Chapter 20

Where he belongs

Zoro was hearing the sound of the ocean crashing softly on the sand and the lively discussions of his friends not far from him. The sun had appeared early in the day and as the hours progressed, the crew decided to spend the afternoon on the beach. It was probably the last time of the season they would be able to enjoy it and despite the air being just lukewarm, everyone welcomed the idea. The fencer himself hadn't made any fuss. He had simply leaned a little aside against a tree at the edge of the beach. From this position, he could both close his eyes to rest without the cries of his friends disturbing him but he also had his swords at hand at the slightest threat.

But the threats were less on All Blue. A few angry villagers, a few lost pirates and a few Sea Kings, that's all they had come across in the weeks they had been on this island now. With a little imagination, he could have thought it was a vacation: life was pleasant despite the scarcity of resources. Unlike the inhabitants, Zoro would have adapted perfectly to this simple lifestyle. He didn't need more than he already had: a roof over his head, enough food, and spaces large enough to meditate or train in silence.

The only thing he would have missed was Mihawk. Indeed, he could never have reached him here without going through a door by chance. But maybe he wouldn't even be aware of his existence. Perhaps he would be content to wield his swords alone with no other purpose than to protect his village or his friends. Unlikely but not impossible.

Luffy and Chopper's laughter drew his attention to the sea. The captain and the little reindeer were still fascinated by the ocean despite their condition and this time was no exception. Equipped with buoys and armbands, they were splashing about and playing ball while Brook was staying dry to play his role as referee. A little further up the beach, Nami and Usopp were discussing the navigator's Clima-Tact. The young woman was showing the gunner how she used her weapon and he took some notes for future improvements. Next to them, Robin and Franky were also exchanging a few words without the swordsman knowing what it was about.

Only the cook was missing. Again.

Sanji was spending much of his time in the village now. His restaurant was finished although many interior fittings were still missing. The blond had always taken an interest in the inhabitants, in particular because of their frugal life, but since he became aware of the living conditions of the other islanders a few days earlier, he knew no rest.

Zoro knew that the little plea the cook made that day wasn't empty words. Sanji was committed, he had made a promise and he meant every word of it. The fencer hadn't been surprised when he had heard him at that moment. It was in the blond's nature to want to help others and it was even more so when it came to feeding people in need on the ocean he had dreamed of finding since his childhood. It made sense.

So Sanji was struggling while waiting to fulfill his promise. He was helping with the last harvests, the fishing, the stock up for the winter, not to mention the meals for the crew. For that matter, he had made sure to hand them a large cooler filled with pieces of watermelon for the boys and two assorted cocktails for the girls before they went away to the beach earlier. And despite his visible anger when he mentioned his conversation with his mentor and this busy schedule, Zoro had no doubts. Sanji was delighted to be here. He belonged here.

The swordsman himself was happy to see him like this. He easily understood this feeling: there was nothing more precious than feeling part of a whole, knowing that you were doing what you were born to do. Since the first day of their arrival on the All Blue, the fencer had noticed his companion was shining with a new fire. This fire was as hot as the one he had always possessed, a fire that burned his enemies when his Diable Jambe pierced their bodies. It just vibrated with an extra brightness now. A radiant, almost blinding brightness. A burst of happiness that filled his friends with joy for him and that Zoro also discreetly admired in his own way.

Sanji was life: his passion, emotions, strength, principles, all his gestures sparkled with an intense life drive the fencer had rarely seen. Apart from Luffy, the cook was certainly the liveliest person he had ever known. And if the swordsman himself was rather withdrawn and cold, having trouble letting emotions reach him, rubbing shoulders with the blond and sharing this special relationship with him had opened up many perspectives in this regard. The cook's breath of life could be exhausting but most of the time, it was also comforting and heartwarming. It covered with softness and strength the darker moments of existence and Zoro had learned to recharge his batteries with him when night fell. So yes, Sanji was life, and he had even become part of his own life.

