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Guest: I'm glad you like humor scenes, I love them too! And Luffy really is the most complicated character to write for me so I'm especially delighted you like him here. Thank you.

Chapter 36

From one emotion to another

Sanji lit a well-deserved cigarette before bringing it to his lips as he came out of the kitchen. The sun was already high, and the air warm and pleasant in the middle of the morning. After two days of intense cold on the Sunny, the good weather had reappeared and the crew was particularly delighted, moving into the deck early in the day.

The blond adjusted his tray with his other hand and immediately noticed Robin who was reading on a deckchair not far from Nami absorbed in her maps on the grass. He approached and handed them glowing color cocktails with a charming smile.

After they had thanked him, Sanji sat down beside them on a pile of Ussop planks that he used as his seat. The blue sky and the clear sea in front of them gave a striking show and he took the time to admire it. Grand Line could give beautiful landscapes but also turbulent visions and it was therefore necessary to enjoy the first.

At last, the cook came out of his contemplation because of Chopper who was running and screaming with laughter, chased by their beaming captain for an obscure reason. He followed them with his eyes until the little reindeer slipped on the ground and he would have ended up into the sea without the swordsman's reflexes who caught him with one arm while the other was busy keeping him balanced on the floor.

"Th-Thank you, Zoro."

Chopper caught his breath, his legs shaking, as Luffy was charging at him, sending them rolling a little further before they burst out laughing again.

Sanji gave up trying to understand and turned his attention to Zoro who was still training as if nothing had happened. He had dropped his tee-shirt on the floor, but the warm weather and the efforts he was providing didn't stop him from sweating. The cook pulled on his cigarette as he saw him set himself a new series of exercises he couldn't qualify, except that it seemed to particularly make demands on the muscles of his upper body. His shoulders contracted under the effort made the veins of his forearms bulge and dug the muscles of his back, the sweat beading on his forehead.

What's the idea of setting himself this kind of training all the time and in this heat, the blond thought, blowing the smoke. However, he had to recognize the swordsman an unwavering willpower and an unflinching determination that he didn't fully grasp.

On the other hand, he was noticing more and more the drops of sweat glide over his muscles to accumulate in a lazy furrow along his tanned skin to the small of his back. Really, the marimo had no idea to put on a show in front of the crew. Remaining the most focused in the world. Totally unaware of the image he was showing.

While pulling more on his cigarette butt and letting his gaze linger on the fencer, Sanji remembered his commitment. He had to find a way to develop their relationship and they had to learn to communicate around their new attachment. The cook knew Zoro wasn't comfortable with words so he was thinking of using body language from now on. No doubt the swordsman would be more sensitive even if this type of communication was giving way to implicit and therefore doubts. The blond was ready to go on his field to meet him and make him aware of what they could share.

Zoro suddenly straightened up to catch his breath and Sanji was irremediably drawn to look at his abdominal muscles. Yet, after a few seconds, he shook it off. There was no way to let the swordsman notice his glances on his half-naked body shining in the sun. Even though he probably wasn't aware of it and even though he had every right to look at it that way now.

"Sanji! I'm thirsty!"

The man slowly turned his head to wearily stare at his captain.

"Go drink water."

"But I'd like a cocktail like the one of Nami and Robin!" he begged him.

Sanji sighed. He didn't want to move from his seat. He had a free show in his face and wanted to get an eyeful.

"Ask them if they're okay to give you some but-"

He didn't have time to finish his sentence as Luffy rushed on the navigator's drink at his side. He gulped it in one go and then threw himself on Robin's.

"Luffy, you're crazy!" the redhead got alarmed, straightening up.

The straw hat boy miserably tore himself away from the archaeologist's drink, his eyes watering.

"I'm thirsty!" he repeated.

"It's not water, you idiot! There's alcohol in it!" Nami exclaimed, snatching him the glass.

"Is that so?"

"Sanji-kun, are you serious?" she said to the cook. "Luffy never drinks alcohol; he'll be even more insufferable than usual!"

The blond turned an apologetic look at the beautiful navigator, realizing he had sacrificed her well-being and the one of Robin. He immediately stood up, determined to make up for it.

"Don't worry, my sea goddesses, I'll give you another cocktail! As for you, Luffy, you're not allowed to drink anything but water today!" he decided.

Luffy was stupidly laughing. Actually, it wasn't so unusual from him but now, he was barely standing and literally rolling on the floor laughing at the slightest opportunity. So after lunch, the crew members found him on the grass of the deck, laughing heartily after having watched a catfish in the ocean. They surrounded him to form a circle around him.

"I knew it", Nami sighed. He can't hold his liquor..."

"Well, he drank a liter all at once and he had nothing in his stomach", Ussop reminded her with fatality.

"He ate for ten men at lunch, I thought it'd compensate a little", Sanji frowned.

"What are we going to do with him?" Chopper inquired, slightly worried. "We must be careful he doesn't fall into the water in his state..."

