Peeling Off the Layers, Until You're You (a One Piece Fanfiction) by Seth's Kiss:

A/N: Heyo, everyone! I am alive, wicked, innit? It seems that lovely, lovely Life likes to drag me down in the dumps, all in ONE GO – like, it's not one lil' bad thing at the time, no, no... It's ALL of them at once T_T

That aside, me back, and I will be able to write for lil' longer, so please bear with me, ya'll ! Thank you for everyone who has read the prior chapters, and without further ado, Chapter 3, here we go! Please enjoy, ladies, gents and everyone else in between and beyond! Take care!

To Guest: Hello there, and thank you so much for your review! Next chapter, well, here it is! SO, so sorry for the delay! GOMEN – I can only blame the circumstances Life put me in, so sorry! Please enjoy this chapter and hopefully the ones that'll follow, and once again thank you for your review! Please take care and be safe! Bella Ciao X3

Note: I maintain the ZoSan in this fic is a bromance, though this chapter could be seen as it blurring the line, just a bit? But I fully maintain that there is not much of a shipping in this fic. Just felt it fair to clarify.

Also, I didn't really proof-read this chapter, as I really wanted to put out there before the end of the year, but I will work on that once this fic is completed, I hope you don't mind "X3

Chapter 3: Heart to Heart

It was around dusk when Sanji reappeared again, air nonchalant but somewhat sheepish, as he stood next to the swordsman - who was sat under a tree, upon a cliff with a view over the sea. Neither said a thing, basking in the sound of the waves, till Sanji tentatively broke the silence.

"So... What happened to your eye?"

If he was surprised by the query itself or by where Sanji had decided to start the conversation, the swordsman didn't show it, replying easily, and without any hesitation nor any intonation: "Training happened, is all."

The blond had been expecting that response but was still surprised: "Ah, I see. Did it, I dunno, maybe, hurt?"

"Nah. T'was just a scratch."

Sanji arched an eyebrow at that, incredulous by the indifference. If it had been just a scratch, Zoro wouldn't have lost full function of his eye, now would he? Unconvinced, he pressed on.

"Doesn't it bother you? When you fight and stuff?"

It had to, no? Wasn't it hindering to have one's sight, especially as a fighter, reduced by half? Sanji would definitely admit to that – his fringe was more of a self-complex thing, a choice. But he could still see through his bangs.

However, he doubted he would go far as to take the risk if his skillset demanded the exactness and precision Zoro required in combat.

"Nope. Still got it."

Sanji rolled his eyes at that, yet couldn't help a grin: 'Course, you do. Smug Marimo bastard.'

"Are you-?"

"I'm fine, Cook, damn," cut Zoro with curt finality, firm yet not cruel, but Sanji wasn't done. "...Who did that to you?"

"Doesn't matter," shrugged the swordsman imperturbably, which instantly made Sanji angry.

"Like HELL it doesn't! You're half-BLIND now, Marimo!"

Zoro merely stared at the other: "And if you knew who did it, then what? You'd avenge me?"

"Maybe, I would, yeah!" declared the other fervently, before flushing and looking away when Zoro's eyes widened at that "I- I just- I hate you got hurt. Again. And that I wasn't there to-"

Sanji cut himself off, features twisted with uneasiness. And that I wasn't there to prevent it, was what he wished he could say aloud, instead keeping those words deep down within him, and glaring at Zoro with heated ire: "You get hurt every fucking time. And I can never help, you screwed up excuse of a tough martyr, you're NOT UNDYING!"

The grim massacre Kuma had inflicted upon them all back on Thriller Bark still haunted him. The state Zoro had been in that day-

"It wasn't your fault, Cook. Never was," mentioned Zoro matter-of-factly, like it was obvious, before he lightly patted at the ground besides him "Oi, come here and drink with me, Cook."

Blinking at the swordsman's amazingly unconcerned demeanour, regardless of circumstances, Sanji snorted then softly with stifled affection: "Typical Marimo."

With that, he joins Zoro, carefully crossing his long, lean legs underneath his puffy pink dress and daintily taking one of the many bottles of sake that the swordsman had just offered him, before they both basked together in an easy-going, comfortable silence.

