Sanji Learns Stick
My first One-Shot! So Happy. XD
Thanks goes to BrainDeadMaggot for betaing this oneshot.
All characters belong to Oda.
Who said you couldn't teach an old dog new tricks?
The sound of an alarm clock was heard, its sound breaking the silence of the room. Only to be stopped by a resounding smack by a blonde head whom hit it. The man with a curly eyebrow and his hair covering half his face, slowly, almost painfully, shuffles his long legs out of bed. It is cold, and leaving the warmth of his covers is like leaving his cave where he has been hibernating for the winter months. But nonetheless, he has to get up so he can get ready to head to work.
His peace is disturbed by a loud snore. Making a face of annoyance, Sanji looks over his shoulder to the other person also sleeping in the same bed as he. The person next to him is slumbering, his green head and torso exposed to the cold. Sanji always wonders how he never gets cold during the cold night.
A smile comes over his face as he pulls the sheets to cover the naturally warm man. The man is like a warm teddy bear, and as cuddly as one too. It's the only time Sanji would allow the green hair man to hug him. However, when it is summer,- now that's a different story. He's thrown the taller man on the floor because of how hot it gets.
Standing up, Sanji moves to the bathroom, turning on the light, but making sure the door was closed first; he didn't want to wake the man. He has night shifts at the police station, he had just gotten into bed almost an hour ago. Even though they barely saw each other during the week, their relationship is still strong. They take the weekends off for each other. A good deal, they agreed; Sanji didn't think their house can take it if they saw each other every day.
His friends tell him he scored big, and to be honest, he thinks he did too. Perfectly tanned body, every muscled sculpted to perfection, and not to mention his sense of honesty and morals. Zoro was his name. He met him at the restaurant he works at. It was closing time and as he was locking the restaurant doors a thief assaulted him. Zoro had seen the crime and gave chase, and was able to get Sanji's wallet back for him. It was then the chef learned that Zoro, who was trying to find his way home until he saw what had occured, was an off duty policeman. Well, seeing the robber handcuffed on the ground told him the latter part, the first by the man himself. From then on it was teasing, fighting, and insults. Perfect.
Sanji finishes with his hair and turns to the clothes he has hanging on the back of the bathroom door. He is the type to take out his clothes the day before. He is used to dressing in the bathroom. At first, when they first started living together, he made a big deal about it, since Zoro would wake up cranky each time he turned on the light. It wasn't until Zoro did it to him each time he left and returned from work that he stopped being selfish and now dresses in the bathroom.
Finally finished, Sanji turns off the light as he opens the bathroom door, still being as quiet as he could. Taking his cell phone, which was charging through the night from the nightstand, Sanji heads to the kitchen to make a quick breakfast, also cooking something for Zoro to eat when he wakes. Zoro can cook, but the night shifts take a toll on him, so cooking a little extra wouldn't hurt. Plus, if he leaves the moss head, he wouldn't eat through the entire day, but only sleep. It isn't healthy, and he would not allow him to get away with doing that.
After breakfast, Sanji is heading to his car, an Urban SUV, with his keys in his hands and a piece of toast hanging from his mouth. Opening his car door, Sanji sits down, places his apron he had in his hand on the passenger side of the car and jams the keys to the ignition, it is then Sanji notices that the car was not turning on.
"Shit, what's wrong now?"
Trying a few times more, Sanji gets the same results. "Oh come on! What's wrong?" He asks himself as he gets out the car after he cracks open the hood. Glancing inside and seeing nothing wrong, Sanji closes the hood again and hops back into his car. Turning the car ignition all the way back, he sees the light turn on in the car, and know that it's not the battery. Hopeful, Sanji tries again to turn on his car, only for it to do nothing once again.
"I don't have time for this. I'll check you when I come back home. Or I'll let the Marimo have a look."
The blonde takes his stuff and heads inside again, going back to his room. Opening the slightly ajar door, Sanji walks to Zoro, shaking him gently for him to wake. Receiving a groggy response from the man - Sanji isn't sure what he said - the blonde asks for his keys.
"Marimo, my car won't start. Can I borrow yours?" He knows the moss head will say yes, but he has no idea where the keys are.
Zoro has to yawn first before he answers. "Sure⦠now let me sleep."
"Where are your keys?"
"Pants."
Should have known, Sanji thinks as he went to where Zoro discarded his pants on the floor. Placing his hand into the pocket, Sanji takes out the keys, a fluffy green ball; a Marimo, attached to them. A generous gift from his part.
Finally reaching back to the garage Sanji goes to Zoro's car, a beautiful black and green mustang. He's never been in it before; he's scared how Zoro drives, too fast for his liking, and if they do go out together, he's the one to drive since Zoro gets lost.
Slipping into the lower car, Sanji can't help but already feel awkward. The seat was reclined, as if the Marimo was sleeping as he drives. Pulling the lever, Sanji brings the seat backrest up. Sanji throws his things once again to the passenger side of the car, and jams the keys into the ignition switch, ready to head to work, knowing he will be late if he doesn't leave now. Sanji makes a face in confusion when he sees three pedals. He knew Zoro was in love, obsessed even, with the number three, but actually putting three pedals in the car? Shaking his head, Sanji turns the switch.
Turning the switch, the lights turn on, but nothing. Trying again, nothing happens. "What is it now?!"
Sanji gets out the car and runs inside. "Marimo, get up. Your car won't turn on!"