"It wouldn't change anything from usual", Robin thought to reassure him.

"He'll probably be soon asleep", Franky supposed, shrugging his shoulders.

At that moment, Luffy brutally span before clinging to the swordsman's neck in front of him, his eyes unfocused.

"I'm not sleepy", he mumbled.

"Tell me about it", his first mate grunted, trying to take him down.

When he managed to do it, the elastic captain collapsed to the ground and began to snore on the floor. His friends came closer and watched him for a moment.

"I'm going to take him to bed", Brook offered, leaning down toward him.

"I'm not sleeping!" Luffy suddenly cried out, straightening up and making everyone move back with surprise.

"Fuck, you were asleep!" the cyborg exclaimed.

"I wasn't, I was taking a break!"

Luffy gave them his biggest smile and Nami approached him.

"You should rest", she explained to him. "We can't watch you all the afternoon."

"You! You..."

The captain seemed to think about what he wanted to add and the navigator sighed.

"Come on", she said, grabbing his arm to drag him away.

The straw hat boy didn't move but his elastic hand stretched.

"Luffy, get up!" Nami exclaimed, losing her patience.

The latter quickly got up but just stood there, like he was fixed to the ground.

"You, you're really pretty!" he shouted afterwards, happy to have finally finished his sentence.

His statement froze the redhead and even made her blush while their friends giggled. At last, she smiled at him too and grabbed his hand.

"I see you started learning your list and that's very good, but if you want to please me today, come to bed, okay?"

"Okay."

Luffy finally followed suit her and obediently walked behind her towards the boys' quarters. The rest of the crew watched them walk away and Ussop shook his head.

"A Pirate King who doesn't hold his liquor will definitely be a milestone in the history."

In response, his crewmates shrugged their shoulders before they all quietly resumed their occupations.

It was late on the Sunny and Sanji noted that most of the crew members had gone to bed. Only Ussop was still picking up his planks on the deck to take them to his workshop and Brook was watching the sea a little further to the sound of his violin.

The cook glanced at the crow's nest. He was almost sure Zoro was still there, so focused on his training he had swallowed his meal at full speed before leaving. If he didn't go straight remind him of his existence, it was a safe bet that the swordsman wouldn't meet him for a while and the day had already been long enough for Sanji.

Arrived in front of the trap door of the room, he pushed it gently. As he had imagined, Zoro was meditating, eyes closed and features focused. He closed behind him and sat in the opposite corner to watch him without disturbing him. He then took out his pack of cigarettes and the flame burst out from his lighter, which set fire to the end of one of them.

He breathed in for a long time. Chopper had told him one day this thing was bad for health but it gave him such a sense of well-being that he could hardly believe it.

After several silent minutes, Zoro finally opened an eye and gazed at him.

"You're distracting me."

"I didn't move!" the blond immediately answered back.

"Your smoke. It smells throughout the entire room and it distracts me."

"You're easily distracted, marimo", Sanji grunted, crushing his cigarette butt.

The swordsman resumed his original position and closed his eyes again. The cook sighed inside. Did his training never end?

He watched him to wait. This morning, his body was bent under the efforts and each one of his muscles had been requested, giving him an appreciable show. Tonight, the swordsman was as motionless as a statue, but Sanji could see his breathing tense his chest and draw his abs with each breath. The fencer had taken off his tee-shirt again. In addition, when he wasn't speaking, he was benefiting his company even more pleasantly...

A sneaky idea sprouted in the blond's mind. He came closer to the swordsman without a sound and sat a few inches behind him. Zoro had tense up, feeling his presence, but he waited a few moments for him to forget it and let his breathing become regular again. Then, very slowly, he brushed against the whole length of his left arm with his fingers.

"What are you doing?" the fencer grunted without opening his eyes.

"New challenge. You have to stay focused no matter what."

"Hm."

It wasn't a negative answer, and this time Sanji ran his fingers over his right shoulder. The skin stood on end as they passed but Zoro didn't move and the cook winced. He had better move up a gear if he wanted to see him unable to resist.

He moved a little closer and ran his hands down his back a little more frankly but without actually putting their skins in contact. He thought he felt the swordsman shudder and he passed on his belly, lightly touching his firm abdominal muscles.

Playing his biggest card, the blond then applied his lips to his neck and moved slowly to his right shoulder. This time, he clearly felt the man shiver and he smiled against his skin, starting again on the left side. Victory wasn't far and his desire to jump on the swordsman either.

So he glided his fingers along his chest more deeply as he began to kiss his neck again. Zoro frankly flinched this time and used his left hand to bring the cook's face closer to his, sealing their lips in a fiery kiss. Quickly, he completely turned and pressed his body against his tempter, toppling him over the floor.

"You need to work on concentration", Sanji pointed out with a satisfied smile.

"Come and train me", the fencer quietly answered, diving back to his lips and definitely forgetting his exercise.

The blond agreed, kissing him back. He was ready to come back and test him that way whenever he wanted to.