After a moment or so, Sanji felt the other's gaze linger on him, so he locked eyes with Zoro, which prompted the latter to inquire, a hint of rather honest curiosity to his low tone: "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you...?" paused Zoro, as though he was considering how to formulate his sentence, before he appeared to think 'screw it' and simply expressed himself as genuinely as he could "Like this now?"

With the swordsman gesturing to Sanji's makeover and attire, the latter didn't really need any clarification. To be fair, he'd been expecting this discussion. Yet, he wasn't sure how to reply.

Pursing his red-coated lips and running a hand through his long hair, Sanji's lashes fluttered: "I- I've rediscovered myself. ...I think."

That had Zoro arch an incredulous eyebrow: "...You think? Sounds hella convincing, Cook."

"Ugh, look, it just- It just... Sort of- Happened, ok?" let out the blond male with a frustrated, frowning and seeming, sounding unsure "It's been- I've been simply denying this for so long, is all. And now... Well, now, I don't have to."

Upon picking up on the other's palpable inner conflict, Zoro uttered: "Hey, not complaining."

"Aren't you?" countered Sanji, eyes narrowed a little "You don't seem to like me...like this."

"I don't 'like' you, period," grinned the swordsman smugly, earning a gentle scoff from Sanji right before the latter took yet another swig from the bottle.

"Fine. But, just bear with me, would you?"

"...What the hell do you think I do most of the time?

"Jerk," muttered Sanji half-heartedly, shaking his head with a smile, before it fell by a slight "Say, if you reacted the way you did, when you saw me, how d'you think the others...would?"

At that, Zoro kept quiet for a little moment, seemingly considering his next words with care, before he regarded Sanji calmly: "Can you still cook?"

The blond male blinked, somewhat baffled and bewildered: "...Of course, I can. But what-?"

"Fight and protect the crew?"

"Yes," replied Sanji instantly with utter conviction, not even bothering to think it over twice.

"Be an utter shithead?"

"That's your perspective on things, bastard Marimo," huffed Sanji, clicking his tongue loudly.

"Then you'll be fine. You're nakama, idiot. That won't change. No matter what you look like. Or choose to be."

Taking in the other's words like a breath of sweet fresh air, Sanji still wasn't as certain and flickered his gaze downwards, biting his lip hard: "Then why did you react the way you did?"

"I was just...surprised, I guess?" uttered Zoro honestly as he scratched the back of his neck "You're always 'I love the ladies!' and stuff. So, sorry and all, but this is unexpected."

"I guess- No, you are right. I totally get it when you say it's unexpected for you. Though it's not so much for me," shared Sanji in a soft tone, as he idly fixed the ruffles in his dress "I was...forcing myself- And you probably don't care, so I shouldn't bother you with this shit."

"Sure, I don't like you much, Sanji," pointed out Zoro "That doesn't mean that I won't listen. If you want or need to talk, I mean. Totally up to you though. To me, I'm just like 'whatever', you know?"

In spite of the other's act of disinterest, Sanji caught the simple softness in Zoro's gaze, which drew a small smile from the blond, before he let out a mellowed out sigh: "...Where I grew up, my family - not with Zeff, way before him. Being...me, wasn't possible. So I had to pretend. Act. And as it went on, even though I had left that place behind, I lost myself in the act. Coming here, even if it was on accident, helped...me."

"Then why don't you sound convinced?"

Sanji pondered over this before replying, pursing his lips: "I wasn't acting when I said I love girls. But not as a Don Juan. Or as a ladies' man. More like...as a very good and close friend."

"So, you love them, but aren't in love with them," concluded Zoro to which the other nodded.

"...Yeah. Yeah, that's exactly it."

Letting out a hum as he attempted to wrap his head around what Sanji had gone and just told him, Zoro leaned back till he touched the ground under him, before crossing his arms behind his head. Then he asked: "Who do you love then? Guys? Other? Someone, specific, in mind?"

"No one," replied Sanji instantly, brow furrowed "For now. I'm not...ready? To...fall in love."

"Ah. You want to love yourself first."

