The words were scrawled on a napkin from some shitty bar they'd been in recently, with the symbol marred with a dried coffee stain and what looked like spilled whiskey. The latter looked recent.
Sanji almost cringed.
"i hate u becuz ur cute and stoopid as hell sanji- zoro"
Honestly, he didn't even try.
"Was that your idea of a love note? You spelled half of the words wrong," But he refuses to grin because out of everything, Zoro spelled his name right.
The swordsman shifts on both of his feet like he could burn a hole in the floor and fall right through it because the embarrassment on his face shows. His usually tan face shows a hint of a flush across the apples of his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. Sanji would spit out an a teasing comment if it didn't look so endearing.
"It was supposed to be, but you kind of ruined it. So thanks for that."
Zoro turns on his booted heel, readying himself to make a break for it out the galley door, but Sanji grabs his wrist.
"You tried."
Zoro turns his head slightly, his flush more prominent than before, but still avoids Sanji's eyes. He focuses on the the third button from the top of Sanji's favorite black and blue button up, instead. He counts the stripes, notes that Sanji rolled his sleeves up, but of course they would be. He'd been cooking before Zoro had tossed the napkin at his face.
Then Sanji does the damnedest thing. He full on starts laughing, a grin spreading across his face and now Zoro really wants the floor to collapse beneath him. (Then rethinks that, because Sanji'd fall with him, and that couldn't happen anyway because Franky'd built the Sunny too strong for that.)
"You're cute, too, I guess."
He reaches up, presses a chaste kiss to Zoro's flaming cheek, and does that thing where he breathes out slowly, like he's nervous. But Sanji doesn't get nervous. Not until now, at least, apparently.
"So, thanks."
When Zoro finally looks at him, he's gnawing on his lip instead of a cigarette since he ran out yesterday. His thumb traces shapes on Zoro's wrist, and he resists the shiver that's threatening to run down his spine.
"Can I kiss you now, or is that a little too forward?"
Zoro grins, "Kiss me as much as you want."