Authors note: Short story is short. I'm so much better at short stories though. This is just a one shot. I just wanted a something sweet, so here you go. I honestly couldn't get this concept out of my head.
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A particular hard battle. A rather battered, bruised and bloody victory. Another win.
The strawhats cheer, the townspeople hug each other and cry in joy.
It's time for celebration and the strawhats are ready to party. Zoro always loved a victory, another step closer to his dream with his friends at his side. He looks at his crewmates, to each smiling face in front of him.
Unable to see them all he turns to look at those behind him. As he turns though, his smile fades, the air leaves his lungs and the happiness fades away. Franky is smiling and Robin has a dainty hand over her mouth, they see the same thing he does.
Zoro forces a smile as he looks at the same thing they do. He's not sure why he had to force the smile, this should be a happy moment.
Nami is hoisted up by Sanji, her arms wrapped around the blond man's neck and they are kissing. Nami is obviously the one in control of the kiss and everyone knew how much Sanji had wanted this.
Nami had always been Sanji's number one lady, the woman he always went back to. It was a beautiful thing that she finally seemed to be returning his feelings.
Despite their petty arguments and constant fights Zoro actually considered Sanji his closest friend in the crew. His loyalty always lay with Luffy before all else, and his favorite member to be around was Chopper, who was almost like a little brother. The person who thought the most like him, was strong like him, and he could have equality with was always Sanji. The two of them always seemed to be on the exact same page.
Maybe he was just too shocked to be happy for his nakama. Nami always seemed to take advantage of their cook, and not return the same type of love.
"Does Sanji taste good?" Zoro hears Luffy ask.
"No, no, no, she's kissing him. I'm a bit of an expert about kissing." Zoro zoned out on the lies that Usopp was starting to spill behind him.
At this point Nami had finally stopped kissing Sanji and was smiling broadly down at him. Sanji's face was red with blush as he stared up at the redhead still in his arms.
A large, extremely thin hand landed on Zoro's shoulder. Happy about a distraction the swordsman looked away from the couple and up to Brook. It was remarkable how a skeleton could show so much expression. "It will hurt more if you watch them."
"Sanji can't hurt me, you've seen our fights." It was like the words came out on reflex.
The hand on his shoulder squeezed softly and Zoro felt that Brook was giving him a sad smile, "I'm still rooting for you."
There was no fooling Brook right now, he was being serious. It was almost funny in a very unfunny way.
He knew in that moment exactly what he felt, and he knew that Brook knew as well. He didn't feel like crying or throwing a tantrum. It didn't feel like something new, it was just a realization of something that was always there. He supposed it was something that had been there for awhile.
He had assumed nothing would ever change between all of them. They would achieve their dreams, get stronger, Luffy would become king of the pirates, and they would stay together. Sanji would always chase Nami, and Nami would always take advantage of him, and not return his feelings.
When they celebrated that night, Zoro partied like he would at any other party. Before he wandered off back to the ship he took a look around until he spotted Nami and Sanji secluded off together near the bonfire. They sat on a log talking to each other, features of their faces illuminated in an orange glow.
A few days had passed and it was almost like nothing had ever happened. Sanji and Nami went back to normal. The only difference was Nami, who almost seemed a little off. She didn't seem as self-centered with the cook, and took his doting with a little less enthusiasm.
One night when Zoro sat on the deck Sanji sat with him. It was a silent night with Franky on watch in the crows nest, the only two people on deck were just Zoro and Sanji. The cook handed him a bottle of Sake and had a wine glass for himself.
Both men drank in comfortable silence under the light of the moon, the only noise being the sound of waves hitting against the ship.
"What's your relationship with Nami, now?" Zoro asked, sounding extremely casual.
"Nakama" The cook swirled the wine in his glass and took a sip. Silence fell on them again, Sanji broke the silence this time, "My relationship with everyone but you is always easy, they are all my Nakama."
"And me?" Zoro looked at his companion whose beautiful blue eyes were staring up at the moon. The light of the moon made the handsome features of the cook's face shine.
Sanji's hand slid along the deck to Zoro's, until they barely touched. Those blue eyes turned to him, and Sanji smiled, "It's not so simple." The cook looked back to the sky, but Zoro's one good eye never left the cook's face.
Zoro smiled, and allowed a few fingers to gently lay over Sanji's. He looked down at their hands, and the contrast of their skin tones. "It never is."
Sanji hummed softly in agreement making no move to separate their hands.