Before Zoro can fully wake, Sanji is already pushing him off the bed and guiding him to the garage. He needs to get to work, and if there was a trick to turning on the car, he needs to know so he can go!
Zoro lazily takes the keys from Sanji, slowly sitting on the driver's seat. Sanji finds this painfully slow since he is in a hurry. Zoro turns the key, and the car literally roars to life; the music blasting into the car and the small garage. Sanji flinches, but Zoro calmly turns down the volume.
"It's fine, Cook."
Sanji's mouth is open. "Thanks Marimo. Excuse, excuse." He says, pulling Zoro out. "Thanks." He adds once Zoro is out, and gives him a kiss on the cheek.
"It's in neutral. Ease her out." The sleepy man says as he turns to leave.
It is then Sanji notices that the car's gear changer looked weird. There is no "D," for drive,but had the numbers from 1-6, and "R" being the only letter. He knows "R" is reverse, so 1 must mean drive. He's not sure what the others mean though. He tries to shift the small lever, but it wouldn't move.
"Marimo." Sanji calls. "It won't go to reverse."
Zoro stops and looks over his shoulder. "Put the clutch in."
Following Zoro's eyes, Sanji notices he is looking at the pedals. Using the third one, since he knew the other two, Sanji presses it with his foot, and puts it in reverse.
"Thanks Marimo." Sanji says with a smile. Zoro's car is so weird. Must be customized for him. Sanji thinks.
When Sanji is about to back out, once again the car turns off. Sanji wanted to curse, scream, but he knows he cant. Before he can say anything, Zoro is next to him. He can't help but blush since the car is low, and Zoro is shirtless and in his boxers.
"Cook, do you know how to drive a stick?"
"Stick?"
The dimpled smile Zoro sends his way makes Sanji want to melt. "Get out." Sanji opens the car door and allows Zoro in. "Get in." Going around, Sanji sits on the passenger side of the car.
Zoro turns on the car again with ease, and reversed the car, without it turning off. He stops when they are at the curb in front of their house. Shifting into first, Zoro starts to drive; Sanji's blue eyes watching Zoro. Feeling the car accelerate, he sees when Zoro shifts into second gear, then third, each time using the third pedal. By the time Zoro is in fourth gear, the blonde has a smile on his face, almost laughing childishly because of the joy he feels.
When they start slowing down, Sanji notices that the Marimo lowers down the gears. It's not until they stop that Sanji realizes they are in front of their house again.
"Get out." Zoro instructs again and Sanji obediently follows what Zoro instructs. "Come. Drive."
The blonde can't help but hesitate, but Zoro glares at him. Clearly, the Marimo is tired and doesn't want to hear any of his complaints. Zoro brings back the seat, letting Sanji sit in-between his legs, and wraps one of his arms around the blonde.
"I want you to shift, according to the numbers, and only when I tell you to."
Sanji nods. He's feeling nervous, but Zoro is right behind him, so nothing will happen. Slowly the car starts moving again, and Zoro commands him to move it into second. Sanji quickly moves the shift stick; hard.
"Gently, Cook. It will fall into place."
"Third." Sanji hears him, the Marimo's breath ghosting over his ear and sending a shiver down Sanji's spine. When Sanji reaches for it, he feels Zoro's bigger, rough hand on his, and gently guides Sanji's hand into third gear. Eventually, Sanji gets the hang of shifting. He is able to shift to fourth, and back down. They return to their house after going around the block again.
"The hardest part is the clutch." Zoro informs as he shuts off the engine and slides out from behind Sanji and sits in the passenger seat of the car. "You have to give enough gas, and loosen the clutch slowly until the car goes forward. As long as the clutch is in, the car will not turn off. But you also don't want to 'ride the clutch". Meaning you don't want to drive with the clutch in. It will wear it down, and it will make the car smell funny." Zoro leans back, but his tired eyes are on Sanji. He is clearly waiting for the blonde to give it a try.
Sanji gulps before he puts in the clutch, and starts the engine. Making sure it was in "1", Sanji tries to move the car, but it jerks to a stop and turns off.
"Shit."
"Don't worry. Turn it on, and try again. Give it more gas."
Sighing, Sanji tries again. But the same happens. And again, and again. It's not until the fifth time that the car moves a few feet forward before it turns off again.
"You saw that Marimo?!" Sanji says with a bright smile, his eyes sparkling with delight.
Zoro can't help but smile. "Come on Sanji. Try again." He says between a yawn, but trying to sound encouraging. Trying two more times Sanji has the car moving, and is able to shift into second. Sanji is able to reach fourth gear, and even slow down.
Zoro orders Sanji to stop a few times so Sanji can learn how to get the car moving without it stalling or turning off. Though the car still turns off now and then, Sanji pretty much has the hang of it.
It's not until his phone rings that Sanji notices that he is late. "Oh, NO!" Sanji stops the car. "Out Marimo, I have to go."
"What?"
"Out. Come on." Sanji pushed Zoro's shoulder, the bigger man stepping out the car. "Thanks for the lessons. See yah, love you." Sanji says as he speeds off. The car, of course, stopping once before he actually did speed off.
"Wait! What am I supposed to do in my boxers, two miles from home?!"
A/N: I always think of Zoro as the one who knows how to drive stick. And Sanji would have to learn from the moss head. XD
Thank You For Reading.
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