might help him figure out what's going on. It was his job, after all, to make sure the crew was eating a balanced diet and barely eating meant Zoro wasn't. That is the only reason I would even consider being concerned with that muscle bound stubborn marimo.
Finding Chopper in the medical office was easy and quick. The problem is he had no answers for the cook. He hadn't talked to Zoro about anything other than their normal banter so the furry Doctor hadn't a clue what Sanji was talking about.
Seeing the concerned look forming on the Doctors face Sanji patted his head and told him, "Don't worry. If there is something up with the shitty-swordsman I'll make sure he comes to see you by kicking his sorry ass in here myself."
"I'll leave it to you," said the smiling reindeer as Sanji strode out the door.
Feeling someone else in the room Zoro listened quietly as he heard the sound of a chair being pulled up next to his bed and a clicking that only made sense once he smelt the cigarette smoke wafting over him.
He didn't want to deal with the shit-cook right now. His head was still pounding and the smell of smoke wasn't helping. It made his stomach turn and gave him the feeling of wanting to vomit.
Not wanting to show weakness but not being able to stand the smell he snapped, "Do you mind not smoking that thing right next to me. Why are you even here?"
"Well let me see…" Sanji started to answer while snubbing out the offensive item in a nearby ashtray, "I came in to see what is wrong with you."
Opening one eye to glare at the blonde, but failing miserably due to the pain that surged through his head, he only managed to look like a wounded animal pretending to be fierce.
Sanji reached over to touch his forehead, "You don't have a fever and you don't feel clammy so what exactly is going on with you?"
"I don't know what you are talking about shitty ero-cook. I am taking a nap and that's all there is to it," was the reply that, even to his own ears, sounded forced.
"Don't pull that crap with me mold-for-brains. I can see right through it. You aren't eating and you aren't training. You are even avoiding taking your naps, lord knows how you can sleep so much, in your favorite places which usually consist of you laying somewhere on the deck," was followed with a foot nudging the bed, causing it sway slightly.
Zoro simply turned his head away from the slender blonde cook. He didn't like seeming weak in front of this guy. Of course he didn't like showing weakness to anyone but it was especially important to not show any around this guy.
"Are you going to tell me what's going on or do I have to kick it out of you?" Sanji sighed, "I really don't think you are in any shape right now to offer much resistance so kicking the crap out of you would probably prove to be way too easy."
Head snapping to face Sanji to allow his one eye to glare at him, "Try it and see what happens," he growled before wincing and closing his eye again. Damn the pillow was warm but he couldn't gather the energy to flip it.
He heard another sigh before feeling hands helping him to sit up so his pillow could be flipped. It all happened before he even understood what the cook was doing. But he was grateful and to show this he decided to confide in the cook.
"I've been having headaches," Zoro whispered, "and they seem to be getting worse. I don't know what is causing them but I'm sure they will go away on their own."
"Go away by themselves, huh?" Sanji uttered in disbelief, "You really are daft aren't you?"
Zoro really wanted to slice the ass that was setting nonchalantly in a chair next to his bunk with an unlit cigarette between his teeth. But the pain in his head prevented sudden movements.
"I said they came out of nowhere so they should just as easily leave," injecting confidence he didn't feel into his voice, "so there's nothing to worry about."
"I'm going to get Chopper you idiot so wait here."
Zoro grabbed at the other man's wrist to try and stop him and was relieved to have actually accomplished this feat on the first try. But Sanji just looked at the hand weakly holding his wrist as he removed it and placed it on its owner's chest before walking out of the room.
Waking a few hours later to a darkened room in a strange bed Zoro took in his surroundings. Shelves lined with books, vials full of mysterious colored liquids, jars filled with who knew what, a desk with a medical bag on it, and a white coat draped over the chair in front of the desk proved to him that this wasn't the bunk house but instead was the infirmary.
Looking around a bit further he noticed a bag hanging near his head and a tube running from it to his arm.
