I know, I know there is still fluff in this one, but what can I say I'm a big marshmallow myself… :p Though I have to admit that though I like how the previous chapter turned out, there was some really lame and mushy sentences… -_-' So I took some of them off and replaced them with some less lame ones. But this chapter had to have some fluff in it 'cause it's the "official end" of this story since after this is just going to be peeks of certain parts of their life. 'Cause as you might have guessed it, the majority of you readers wants drabbles. So after this chapter, it will continue under the form of sometimes fluffy, sometimes smexy, or sometimes dramatic drabbles. Who knows…it will depend on my mood. :D Anyway now I'll let you enjoy this chapter, and I'm really sorry for this long message. You might not really like to see those messages, but I'm so anxious and excited every time I post another chapter that I have to say something. Maybe that's why people always complain about girls talking too much…Urgh I really need to shut up… :p
Enjoy!
Normal POV
Two days have passed since they got back together. Sanji is cooking something for lunch when Zoro enters the kitchen.
"Hey…" Zoro greets with a warm smile.
"Hey…" Sanji greets back, returning a smile himself.
That was all the words they needed to speak to each other, the feelings and emotions that you can see in their eyes doing the rest. Since they are back together, their relationship has graduated to a new level. Though they still have a hard time keeping their hands off of each other, the lovey-dovey phase has passed. Of course, it's not like they won't do, from time to time, some romantic stuff, but the whole adoration phase makes them now laugh at how childish it was. Their relationship has matured along with them, and even though they have a hard time accepting it, this whole new situation is thanks to Luffy's brother, Ace. Thanks to Ace, they've been able to talk a bit about things that their pride didn't allow them to. Now everything is now back to normal, well there is still one thing or should we say one person that might shake this feeling of normality and peacefulness.
"Good morning everyone!" Ace shouts happily, slamming the kitchen door open with a huge grin on his face.
"Go away." Both Sanji and Zoro grumble unhappily.
"Aww come on you can't be mean to me after what we shared together." Ace says pouting in a fake hurt voice, "Don't tell me you didn't like it 'cause I know you did."
" 'Was a one time thing…" Sanji mumbles embarrassed chopping more harshly the poor vegetables.
"…Never gonna happen again…" Zoro adds glaring at the table like it had done something to him.
"Maybe, but you can't deny that you enjoyed it." Ace replies in a sing song voice, that sounded really childish, slumping his body in a chair.
"Don't you have someone that you care about somewhere? Someone else that you can annoy the living hell out of him?" Sanji asks in an exasperated tone.
Ace's face got somber at hearing this. He actually has a special someone that he likes to annoy, but that he loves deeply. Unfortunately, with him being a pirate and the other being a marine, it's hard to talk about feelings, especially with one bad ass marine like Smoker. The few times Ace had gathered enough courage to say his feelings to the other, he chickened out after looking at Smoker's serious gaze on him and played his goofy self again. Now, looking at Sanji and Zoro together, he can't help but feel his chest tighten with sadness and envy at something he doesn't have. Of course the situation is different since him and Smoker are by definition enemies, but you can't choose who you fall for right? Everyone has the right to be happy with someone, to have a happy ending. With those things in mind, Ace stands up and walks out of the kitchen with a determined face.
"I have to go." Ace simply says before leaving the kitchen without giving the chance to anyone to say something, and then jumping on his special boat to go full speed in one direction.
Three hours later in Smoker's cabin…
Working on some paperwork and bored out of his mind, Smoker lets his mind wander toward a certain brat. It has been a week since he last saw Ace, and he is wondering where that annoying brat could be. Not that he missed him or anything like that of course, but he usually would come tease him from time to time, and tempt him into a sex session. Groaning, Smoker puts his pen down and rubs his face roughly with his hand as if to force him to forget about all this. Though he knows that what he does is wrong, he can't help but succumb to the kid's teasing, it is as if he had a special power over him. At that moment, Smoker hears someone knocking at the window.
'Who the hell would knock at the window?' Smoker thinks furrowing his brows.
He opens the window, and there in front of him stands, or rather is crouched, Ace with a big goofy grin as usual.