"My hat!"

The fencer sat up, his senses alert. Luffy's voice had lost its usual carelessness and it was startling enough for the entire crew to turn to him with worry. His straw hat had indeed been blown off by the force of the sudden wind and it had landed in the water. It was sinking slowly, swallowed up by the waves pushing it out to sea and his elastic arm had no chance of catching it in the ocean.

Instantly, Zoro got rid of his clothes, ready to dive. None of the devil fruit eaters could get hold of it and he was a better swimmer than Usopp and Franky. He was about to enter the water when Nami stopped him. "I'll take care of it. You won't know where to go if it sinks."

The young woman engaged her Perfect Clima-Tact and pointed it at the sea, determined. "Cyclone Tempo!" A bubble of warm air and a bubble of cold air combined above the crew's heads, creating a powerful gust Nami slammed into the water. The ocean rose and a second later, the straw hat sprang into the air. The navigator immediately repositioned her Clima-Tact. "Cyclone Tempo!" Another swirling wind rose, this time catching the straw hat, which twirled before flying towards the beach. Luffy then rushed to retrieve it while the navigator put her weapon away.

"You're getting better and better at it!" Brook complimented her.

"I trained," She confirmed. "Depending on how I position it, I can create some air streams and direct my attack."

"Nami!" Two elastic arms wrapped around her brutally and the young woman took a step back because of the strength of her captain's embrace. She was about to lose her balance when Luffy's grip tightened around her and he planted a resounding kiss on her lips. A second later, he stepped back and smiled broadly. "You brought my hat back and it was really cool! Thank you!"

"Y-You're welcome," She stammered. The straw hat boy left her just as quickly to go back to comment on the action with Chopper and the navigator slowly came to her senses.

"Even Luffy is making progress," Usopp noted with satisfaction.

"That's super great!" Franky exclaimed, striking a pose.

Zoro observed the navigator's flushed cheeks cautiously. For all he knew, Luffy and her were supposed to have gone much further than chaste kisses since he had lost a bet to the redhead about it so he couldn't understand why she looked so embarrassed. In the end, he shrugged and walked back to his swords. Maybe the young woman was uncomfortable with public displays of affection and he could understand it: he didn't like it that much either.

Not far from him, Robin stifled a laugh while handing a cocktail to her friend so that she recovers from her emotions.


Laughter rang out around the Sunny's table as Sanji cleared away the last dessert plates and the empty tea and coffee cups from dinner. For his part, Zoro had finished his green tea and he got up at the same time as Brook and Usopp to go out on deck. Before he could walk through the door though, he was stopped by the cook's hand on his shoulder as he whispered in his ear. "Don't wander away, mosshead. There's still dessert."

Zoro glanced at the table, surprised. He had just emptied his cup of fruit drizzled with rum ice cream and it wasn't the cook's habit to stuff them with sugar.

"A different kind of dessert, moron."

The swordsman frowned, ready to respond sharply to the incomprehensible speech of his companion when he met his gaze fixed on his own. Oh, a dessert. That kind of dessert.

"Yeah, well, considering how slow you are, I got time to train anyway," He growled to hide the fact that he had just understood what the blond was referring to. The blond rolled his eyes. He wasn't that easily deceived. "Be on deck in twenty minutes." With these words, he went back to the table to finish clearing and the fencer finally took the door.


Sanji had dragged him to the house he had occupied for three months. If the blond had returned to the Sunny and his room when the crew came back, he had nevertheless retained the usefulness of the place, if only to store food or receive his friends in the small garden.

Sitting at the small wooden table in the kitchen, Zoro watched him finish a dish: a marinated fish that the cook wanted to serve the next day to the crew but which required to be stored cool some time. "That old geezer, I tried to call him again but as I expected, he won't pick up anymore," The blond muttered suddenly.

"Maybe he'll end up doing it like last time."