He felt better. Better than he had in days. Better and sleepy. He'd think of this tomorrow and for now he'd get some sleep.
The sun was shining through the infirmary window, casting a golden glow on the bottles and other assorted items kept on the shelves, when Zoro next woke and wiping the sleep from his one good eye he gave a huge yawn.
"So you are finally awake," a voice from behind him said. "How are you feeling?"
He knew that voice even before its source moved into the beams of sunshine, causing his blonde hair to glow brilliantly, and he was right. Sanji was standing eyeing him with a concerned look.
"Oi shit-cook why am I here?" Zoro yawned once more.
"Chopper wanted you here were it is quiet, you know what Luffy's snoring is like, so I carried you over. Now could you answer my question please…how are you feeling shitty moss-head," Sanji ended with irritation in his voice.
"Much better no thanks to you," he snapped from the bed trying to rise into a sitting position.
"Oh, no you don't. You are to stay in bed today, Dr.'s orders. He said the headaches, which turned into migraines, are due to tension and stress. Seems you have to learn to relax though I'm not sure how someone like you can be tense considering you sleep all the time." Putting his hands on broad shoulders to guide them back onto the bed Sanji felt a shiver course through the skin under his fingers. He also noticed a slight blush forming on the others sun kissed cheeks.
Zoro was compliant and laid back down as he was told, hoping Sanji didn't notice his reaction to the others touch, glancing covertly at the man standing beside the bed.
Striding to the door to lock it, Sanji turned around facing the green haired man sprawled casually across the white sheets, a blanket happened to cover the man's waist but his chest was clearly visible along with muscular legs and arms. He hoped he wasn't wrong in his thinking that this shitty swordsman was attracted to him. After all he had been burying feelings on his end for a long time now. It would be nice, no…more than nice, if his feelings were reciprocated in kind.
Not wanting to take advantage of someone ill Sanji simply walked over, and after putting his unlit cigarette back in the pack then tucking the pack safely into his suit, he sat gingerly on the edge of the patient's bed. Taking in the startled look thrown at him, was there something else in that look as well, he decided that sword boy looked healthy enough to be subjected to a bit of a test.
With this in mind he laid fingers lightly on the warm chest exposed before him, never taking his eyes off the one gray orb staring back at him. Feeling the body tense and jerk slightly under his touch he didn't fail to register the quickening heartbeat beneath his feather light touch.
"What the hell are you doing you shitty ero-cook? You aren't a Doctor so give over and leave me in peace," a voice sounding much deeper than it had a few minutes ago asked him while staying the hand on his chest from the lazy exploration that were in progress.
"I'm doing an experiment," was the reply given in a soft, almost awed, voice.
"What the HELL! An experiment you say? I'm not some damn lab rat for you to do what you want with," was the heated response.
Looking into the gray eye that held varied emotions, such as shock and irritation, Sanji could see something that the swordsman was trying very hard to hide. This something, along with the phrase "do what you want" gave him renewed energy to see this experiment to the end.
Yes, doing this could ruin a friendship and cause discomfort between the two but somehow Sanji didn't think it would. Something was telling him that the truth he wanted, yearned for, was within his reach and if he backed off now he may never realize this truth. But how to proceed and still obtain the desired result was the question?
Biting his lower lip, he could see the irritation growing in the other man, and decided to just take a leap of faith and plunge forward regardless of what the outcome would be.
Hoping the cook was going to leave him in piece, Zoro was happy to see the other move towards the only exit in the room. He even breathed a sigh of relief until he felt the pressure of the man on the edge of the bed next to him and the warmth of his fingers lightly brushing his chest. "Oh shit, if he feels what his touch is doing to me it's over. He'll know for sure and then the entire ship will find out that I've been carrying a torch for the cook," thought the swordsman in a slight panic.
