Day: December 22nd
Mulled Wine and Cocoa
(Warning: very light, fluffy sex scene at the end)
In all honesty, after that heated argument with Sanji almost two days ago, Zoro wanted nothing more than to just be alone with the other man to sort out where things went wrong and put them right. They'd still not had the time for make up sex, the whole of yesterday Sanji had been out with his father buying bits and pieces of god knows what and when Zoro spied the new additions to their wine rack, he knew how expensive they were simply because he couldn't pronounce the name.
He kept his mouth shut however about the worry that even though it was Christmas, Sanji really couldn't be affording to throw money around like that. If they were going to be wed, and that was most certainly an if at this moment in time, then they needed to be saving the money they could. Zoro's side of the family was far from well off and he knew that even though Zeff earned in a day what Zoro made in a week, Sanji wouldn't dare ask him for financial help- he was far too proud for that. They really were both stubborn assholes about things but if he could then Zoro would find a way of persuading Sanji to at least try and ask Zeff.
So here he was, sat in the overly comfortable armchair that he'd never particularly liked but Sanji insisted on its stay in a soft dark red Christmas jumper with white snowflakes patterned on. Sanji had help him pull the sleeve over his cast but Zoro had rolled it back up again afterwards because the extra layer made his arm too hot.
From the kitchen came the spicy and rich scent of mulled wine and cocoa and the sound of the cook rummaging about. He was singing under his breath, whatever song it was Zoro had no clue but he enjoyed leaning into the plush seat and catching scraps of words every so often that were broken by the odd mutterings of recipe methods and the names of ingredients. He would have got up to see what the blond was doing but there was something peaceful in just sitting and listening and knowing his other half was there. He was... content.
Nami, Vivi, Luffy, and Chopper would be here soon no doubt and a glance at the clock on the fireplace confirmed his suspicions when he saw they would be here in about two hours. He slid his eyesight to the tree beside him, sat a little out of reach and noticed some of the needles had fell to the floor. He'd clean those up later. It was soothing to see the lights glowing, the ways they reflected off the baubles. His eyes felt heavy and he yawned, long and deeply. A nap couldn't hurt.
"You up?"
Zoro blinked blearily and when he finally came to his senses he found he'd been covered with a blanket and, from the messy style it had been tucked in, he hazard a guess at that either Luffy or Chopper was responsible, if not both. On the sofa, Nami and Vivi were huddled together closely and were talking merrily, a mug of mulled wine each in their cupped hands. They looked up at him when they noticed he was awake and smiled softly for a moment before resuming their conversation. Zoro wondered briefly what they were chatting about but his attention was more drawn to the smell of cigarettes and hot chocolate lingering next to him.
Sanji nudged him slightly, "They've only been here half an hour," He said, quite softly, and Zoro was suddenly aware of the calmness and almost quiet of the room, he found it most agreeable in his current state of lethargy but it instantly sparked a small kindling of worry.
"Where's Luffy... and Chopper?" He asked.
Sanji chuckled, "Out back, building snowmen. Didn't want them making too much noise whilst the grumpy moss sleeps."
Zoro swatted at the blond playfully, "Asshole..."
"Mmn," The other sighed and leaned in slightly, pressed his lips to Zoro's temple. It was tender and sweet and one of those rare kisses the cook gave that Zoro enjoyed deeply, "There's mulled wine left over, or some hot cocoa. It's dark chocolate, it won't be sweet."
Zoro pulled a face as he thought, "Cocoa."
"'Kay. Say hello to the ladies, don't be an ass." The cook said and moved off to the kitchen.
Zoro decided to make an effort to move before he fell asleep again and sat forward, blinking owlishly. He still kept the blanket, not quite as willing to let go of its warmth just yet.
Vivi smiled sweetly at him, "Nice of you to join the land of the living."
"Sorry," He shrugged, "Still on medication. It makes me drowsy."
Nami turned her head to look at him, her legs laid over the top of her partner's lap, "Sanji said you broke it pretty bad..."
"Eh... It's not so bad."
"You were lucky," Sanji said as he walked in and Zoro took the moment to take in the cook's appearance. He was dressed up in a gaudy green christmas jumper, reindeers prancing across it with a cream collared shirt underneath. It shouldn't have worked but Sanji seemingly, in all the years he'd known the man, could rock anything he wanted and pull it off in a very attractive manner. He held out the mug and waited for Zoro to get a secure grip with his uninjured hand before letting go and sitting between Zoro's feet on the rug, leaning into the gap in his legs with ease as he spoke, "Anything could've gone wrong, you know."
Vivi nodded seriously at that and asked, "What happened? How did you do it?"
And so a lengthy discussion began. It's starting point was one of how Zoro had come to injure himself and it slowly crawled through aspects of life. Nami rabbited on about how her new job on the news as a weather broadcaster was going extremely well and that led to Sanji's job at the restaurant and the question as to when he would be opening his own. The answer to that was that he was unsure and still had research to take on locations and loans for that. Nami suggested that Franky could help with the building process and location and soon flowed into how he and his wife, Robin, was doing. They'd apparently gone to see a musical this weekend and Nami and Vivi were house sitting for them and feeding their cats and dog. Sanji hinted that he wanted a pet and Zoro hummed with a 'maybe' uttered lowly and the conversation slowly began to turn to Christmas presents and Zoro immediately snatched it back.
"I'll go get Luffy and Chopper in," He said, passing his empty mug to the blond and wriggling out of the blanket to step over the other man and pad his way through to the kitchen and the back door. The garden was now home to six snowmen of various size and Luffy and Chopper bustled their way in when Zoro called. They stamped their feet on the mat before taking them off and Sanji popped his head around the door way to take a look and instantly chide them on being idiits tonget their clothes soaked through, but instructed Zoro to get some old ones out of the spare wardrobe and tended to the two with hot drinks and snacks.