"I don't think so…" The chef tasted his sauce before shaking his head and adding more oil. "This old fool could really well ignore me for the rest of his life even if he knows I'm on the All Blue. He's probably still mad because it was me who found it and not him," He gloomily added, salting his preparation again.

Zoro shrugged. "Why bother then? If he doesn't wanna come, too bad for him."

"That's not it, mosshead. When I met him, it was because I believed in All Blue that he saved me. I can't turn a blind eye and let him have his own way this time…"

The fencer frowned. Sanji looked really upset. The cook wasn't talkative about his childhood, and it was all the more surprising knowing his natural verve. Zoro had then understood for a long time that this part of his life was probably painful enough for the blond not to want to mention it.

The swordsman respected his wishes on this subject. He didn't need to know everything about his companion, he trusted him. "Why didn't we stay on the Sunny?" He asked him then, seeing him open another jar of condiment.

"Because it's peaceful here."

"I guess." The little house wasn't unpleasant but the fencer felt more at ease on the ship and even if intimacy was more restricted, the atmosphere of the Sunny was intrinsically linked to a feeling of security and peace.

"I stored everything here," The blond added while continuing to finish his dish, his back turned to him. "I didn't want Nami-san or Robin-chan to find it…"

The swordsman raised a questioning eyebrow. What had the cook planned to make him blush at the idea of the girls catching him? A smirk then stretched his lips. Sanji might deny it, but he really had lustful ideas sometimes.

Finally, Sanji put the slices of fish in the marinade before storing them in the fridge. As he did, he pulled out a cream siphon and a bottle from the fridge. Zoro got up immediately, interested in the last item. "An after-dinner drink one-on-one, cook?"

"Kind of." The blond took out two glasses and put them on the counter while beside him, the swordsman carefully studied the label of the bottle. "Pure sake with no added water," The fencer read, licking his lips in anticipation. "Where did you get that?"

"Special reserve for special occasion," His companion answered with a smile.

"Don't let it waste." Zoro uncorked the bottle with an expert hand before swallowing a long swig straight from the bottle appreciatively. "Not bad at all."

"So much the better." The cook took the bottle from him to pour it into the glasses. He then tasted it and nodded in satisfaction as Zoro gulped down his own drink at full speed. "Don't drink everything before we've even started," The blond growled.

"Then get to the point," The swordsman replied in the same tone.

"Fine." With determination, Sanji swallowed a large sip of sake before fixing his gaze on that of his partner who was watching him with curiosity. The cook then grabbed the swordsman's face with both hands to press his lips against his and he closed his eyes, letting his sip slowly flow into the swordsman's mouth. He felt Zoro tense for a second because of the surprise before the fencer pressed his own hands to hold the blond's head in order to suck up all he could. When he got it all, his tongue joined the blond's in a powerful kiss with a deliciously intoxicating flavor. In his mind, alcohol and sex worked really well together.

A few minutes later, Sanji pulled away, panting and smiling. Facing him, Zoro couldn't help but run his tongue over his own lips, breathing heavily. "I remember now. You wanted to do something with food." The fencer glanced at the siphon on the counter, feeling a shiver of excitement spread through him.

"Whipped cream," The blond confirmed while letting his tongue go up along the fencer's earlobe, jingling his three earrings. "Homemade, of course. Firm, light, creamy…" Zoro shuddered before pulling himself together and grabbing the bottle with one hand and his companion's arm with the other. "Let's go, cook. I'm thirsty."

Laughing heartily, Sanji let the fencer drag him upstairs after grabbing his siphon.


Zoro had laid the blond on the bed and moved above him. His gaze was fixed on his prey. Yet the man had quickly pushed him away to get rid of his shirt and shoes and the swordsman had done the same and sent his tee-shirt on the floor. Sanji had then settled against the pillows and without wasting a second, the fencer had grabbed the bottle placed on the bedside table. He had taken a sip before gazing at the cook, his eyes full of desire. Facing him, his companion's eyes were reflecting the same lust. Zoro had swallowed the sake and Sanji had watched him, panting.