His nakama weren't overflowing with maturity and he knew once the cook became aware of his desires he'd likely have no peace from all the other crew members. Sanji would use it against him since he'd see it as a weakness and he was NOT going to give that shitty cook an opening like that…EVER! The rest would be annoying as hell with Luffy being the least of the problem. That guy probably wouldn't care less what sexual orientation Zoro was and…did the captain even know what sexual orientation was?, Zoro wasn't sure and didn't dwell on it long since it made his headache reemerge…it would be the women that would be a thorn in his side. Robin snickering behind her hand at him and Nami trying to blackmail him for anything she thought she could get out of him.
"No this was something better kept to myself," he thought while stilling the fingers lightly roaming his chest like they were enjoying themselves and had started following individual muscles. It was almost like they wanted to touch him and learn about every contour of his body. Almost being the key word there. Sanji has never given him any inclination that he might be interested in anything other than women.
"ENOU…," Zoro was cut off from telling the cook to knock it off and that he wasn't a toy by a very soft and warm pair of lips against his. The pressure wasn't strong, more gentle, but enough to stop him from finishing that one word. Hell, he even started kissing back when something warm brushed his bottom lip and he was jolted back to reality knowing he had to stop this little "experiment" before things went horribly wrong. So he grabbed the blonde by the shoulders and pushed him away. The movement was gentle but firm. He had no reason, nor the energy, to hurt the cook right now but he needed to know that this wasn't going to go any further.
Feeling the lips barely touching his own made Sanji want more. He wanted to taste the man below him and found his tongue asking for entrance, to the place that would allow him this treat, before he even knew it was going to ask. Suddenly his lips felt very cold and he found himself being pushed back and away from the thing he wanted most right now – Zoro's mouth.
So before the hands placed firmly on his shoulders could move him to far away he quickly shifted himself in a way that let him put his legs on the bed and lay down facing the other man in the bed, toeing his shoes off as he went.
Noticing the look of confusion turning into one of anger, Sanji looked straight into the eye opposite his and said clearly, "I like you".
" I know you will find it hard to believe but I've had these feelings for a long time and thought this might be a good chance to "experiment" and see if you felt the same," was the next thing out of his mouth as a blush dusted his cheeks, but his stare never wavered. He kept eye contact to prove that he was sincere, all the while holding his breathe when it wasn't needed to express himself.
Hands still in the air and a look of confusion on his face, Zoro couldn't believe what he'd just heard. "This is some kind of joke right?" he thought to himself. But then Sanji continued to talk while looking at him like he was trying to penetrate Zoro's soul and make him understand.
Lowering his arms so one could be used as a pillow, if needed, and the other in a position to allow his hand to smooth down the long slender back of the blonde he stammered, "I…well that is…I like you, too. I have for a long time," with a blush also gracing his features.
The smile he received gave him the confidence to lean in and initiate a kiss that would become deeper, more passionate, and say the things neither of them weren't quite ready to say yet, compared to the previous one they'd shared. No battle for dominance, there'd be time for that later, but instead a kiss that would leave them breathless and wondering why they had waiting so long to participate in this experiment.
Trying to catch his breath Sanji snuggled in closer and burying his face in a tanned shoulder. His confidence shown during his confession now gone, "Dr.'s orders are for you to reduce stress and tension." Not meeting the others eyes and keeping his face firmly tucked out of the others sight, "I can help you with that ya know…after all sexual tension is still tension."
Seeing the tops of the blondes ears turn red and feeling an added heat on his shoulder, from blushing cheeks Zoro would surmise, all he could do was hum an agreement and kiss the soft blonde hair beneath his chin lightly. He was happy and content in knowing his feelings were mutual and this made him sleepy.
Sanji felt the man holding him relax and a light snore came from the now sleeping green haired man but Sanji wasn't insulted. After all, he knew it would only be a matter of time before they started even more experiments. This he felt by the tightening of the strong arms pulling him closer to the warm, hard body next to his.
"Next experiment will be whose on top," was Sanji's last thought before joining his partner in taking a well-deserved nap.