"Hey there Smokey!" Ace says happily hopping up into the room, not waiting for an invitation from Smoker to do so.
'Urgh I should have guessed it would be him.' Smoker sighs internally.
"What are you doing here Portgas?" he asks doing his best-annoyed voice.
At this Ace's face loses his grin, and takes a serious expression on. Seeing this, Smoker is startled for a moment. That's not really like Ace to act like that.
"Well I…" Ace starts but stops himself biting his lower lip.
He avoids Smoker's gaze, and looks at the floor with interest, a tint of pink adorning his cheeks. His curiosity picked, Smoker waits patiently for the brat to finally tell him what he seems so embarrassed about. With a heavy sigh Ace takes all his courage and say what he has to say.
"I've come here to tell you that I love you." Ace says feeling like a weight has been lifted up from his shoulders, "I don't care if it's illegal, if we are enemies, I just know that I want you and no one else."
Stunned, Smoker looks at Ace without saying anything for a moment. Did this brat really just admit that he has feelings for him? Someone who is a decade older than him, and a marine nonetheless. Smoker is not the type of man to have purely sexual relationships, he even thought for a moment he had no type. Women weren't attractive for him and men were not even thought of. So when this pushy brat arrived and turned his world upside down, he knew that the brat had a special place in his heart. Even if his way of acting didn't give away anything. But that's just because he is gruff by nature, and also because he is pretty good at hiding his feelings. Though he's never really put a real fight when it came to be with Ace, Smoker made sure to not let his heart take control. Having a relationship with this pirate was just impossible, they are enemies for Kami's sake! But then again, if the brat feels the same way that he does why not try this out, being together. What the upper authorities don't know won't hurt anyone right? With a final sigh, Smoker grabs Ace chin and brings his face close to his, and kisses him tenderly like he had never done it before. With an astonished look on his face, Ace looks at Smoker in the eyes for the first time since he arrived.
"Does it mean you…?" Ace asks not believing what just happened.
"What else could it mean you idiot." Smoker mumbles a bit irritated but mostly embarrassed.
Ace's eyes begin to shine brightly, a grin splitting his face in two. He jumps on Smoker happily, locking his arms around his neck and kissing him passionately. Smoker responds to it after a few seconds, and Ace puts his legs around Smoker's waist, making him having to grab his thighs so that they both don't fall on the ground. When they part for air, Ace leans in and nibbles on Smoker's ear, which earns him a groan of appreciation.
"Why don't we go to bed celebrate the new status of our relationship?" Ace whispers hotly into Smoker's ear sucking slightly on the earlobe, "I know you've been lonely without me old man, so I'll let you do whatever you want to me tonight."
"Tch cheeky brat!" Smoker replies groaning a bit, "We'll see if how you'll be after I am done with you."
With that said, Smoker carries Ace as fast as he can to his bedroom and closes his door after putting a 'do not disturb' sign on the door, which will not be removed before the next morning.
Back at the Going Merry the moment after Ace left…
Sanji's POV
I look at the door from where Ace just disappeared, dumbfounded.
"What's got into him?" I ask to nobody in particular and then turn toward Zoro, "Do you think I've said something to upset him?"
"I don't think it's your fault, he looked like he has just taken a serious decision." Zoro tells me shrugging his shoulders with nonchalance.
"Hmm maybe…" I say pensively then realizes something, " Do you think he likes someone?"
"Probably." He replies.
"Don't you think it could be someone from the ship?" I ask annoyed by his lack of active participation in the conversation.
"If it was he wouldn't be leaving the ship right now." Zoro tells me.
He's right, as I look at the kitchen's window, I can see Ace going full speed away from the ship.
"Moreover, why do you even care about who he likes?" he asks me.
"For nothing in particular." I say turning my head away from him, blushing a bit.
I hear Zoro sigh and stand up from his chair. He comes to me and hugs me from behind, putting his chin on my shoulder, his back pressed against my back.
"If he was attracted by you I can assure you that I'd…" he begins but before he can finish I cut him off.
"That's not me I was thinking about!" I tell him a little too loud, irritated.
"Then who?" he asks me an eyebrow raised.
"You, you idiot." I tell him squeezing the arms around me as to keep them where they are, "For your information if you hadn't noticed, you are his type."