It didn't take much more for the swordsman to take another sip of alcohol, but this time he had let it run down his lover's chest. The blond's muscles had quivered and Zoro had immediately licked his white skin, reveling in the unique flavor as much as the quickening of the cook's breathing.

The fencer had been tasting his body for many minutes now and he never tired of hearing his lover's increasingly breathless sighs. Sanji was struggling against pleasure and himself, trying not to move but arching more and more often against the swordsman's lips who collected every drop of liquid in the middle of his abs. Zoro had put his hands on the cook's hips to prevent him from moving too much but in doing so, he was feeling against his pectorals the expression of Sanji's desire trying to press against him.

The swordsman felt a dull rumble rise from the back of his throat and he eagerly attacked his lover's belly, who let himself fall back against the pillows with a strangled cry. Once more, Zoro's tongue followed the outline of his toned muscles and when he got near his navel, he sucked in the rest of the sake with delight.

"Zoro…"

Raising his head again, the swordsman was grabbed by the cook who pulled him into a passionate kiss. Their crotch pressed and they moaned together. With a feverish hand, Zoro grabbed his bottle to swallow a long sip but before he could share it with his companion, Sanji brutally pressed his lips against his and drops of alcohol dripped down his mouth and then his neck as the blond took everything he could from the fencer's mouth. Intoxicated by this incomparable flavor, Zoro immediately went off in pursuit of the few drops that had escaped them and his tongue went up along the blond's jaw before settling in the hollow of his neck.

Sanji arched against him and the swordsman closed his eyes when their two members benefited from a new particularly pleasant friction. Then catching his breath, he felt he was pushed back and rolled onto his back. Sanji wasted no time and, sitting on his lover's hips, he removed the fencer's belt before stripping him of all the clothes he still had. Far from protesting, Zoro even stifled a groan of pleasure while the cook massaged him effectively and his already proudly erected virility twitched against his belly. Immediately, the blond grabbed his siphon and the fencer couldn't believe it when Sanji purely and simply covered his manhood with whipped cream like an ice cream.

He might have laughed because it was such a cliché if he hadn't been overwhelmed by the speed with which the chef set to work. Obviously, his fantasy with food was real and despite the cold from the whipped cream which was slightly uncomfortable, the bewitching tongue of the cook quickly made him close his eyes while his hands gripped his blond hair.

The rhythm of his lover's mouth was supported by that of his hand and after he conscientiously licked the last traces of whipped cream, Sanji slightly kissed his hips. The swordsman groaned and the blond smirked against his thigh before sliding his lips fully around his lover's private parts. The pressure of Zoro's fingers in the blond hair redoubled and the swordsman felt his eyes roll back in his head as he heard the cook moaning around him. The fencer would gladly have forgotten all sense of time in these conditions, focusing on the pleasure which was skyrocketing, but his companion's mouth suddenly left him and the cold air made him open his eyes.

The show that awaited him didn't allow him to regain his senses though because when he straightened up on his forearms, the cook was getting rid of his last clothes urgently, his hand pressing his own manhood restricted for too long. The breath Zoro was trying to catch got stuck in his throat and he felt his member throbbed at the sight of his companion who was slowly caressing himself in front of his eyes, now completely naked.

Panting, Zoro straightened up as best he could to grab hold of the cook's waist and bring him closer. Wrapped up in his contemplation, he could have come to the mere vision of seeing him pleasuring himself but he wanted to share this moment. His lips suddenly met the cook's and Sanji's hands left his own body to focus on the fencer's, his fingers running in green hair as their bodies pressed together passionately.