"Exactly. I- Wait," blinked Sanji, before he gaped at Zoro incredulously, eyebrow arched high "How the hell is this talk going so well? With you of all fucking people?"

"I mean, we can stop if you want-"

"No! No, no, I- I'm good," quickly said Sanji, waving his hands wildly, before he cupping his cheeks in an embarrassed fashion and pouted slightly "I- I kinda like this. ...Oddly. And you?"

Zoro just shrugged, which prompted Sanji to clarify fast: "No, I meant, are you comfortable? With me being...this?"

The swordsman watched with his single eye as the dolled-up male gestured to all of himself: "This again, Cook? Real question is, are you?"

Sanji didn't reply at first, so Zoro was about to tell him to drop it, before the blond spoke up: "I'm trying to be."

Upon hearing a little less uncertainty in Sanji's tone, the swordsman directed the other a grin: "As long as you're at ease with yourself, that's fine by me."

He had no idea if it was Zoro's smile, or his words, or his current behaviour towards him as a whole, or simply the alcohol he was consuming, but Sanji felt like his cheeks were on fire all of a sudden. He then blinked rapidly, before looking away and drawing his knees up to hide his face in them, and then speaking up very softly: "...Zoro, don't you go on talking like that."

Noticing but choosing not to comment on the shift in Sanji's demeanour, Zoro questioned: "Like what?"

"The way you've been talking since we began this conversation. In a way so...understanding."

"Why not?"

At first, the other didn't move or reply. But then, Sanji peered through his bangs, and gave the other a look that had the swordsman freeze, while his heart fluttered at an erratic n' wild pace.

"You'll make me crush on you, that's why. So stop it."

"...I can't tell if you're being serious right now," admitted Zoro, panicking a little at the dazed air on Sanji's features as the latter gazed at him"Didn't you just say you weren't...ready yet?"

"I'm not," agreed the blond male with a nod, and now the swordsman was just very confused.

Then again, Sanji himself appeared to be struggling with his own levels of confusion and self-discovery - determining one's identity was not an easy feat by far and it took quite some time, to know, to be sure. Zoro was by no means an expert - given he himself was very nonchalant about sexuality and gender, considering it more essential to be steadfast in his life-long goals. So, all in all, he was probably, if not by far, not to the best person to advise, even less judge. All he could offer was to listen and be as lenient as he possibly could towards Sanji's plights. Even if the guy had somehow developed a crush on him. He didn't mind it, per se, but he also didn't want the other to be unsure about it. Feelings, were just as tough to figure out after all...

"I mean, if you think about it for a little, and you figure you still feel this way about me," eventually replied Zoro slowly, choosing his words with awful care "...I'll wait for you, sure."

Feeling as though he had missed something, Sanji inquired: "You'll wait? ...Wait for what?"

"Wait for you. Whenever you're ready."

It took a moment for it to register for the blond male, before his jaw dropped a bit: "You're-?"

"I'm not," answered Zoro with a shake of his head, instantly getting Sanji's train of thought, before the swordsman hesitated to think about it "I mean, I don't know, if I'm honest. I guess, I just don't label when it comes to love and shit."

"Lucky you," muttered the blond male with a fond smile, before Sanji's eyes went a bit wide "Also, love? A little too early to call it that, don't you think?"

"Not really. Always been attracted to you," stated Zoro without fully thinking over his words, leading to an awkward silence for the two of them as they stared at each other, both gone red.

"...Say what now?" stammered Sanji, face flushed beyond recognition, while Zoro decided to, in spite of his current embarrassment, own his words and just go with it - he had meant them.

"Well, yeah, Cook, I have. And so have you."

"N-No. No, I haven't," denied Sanji vehemently, shaking his head furiously for a solid minute or two, but upon the other's incredulous stare, the blond male dropped the act and whispered "When-? When and how did you figure it out?"

Zoro thought about it a bit: "When you'd pick up fights with me. I mean, you did start them."

"...But- But you don't like me, wha-?"

"Won't stop me from finding you amazing, Cook," said the swordsman, scratching his cheek.

Eyelashes fluttering, the blond male's lips then parted a slight as he inhaled: "Me? Amazing?"