"Me?" he asks stunned, "How can he be attracted to me?"
"Isn't it obvious?" I ask turning around to face him with a frown on my face, "You are a very sexy, manly man, and well even though your character is sometimes a bit annoying, you're really nice."
"So you think I'm sexy?" Zoro says in a wolfish grin.
"Of all the stupid and embarrassing I've been saying, the only thing that you retain is this." I say rolling my eyes and letting a smile appear on my face, "Sometimes I'm wondering why I put up with you."
" 'Cause you love me baby. That's as simple as that." He replies with a cocky grin.
"Humph could you be more full of yourself." I ask rhetorically.
"Stop talking, so I can kiss you already." Zoro growls in a voice that sends shivers up through my spine.
With that said, he grabs my chin forcefully and kisses me hard on the lips. I respond immediately to it by grabbing his hair tightly and pushing him even closer to me. Unfortunately we eventually have to part for air. Both panting, our forehead against one another, looking deep in each other's eyes, we stay like this for a bit just enjoying this little silent moment alone. He goes sit on one of the chair, and me sitting on his laps. I lay my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
"Sanji." Zoro says sounding hesitant.
"Hmm?" I say as a sign I'm listening.
"Don't you think it's time we make this official?" he asks.
"Make what official?" I ask confused.
"Our relationship." Zoro tells me, "I think it's time we announce it to the crew."
"Oh…hum yes I think it might be good to." I stutter a bit anxious at the idea of telling everyone but agreeing nonetheless, "I mean the girls already know about us so why not tell the others."
"Good. I'm glad you agree with me." Zoro says letting out a relieved sigh, "Not telling people about it is kind of hard to do especially in a ship like this where people could find out at any moment."
"Well we did manage not to for a while." I say for the sake of arguing a bit.
"Yeah we did." He replies with a small smile, "Now when should we do this?"
"When Ace come back from his little trip." I state firmly, "I want him to be there to hear it."
"What is it with you and Ace?" Zoro asks me amused.
"Nothing." I reply blushing, "I just want to show whom you belong to."
"Oh so you are jealous." He says chuckling.
"Am not" I say pouting, "Ok I might have been a bit envious of him to have had you when I've never but that's it."
"So you are jealous of him for topping me when you never have done it yourself, is that it?" he asks with a surprised tone.
"Hum yeah…" I say hiding my face red with embarrassment into his chest.
"Well what if I promise you that'll let you top one day?" he whispers to me in a sultry voice.
I raise my head up real fast and look at him stunned. I feel excitement into my chest, and blood coming out of my nose.
"Pervert." Zoro chuckles, shaking his head in false exasperation.
"Maybe but I think you are as much of a pervert as I am." I tell him with a smirk, wiping with my hand the blood from my nose.
I get up reluctantly from his laps and go back to finish to make lunch. Luffy then arrives as always loudly into the kitchen ready to shout something about being hungry and wanting to be fed but stops noticing apparently something.
"Waaah! Zoro you are bleeding!" Luffy starts to shout, "Zoro is going to die!"
I turn myself around quickly enough to see Zoro, with a nosebleed that he quickly wipes away, blushing like mad with embarrassment at being discovered. Luffy jumps on him and shakes his shoulders alarmed.
"Zoro if you see a bright light don't go toward it!" Luffy keeps ranting, "Chopper, Chopper come quick Zoro is hurt!"
"I'm fine you idiot! Let go of me!" Zoro exclaims annoyed desperately trying to shake Luffy off of him.
"What! Zoro is hurt!" Chopper exclaims scared, arriving into the kitchen, "A doctor! We need a doctor! Ah wait that's me…"
"Calm down Chopper I'm ok." Zoro says finally managing to make Luffy let go of him by grabbing him by the neck and throwing him away.
"Really?" Chopper asks looking at him with extreme seriousness, turning into 'doctor mode'.
"Really I am." Zoro tell him giving him a smile to reassure him.
"Ok I trust you." Chopper finally says relieved, then leaves the kitchen dragging a whining Luffy about how Zoro is a 'meanie'.