Upstairs now, Zoro pulled open the wardrobe doors, picking out old shirts and dressing gowns that no longer fit him but would certainly fit the pair downstairs. He took them off the hangers one handed and tucked them under his arm gently.
"What did you get him, Zoro?"
Nami lurked, leaning against the door frame with a coy smile and mischief in her eyes. Zoro narrowed his eyes, "What does it matter to you?"
She sighed, "Come on, you looked really odd when we started mentioning presents and you changed the subject pretty fast." She folded her arms across her chest, "Just tell me, I won't laugh, you know. Well, unless it's a bad present."
Zoro bristled, "It's not a bad present."
"Then what is it?"
"I'm not going to just tell you-"
"Everytime you refuse to answer, you owe me a favour." She sneered.
Zoro cursed, even if it wasn't money this time, no one wanted to owe Nami favours. He grit his teeth, "Fine. But just- just don't tell anyone."
"I won't," She said, rolling her eyes.
He looked at the carpet of the bedroom, feeling the heat in his face rising, "It's a ring, okay?" He snapped.
Nami was silent and when he looked up he saw the stunned expression on her face, "What kind of ring do you mean, Zoro?"
"You know, a ring. The ring, I guess..."
She gasped and burst into a wide smile, "Oh my God, Zoro. Congratulations!"
Zoro stumbled over words, "H-hey! He hasn't even answered yet..."
"Like he's going to say no!" She giggled, "Can I see it?"
"No, I... want it to be a surprise."
She smiled sweetly, meaningfully, "Okay. Hey, come on, let me help you carry those clothes."
They sent Luffy and Chopper home with the spare clothes they'd borrowed, the wet ones put in a plastic bag to take home with them. Nami and Vivi thanked the two men, giving them a kiss each on the cheek as a goodbye, thanked them once more, and left with the other two. It was quite late, coming up to 10pm and after locking up and not being impressed by anything on the TV Sanji suggested they go to bed instead and Zoro agreed.
After he'd got himself settled under the covers, Zoro was suddenly ambushed by the blond who crawled over him to sit on his thighs.
"I was thinking we should have sex," Sanji said, very bluntly but with a grin as his hands came to rest on Zoro's shoulders.
The green haired man smirked, "I guess that's not such a bad idea."
Sanji laughed and kissed him softly, head dipping down to press his lips on thin lips. He pulled the covers aside and sat on Zoro's lap, shuffling into position, and drew the pads of his thumbs across two strong collarbones, "How's the arm?" He asked.
"It's okay..." Zoro hummed as Sanji's fingers dragged down his scarred torso, missing his nipples because the green haired man had never really been into that and after so long he knew the tricks, the ways to get Zoro off. He wouldn't go as far to say he knew them all because he was forever discovering something new that the other liked. It was one of the many things that kept the romance alive he supposed, always finding out something new was exciting and fun. He kissed Zoro's throat and felt the vibrations of the moan against his mouth. He felt the excitement in his own stomach, knowing that he'd finally have a release of all the stress and tension that had been building up since that fight. Tonight he'd show Zoro how sorry he was, how much he meant it.
Zoro's free hand ran down the blond's stomach and Sanji smiled at the thrilling yet soothing action as the tips of the man's fingers traced on his skin. He pressed his lips to Zoro's sternum, "I'm sorry about the other day-"
"Shut up," The other sighed, fingers gracing over the cook's ribs, "You said sorry, I said sorry. We were both idiots, okay?"
Sanji looked into Zoro's determined gaze, "Okay," He brushed his lips over the man's forehead sweetly.
The blond took the lead tonight. There was no discussion about it nor a warning that he would, it just clicked and happened like that. They were in sync wit each other the whole time and Sanji couldn't help be feel that they were made for each other in a way. He couldn't see himself opening up like that to anyone but Zoro. Those intimate touches were for him only and when Zoro nudged at his wrist, Sanji couldn't help but marvel at the way their fingers seemed to entwine so perfectly. He felt his worry, the stress that ate at him until it had caused that argument simply melt away because Zoro was here and they were so close that nothing could stand between it.
Zoro's husky voice was at his ear, murmuring encouragement sometimes and simply sweet nothings at other and they were what anchored him in the press of their bodies, the slid of their skin, and the heat of each other. He kissed Zoro wherever he could; his lips, his cheeks, his eyelids, and that little place above his nose that wrinkled a little when he frowned.
"Hah. Good, Sanji it's so... Good..."
They were both reaching their limit and they knew it. Sanji's hand gripped Zoro's tighter and the other squeezed back reassuringly in turn. They fell apart easily. It had been fairly quiet but deep and meaningful sex and Sanji kissed Zoro lazily down from his high before moving to lay next to him. The blond could not forget the way Zoro had panted and came with a soft cry of his name, broken by pleasure, and he didn't want to forget it. That would be something he'd treasure for years to come.
Zoro's fingers fondled the cook's blond hair, slightly damp from sweat, and they looked at each other. Neither said a thing for a long time and they simply listened to quiet breathing evening out and the thump of their own heartbeats in their ears slowly dwindling away. Sanji laid a hand on Zoro's stomach above his navel and splayed out his fingers, just feeling the heat and the slight rise and fall from his breathing. They did not break eye contact, content and love written on their faces.
Zoro was the first to break the silence with a soft murmur, "Love you..."
Sanji felt the gnarled scarred skin under his fingertips and leaned in closer, pressing his lips to Zoro's shoulder briefly, "I love you too..."