"Did I stutter?"

"What about me is...amazing, as you say?" uttered Sanji, his stomach all in tatters and flutters.

"Your eyes. Your heart," listed Zoro "Bigger than it should be. And deeper than any ocean."

Initially, Sanji appeared really and genuinely flattered, but then his expression fell, entirely: "And, was this before or after you saw me like this?"

"Sanji-"

"Answer me, Zoro. Truthfully."

"Always."

The blond male's features turned a lovely shade of scarlet red whereas Zoro looked a bit pink, glancing off to the side, lips pursed a slight: "Well, I mean, ain't much of a gentleman, but..."

Sanji eventually smiled, but hid it behind the tip of his bottle: "That's alright. Not a woman."

The swordsman arched an eyebrow at that, with a little grin appearing: "You sure about that?"

"What the hell's that supposed to mean?"

Truly amused by the other's sudden irritation, Zoro teased a little, smirking even wider now: "Well, you always get riled up for the tiniest of reasons, you all prim and prissy-"

"Marimo, I'm going to kick you."

"Because what I'm saying is true, right?"

"You bastard," snorted Sanji half-heartedly with a smile, flicking the other's forehead lightly "...I missed y- this."

"Isn't this new though? Us just talking? All casual and stuff?"

"We used to talk before - right when we first met, no? The Baratie. Arlong Park," commented Sanji thoughtfully as he pondered over past memories of the two of them "So what changed?"

"Nami."

Blue eyes widening, Sanji paused, going still as a board, before letting out a soft gasp: "Huh?"

"Nami happened," clarified Zoro to a stunned Sanji, seeming pretty nonchalant but sounding a little sheepish "Like, I'd get all annoyed when you'd flirt with Nami. At first, I thought it was because I was just being protective of her - you know, big brother, little sister kind of thing. But then I had realized, it was because all of your focus was on her then. Felt a little left out, so I'd provoke you, insult you."

"And it was only then that I'd look at you," realized the blond, as he saw all their interactions since then in a new light, truly stunned because he would never have ever imagined this at all.

"Yeah. I'd act all angry and aggravated," huffed the swordsman, stifling down how awkward this all was, just a bit, at least on his part "But I honestly kinda liked it when you'd drop everything, and just lash out at me. It was just the two of us then, no one else. Puerile, right?"

"No. Not really," grinned Sanji, before he ventured, expecting the other to deny it anyways "You were jealous?"

Instead, Zoro surprisingly thought it over: "Oh? Oh. Is that what it was? Maybe. Don't know. I guess I don't like sharing my friends."

For the umpteenth time since they had begun this conversation, the blond male was stunned: "...You consider me a friend, Zoro?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I do," replied the swordsman instantly, not even bothering to think about it, before he was startled slightly, as the other male flopped down on him then and there "Sanji?"

The blond male had curled up against him, arms hooked around his left one as Sanji snuggled up against the warmth of Zoro's shoulder, a flush of honest delight brightening his face softly.

"You're a friend to me too, Baka Marimo."

Blinking, Zoro quietly cracked a fond grin, before he looked up at the beautiful starry sky, as they both basked in relaxed silence, although the swordsman was currently deep in thought. Maybe it was inconsiderate of him to push or pressure Sanji into really returning to their crew. Maybe he needed time. Well, he seemed to need it. And a friend, it wouldn't do to ignore that.

But as Zoro struggled to part his lips in order to convey as such to the other, Sanji spoke up softly, almost in a whisper: "Ok. Alright, Zoro. You win. I'll go back to the Sunny with you."

To be continued...

A/N: Chapter 3 is done, woohoo! Oh my gosh, I didn't think I'd be able to, I'm so sorry T_T Two chapters left to go! The last one and a little epilogue! Let's do this! I'm hoping to finish this fic sometime early 2022, that way, I can focus on other future projects, because I have a TON – it's not even a joke, I have SO many freaking WIPs, why does my brain do this to me? So, until the next chapter, ladies, gents and everyone else, Bella Ciao! And Merry Christmas, and Happier New Year to all of you, may all your dreams and resolutions come forever true!