I chuckle at the scene that just happened there a few seconds ago. Then I look at Zoro with a smug smile.
"So who's the pervert now uh?" I tell him tauntingly.
"Shut up." Zoro mumbles blushing beet red.
The next day…
Zoro's POV
"Hey guys I'm back!" Ace announces jumping on the deck of the Going Merry a happy smile on his face.
I look at him for a moment, studying his expression. Apparently, whatever he left the ship for must have been a success 'cause I don't think his lips can stretch any wider.
"Ace!" I hear Luffy shout before hugging his brother, "Where have you been!"
"I needed to go see someone." Ace replies ruffling affectionately his little brother's hair.
"Why did you have to go see this person? Are you bored with us?" Luffy asks with watery eyes looking like a kicked puppy, "Don't you like me and my crew?"
"No, no that's not it Lu." Ace reassures him chuckling a bit, "It was just really important that I talk to this person."
"Did you find your mate!" Luffy asks with eyes shining with curiosity.
I laugh quietly at what my captain just said. Who would have thought he knew that kind of word? This should be fun to watch. I've had my suspicions about Ace having a love affair of some sort with someone. Because even though he is a real pervert who has no shame whatsoever to manipulate people to attain his goals, he also looked like the kind of insecure guy, who is in love with someone, behind the facade he's showing to everyone. I turn my head toward Ace watching attentively his reaction. Ace looks at his little brother with big eyes for a few seconds surprised, before softening his features.
"Yeah I think you could say that." Ace answers smiling cheekily a hue of pink adorning his cheeks, putting his hands on the back of his head.
"I knew it!" Luffy exclaims happily jumping around, "So how is he, how is he?"
"Oh I'm sure you'll like him Lu." Ace says with an amused smile like the thought of his brother meeting his lover would be a funny sight.
"Wait did you say 'he'?" Ussop asks.
"Yup!" Luffy simply answers.
"But how did you know it was a man?" Ussop insists.
"Ace never liked girls." Luffy says matter-of-factly, "Though a lot of girls flirted with him he never cared about them. He always preferred to go out with boys, which always enraged Grandpa."
"Tsk that old man is as open minded as an oyster." Ace replies furrowing his brows.
"Hey what's all the ruckus about?" Sanji asks coming toward us.
"I win love-cook." I tell him with a smirk when he looks at me surprised, "I told you he had gone to his see his lover."
Everyone looks at us in wonderment, which makes me realize that maybe I shouldn't have said that in front of everyone. I give Sanji a small apologizing smile, while he looks at me in exasperation.
"So Ace," Nami says making everyone turn their heads back to Ace, "What's your boyfriend's name?"
"Hum that's…confidential!" Ace tells us with a wink, "Maybe later I'll tell it to you."
"I've never thought you were gay." Ussop comments.
"Does it bother you?" Ace asks.
I look at Ussop, anxiously waiting for his answer, giving even more attention to the conversation than before, and I feel Sanji doing the same.
"I guess it doesn't." Ussop replies shrugging, "I'm not into that kind of thing but it doesn't mean I don't accept it. It's your lifestyle not mine."
This is it. It's the perfect time for me, and Sanji to make our announcement. I look at Sanji in the eyes, seeking for his approval to do so. He gives a slight nod, and comes closer to me, taking my hand in his. I breathe deeply before turning myself toward the others.
"Guys, there is something that Sanji and I have to tell you." I say to get everyone's attention.
Everyone turn their heads toward us. On Ussop, Chopper and Luffy's face you could see curiosity to what we have to say. Nami and Vivi look at us with a hint of surprise and what seems like excitement, and Ace looks at us with what looks like a smug smirk.
"So hum…for a few months now we've been...more or less going out together." I finish lamely finding it hard to say it, my heart beating like crazy.
"What Zoro tries to say" Sanji explains coming to my rescue, " is that our relationship has been chaotic up until two days ago, and that now we are officially, and fully together."
I squeeze his hand as thanking, and he squeezes mine back. For a moment everyone looks at us without saying anything. Nami and Vivi look at us proud and happy, looking like they could hug us for coming out to the crew. Ussop and Chopper look at us, with eyes looking like they pop out of their sockets at any moment, and mouths agape. Luffy just looked at us picking at his nose, looking like he didn't even listen to us, and Ace is still sporting that smug smirk on his face.
