Zoro awoke with a groan. Turning over onto his side he was met with a sleeping Sanji beside him.
Oh yeah, I stayed at his for the night.
His brain was reminded of something else a few seconds later too.
AND WE KISSED!
OKAY, okay, breathe… let's no panic, I mean, it's not like you told the guy you weren't gay and now probably look like a total idiot and a liar. And what the hell was Zeff going to think if he found out, he would probably carve him up and serve him at the Baratie!
Wait, was Sanji even out to Zeff? What if he got him in trouble? And Rayleigh…
His thoughts paused.
Rayleigh.
It was cruel to have left the guy alone like that when he was already fighting so much. He shouldn't have been so selfish and stayed out for the night, he was probably worried sick and wearing himself out of energy he already didn't have to spare.
He truly was an awful person.
Something caught his eye.
There was a sticky note on the headboard in the blonde's handwriting.
'I used your phone to text Rayleigh saying you were here. He text back saying he was glad I found you and that you should take all the time you need to process everything, so don't freak out, he's okay.'
Zoro smiled.
He couldn't put into words how grateful he was for Sanji. He'd never done anything in his life to deserve him and yet there he was.
But now they'd kissed, was that going to make things awkward between them?
Sanji did say he did it to shock him out of his panic attack right, so did he mean it or?
A part of his brain was telling him to not be stupid and that of course the blond wasn't interested.
But then another pointed out that Sanji didn't push him away when he kissed him back either.
'I don't really care what I am as long as we can do that.'
He felt like facepalming as the cringe flooded through him.
Who the fuck says that?!
And was he even gay?
Did kissing Sanji count? Probably. Liking him back definitely would; if the blonde was even interested that is.
Was he interested?
Did he already think they were dating?
Surely not.
"Hey mosshead?" Came a very sleepy voice as he turned to see Sanji with one eye cracked open still half-asleep. "I can hear your thoughts, just relax okay."
He reached out a hand across the mattress.
Zoro took it.
Sanji interlaced their fingers with a light squeeze of reassurance.
"Go back to sleep, it's still early."
"Okay."
But the blonde clearly knew he wouldn't.
"Zoro…"
"Yeah?"
"You get one question and then we both go back to sleep, deal?"
Shit he was onto him.
"Are we dating now?"
Sanji smirked softly with a smile.
"No, we're not dating; we're gonna' take things slow, and then you can ask me out when you feel comfortable."
"Wait, why do I have to be the one to ask you out?"
The blonde shuffled, burying his head back against the pillow as he pulled the sheets up around him.
"Because I already asked you once."
Wait… WHAT?!
Suddenly he had a million questions but Sanji's eyes were already closed.
I guess I could sleep for a few more hours.
The sun was still yet to make itself known through the light yellow curtains as he took a breath. With the blonde's hand still holding his, Zoro fell back asleep in minutes, worries forgotten just for a little while.