Zoro reached out to the bedside table to blindly search for the lube he knew was within reach. The cook's passion against his lips totally absorbed him, but he finally managed to grab it. Without suspending their kisses, he opened it and spilled some into his hand before closing it hastily without worrying about what would become of it. He then brought his fingers closer to the blond's intimacy, who quickly relaxed against him. Sanji's breath was interspersed with moans which echoed painfully in the fencer's ears and Zoro had to make an effort not to sink into him immediately. Biting the cook's shoulder to anchor himself in reality, the swordsman accompanied his hips while the blond's arms tightened more and more strongly around his neck.

Soon, the Sanji's tension was at its peak and the swordsman recognized the signal. It was getting too much for his lover and given the three fingers he managed to put inside him, he was ready for the next step. Leaving him for a moment, he was reprimanded with a bite strong enough for drops of blood to bead on his lower lips.

"Calm down, cook. I'm here."

"Hurry up, mosshead, I can't wait any longer," Sanji whispered back, trying in every way to get some friction, his eyes closed.

"Stay put."

The blond nodded vaguely, lost in the limbo of pleasure he was trying to find, and Zoro laid down again. Hands shaking around the cook's waist, he noticed the man had retrieved the lube from between the sheets and euphoria kicked in again. The swordsman then tried to keep his lucidity despite the expert fingers of his companion who were coating his member with cold lube.

A few seconds later, the pressure became even greater when he felt the intimacy of his lover's body gradually closing in on him. A hoarse growl escaped him and he bit his lips to keep from moving. Sanji needed to take the time to adjust and a sheen of sweat glistened on the fencer's forehead, evidence of the fierce struggle he was leading against himself. Finally, the blond lifted himself slowly and Zoro took a deep breath. The cook then fell back hard and a moan escaped them both.

Sanji grabbed the bottle, a smile on his face.

"Holy shit…" Staring at his companion, Zoro watched the chef tilt the bottle to take a large sip of sake. He swallowed some before leaning towards him and the swordsman kissed him furiously, consumed by desire.

Quickly, only their gasping breaths and the sound of their shiny skin against each other were heard. The power of the blond's legs was lifting him up and down at breakneck speed as he was resting his hands against the wall above the headboard. This way, the fencer had all the room to observe the cook and his fingers clung more and more vigorously to his hips to follow him.

Suddenly, Sanji stopped and Zoro took the opportunity to straighten up in a sitting position to kiss his companion full on the mouth. Their teeth clashed but the cook returned the kiss with the same ferocity, undulating again after wrapping his legs around the swordsman's waist. Pleasure surged irrepressibly this time and Zoro felt his last barriers give way. His hands were no longer enough to roam his lover's body and his mouth could no longer ravish the blond's mouth with as much force as he would have liked. "S-Sanji…"

The blond flinched instantly at the sound of his name because Zoro said it so rarely, and his hands grabbed the swordsman's face to kiss him once more. Dazed, Zoro grabbed the overheated member against his stomach before feeling the cook redouble his efforts. With a few more thrusts, he sent the fencer to seventh heaven while his own pleasure flowed into his lover's hand.

Zoro let his head fall back against the wall, a long sigh escaping him. Sitting on his lap, the cook was also trying to catch his breath and his body was shivering now. Noticing his discomfort, the swordsman slid his hand along his back to appease him and Sanji let his forehead rest against his own, his eyes still closed. "Was this dessert convincing enough, mosshead?"

In response, the fencer kissed his trembling lips and shifted to lay down. The blond followed suit with a wince, more so as their bodies pulled apart, but then he was wrapped in a warm embrace when Zoro drew him back onto his chest while pulling the sheet up over them. Sanji laid his head against his heart which resumed a more relaxed rhythm and the swordsman ran his hand through his companion's damp hair. Breath still short, Zoro closed his eyes in turn, satisfied.

He was more convinced than ever to know where he belonged and it was right here.

Right between Sanji's arms.


I hope you enjoyed this chapter full of happiness because as from the next, you'll need to fasten your seatbelts.

The emotional elevator is on and turbulence are going to be intense…