"You but… you hate each other!" Ussop exclaims coming out of his trance, and pointing at us accusingly.
"We don't HATE each other," I argue, "We just argue sometime that's all."
"You 'just argue'? Are you kidding me! You literally fight all the time over stupid things!" Ussop exclaims, "Back to Nami's island you couldn't even stand each other!"
"You better stop pointing that finger at us Pinocchio, or I might break it." Sanji growls annoyed, "It's true that back to Nami's island we couldn't stand each other as you say, but it was because we had a little quarrel back at the Baratie. But if you recall, we were on better terms after the celebration for Arlong's defeat."
"What happened at the Baratie?" Ussop asks.
"I'd rather not talk about it." I say looking at Sanji pointedly making him understand that this part of our common history is better left forgotten.
"This is something that has been really hard on us, and we don't want to remember it." Sanji explains briefly.
"Ok." Ussop says looking at us with understanding eyes.
"So are you all ok with us being together?" I ask more to know their opinion than anything else since even if they don't approve, which I'm sure they do, it won't change anything.
"What! You two are together!" Luffy exclaims looking at us wide eyed.
"Idiot!" Nami exclaims punching him on the head.
"That's what we have been talking about for the past ten minutes." Ussop says sweat dropping.
"That's my brother to you!" Ace says laughing.
"Awesome! Two of my nakamas are together that's great!" Luffy exclaims with a huge grin.
"Thank you Senchou." I tell him with a smile.
"No problem Zoro." Luffy tells me still grinning.
"Me, I'm ok with it," Ussop says, "It's just that the idea of you two together is a bit unsettling."
"As long as you are happy, I'm ok." Chopper says with a cute smile, "I'm glad you love each other."
"Well me and Nami have known for a while so you already know what is our feeling about this." Vivi says smiling.
"What! You knew!" Luffy and Ussop exclaim.
"Why didn't you tell us!" Ussop asks looking frustrated to not have been put into the confidence.
"Because those two wanted to keep it secret at the moment." Nami answers.
"Namiii! Why didn't you tell me! Lovers should tell each other everything!" Luffy whines pouting.
"Because you idiot wouldn't have been able to keep your mouth shut!" Nami tells him annoyed, "Plus you guys must really be blind for not seeing that they were together. It was so obvious that anyone, that could put two and two together, could have seen it!"
"Well it must a girl thing 'cause I don't think anyone else realized it." Ussop huffs, pouting along with Luffy at being treated of idiot.
"I did." Ace says raising his hand, "I realized it the first day I joined you."
"Ace, why didn't you tell your cute little brother!" Luffy exclaims, looking at Ace with puppy dog's eyes.
" 'Cause you should have figured it out by yourself." Ace tells him.
"You are so mean." Luffy says crossing his arms and pouting.
"Well I'm glad you all are ok with us being together…" I say, a sweat drop on the back of my head after looking at what just happened.
"Well what do you say I prepare a feast to celebrate the fact that Ace has someone in his life, and my and Zoro's official relationship?" Sanji asks with a smile.
"Yay a feast!" Luffy shouts pumping his fist up in the air, "Sanji! I want lots of meat!"
Late at night…
We've been partying during the entire day and it's only around midnight that everyone decided to break this party and to go sleep. Me, and Sanji are the only one still awake. We are sitting on the deck, peacefully watching the stars in the clear night sky, with Sanji sitting between my legs leaning against me, his back pressed to my chest, and my arms around him. We just stay like that for a few minutes in a comfortable silence, just enjoying each other's presence.
"Do you remember the night we made this stupid deal together?" Sanji says sounding a little nostalgic, "It was the same kind of night as this one. That's when we've had our real first kiss."
"What do you mean by 'our real first kiss'?" I ask him.
"The first kiss that we shared with no other physical intention, a kiss where only deep affection for each other was shared." Sanji tells me with a dreamy smile.
"Oh…" I say out of other words I could say.
"I'm glad the crew knows now about us," Sanji continues, "I actually feel relieved that they know."
"I am too." I tell him smiling, "We don't have to hide anymore."
"Now every body knows that you belong to me and no one else." I whisper to him kissing him in the neck.
I feel him shiver. I tighten the grip of my arms around him and gives him butterfly kisses on every inch of visible skin.
"When I think that at first I thought you were just a brainless brute with no romantic feelings whatsoever." I hear Sanji breathe out with a teasing smile.
"When I think that at first I thought you were someone serious and who is not a real blabbermouth." I tease him back with an amused smirk.
" 'Guess first impressions are not always true." Sanji replies closing his eyes under the feeling of my ministrations and turning his head slightly so that we can kiss.
I kiss him gently, just enjoying the feeling of his lips against mine.
"I think we should go to bed if we want to get some decent sleep." I tell him, giving a quick peck on his lips again.
"Hum I guess you're right." Sanji agrees reluctantly, "We wouldn't want our captain to go on a rampage because his cook couldn't wake up now would we?"
"That's the spirit." I tell him jokingly and earning a half-earnest annoyed glare.
As we arrive into the men's quarter, I turn to him and put my arms around his waist, bringing our bodies closer.
"You could come sleep into my hammock." I suggest him praying internally for him to say yes.
"I'd like that but don't you think that…" He begins to tell me with a conflicted expression on his face.
"They are ok with us being together." I tell him, "I'm sure they won't mind us sleeping into the same hammock."
"I guess you're right." Sanji whispers in a small voice.
"Of course I am." I say in a soothing tone, "So do you want to?"
"Yes I do." Sanji says with a smile.
"Good." I say smiling happily.
I go lay on my hammock on my back, and Sanji comes lay beside me on his stomach, but with half of his body on top of me. I secure my arms around him as to not let him go anywhere. I smile at him and kiss him tenderly, massaging his scalp a bit.
"Goodnight baby." I whisper to him, "I love you."
"I love you too." He whispers to me back with a loving smile before burying his face into my hollow of my shoulder, and drifts into sleep.
I look at him sleeping for a moment before falling myself asleep.
Normal POV
The next morning, while Nami was about to yell at the boys about being lazy and needing to wake up and make themselves useful, she saw a scene that brought a smile up to her face.
"Nami what are you…" Vivi began to say but gets silenced by Nami who frantically makes a sign to her to approach with her hand.
"Look." Nami tells her in a really low voice.
Vivi looks into the direction that Nami is pointing.
"Oh…" Vivi whispers with a smile.
There, in a hammock lay Zoro and Sanji, being hold in each other's arms, sleeping peacefully like nothing could disturb them.
At a moment Luffy begins to wake up and look at his surroundings and spots Zoro and Sanji. He is about to say something when Nami quickly puts a hand on his mouth and makes a sign to him to not make any noise. Ussop, Chopper and Ace wake up too and join the little that has formed a little away from the still oblivious sleeping couple. With a fond smile they all at the couple for a few seconds before Nami speaks.
"Come one lets leave them alone and let them sleep a bit longer. I'll make breakfast today." She says in a whisper to everyone.
With that they all left the men's quarter, leaving those two to be unaware of the world around them. Letting them stay a bit longer in that peaceful state where they have each other, and where nothing else matters. One day they'll have to face new problems, but they'll know they have a person on who they can count. Someone who'll always be there to help them, and push them forward to their dream. Whatever the struggle is, they'll always be side by side, facing whatever is coming toward them. They are a team, and no one will be able to separate them.
The end...or maybe only the beginning... :p
I hope you liked the little Smoker x Ace part. I felt it would be nice to have a small scene with them since I included Ace into the story. I didn't write the lemon between them 'cause I felt this was Zoro and Sanji's story not theirs, so I didn't want to "spoil" the story with a scene like that. I wrote this part also because I have in mind to soon start a multi-chapter story about those two, and so I wanted to exercise myself out a bit and know your opinion on it. I really want to know if you think I'm "qualified" to write a story about those two or maybe that I should just forget about writing about them, that I suck at it. I'd like to have your opinion. Anyway thank you to all those who've been reviewing my story all this time, your reviews are really making me happy and progress in my writing style (or at least so I hope… :D).