He closed his eyes and got carried away by the feelings Zoro was giving him. Pretty soon, his breath sped up as the swordsman's hands were going back under his shirt to caress his belly and annoy his nipples. He gripped his lover's bare back and felt against his fingers the muscles of his back he had been watching all day. To finally have them within reach increased his desire tenfold and he braced himself against the swordsman who grunted in pleasure when feeling him being so receptive. Zoro then dived to his neck and the cook bit his lip not to moan while he was relieved of his shirt. Nevertheless, his short breath was betraying him and Zoro's tongue lingered on it until the blond could no longer hold back his sighs. His fingers on the fencer's back tense on the tanned skin before gliding over the small of his back and the swordsman answered by shuddering through his kisses more and more urgent, speeding up the intensity of his own hands on the blond's body.

Suddenly, Zoro straightened and Sanji took the opportunity to catch his breath, eyes glowing and cheeks red. This languid vision sent a shudder to the swordsman who hastily removed the belt from his lover's pants before unbuttoning it. Eyes riveted on his, the cook only seemed to encourage him and desire overwhelmed him. He flung his own pants with awkward gestures due to impatience and finally freed their two manhoods from their underwear.

Without missing a beat, he caught them together and the bond's eyes widened in astonishment and rapture. With a satisfied smile, he moved over him, leaning on his left forearm to continue stroking their members with his right hand. Feelings were intoxicating and his own breath quickly grew.

Under the burning body of the fencer, the cook clung to his shoulders and used it as a support to bring their two bodies together. His motion made them swing and he found himself sitting on the thighs of the swordsman who, however, didn't loosen the rhythm on their members. The latter nevertheless put his left arm around his waist to keep the cook against him and the blond eagerly grabbed his face to better dive into his mouth while his legs were surrounding his waist.

The swordsman tried to keep his mind clear but hearing the jerky breath and the stifled moans of the blond against his lips felt like an electrical discharge and he increased the movements of his right hand. In response, Sanji bit his lip under the pleasure that surged through him and he accompanied the fencer's motions with his hips, clinging to his back.

Zoro barely contained a muted growl. Feeling their two members in his hand rubbing against each other made him dizzy. Carried away by the cook's sounds, the swordsman soon felt they were reaching their limits. Sanji was hanging more and more on to him and he was feeling the pressure of his lower abdomen grow. He would have liked to have the discipline to loosen his fingers so that they could enjoy it longer but now he was unable to do so. Pleasure was exerting an irresistible attraction and he felt his abdominal muscles tense when the manhood of his lover tightened one last time, freeing him in a tremor. A second later, his own orgasm hit him and he felt his strength abandon him.

Just after, they softly caught their breaths into each other's arms, skin covered with a thin film of sweat. Sanji leaned his forehead against the swordsman's. He was vaguely aware that the product of their previous activity was running on his stomach but he didn't care. When he opened his eyes a few moments later, he noticed the fencer was closely observing him and he almost blushed under his serious eyes. Suddenly trembling with emotion, he looked back at him.

"What are you thinking about?" he whispered.

Zoro seemed to emerge from his daydream and slowly moved, dragging the blond still sitting on his thighs. He grabbed his pants with his fingertips and took out a tissue to wipe himself.

"Nothing."

Sanji tried not to look too disappointed. He didn't want to scare him away. He then sensually put his lips on his neck while the swordsman finished cleaning them.

"Tell me, marimo. I swear it'll stay our little secret..."

The fencer shook his head and freed himself from the cook's grip.

"Drop it", he grunted.

"No! Why?"

This time, Sanji didn't hide his disappointment and insistently stared at him. However, the swordsman preferred to ignore him and soon he had to sit on the ground when Zoro pretended to get up. Annoyed, he ground his teeth.

"You don't wanna tell me what you feel, is that it?"

The fencer stopped his move towards his clothes before slowly shifting his gaze to his crewmate.

"Cut that out, Sanji."

This one shook his head.

"I just wanted to know for once", he pleaded.

The blond moved his hand over the swordsman's neck to draw him towards him, but Zoro sharply stopped him.

"Why do you need to ruin everything by asking that?"

Sanji lowered his arm before glaring at him. He was making efforts but the fencer didn't make any and he wanted to smash his head against the crow's nest's floor to avenge himself for his indifference. Nevertheless, strengthened by his resolution, he forced himself to calm down. He had tried to take advantage of the sweetness of the moment hoping that words would come more easily to his lover and it hadn't paid off but he still had his original plan. He could encourage him to express himself differently.

"Forget it, marimo man."

The cook took a deep breath. Zoro was suspiciously staring at him so this time he pulled him strongly against him and put his lips on his for him to relax. Foreplay had been nice but he was eager to get down to business and especially, he wanted to erase this embarrassing moment. So he toppled the swordsman over the floor and settled on his hips. He might have thought the fencer would want to resist him but his arms quickly closed on the blond's waist to encourage him. Obviously, he was as delighted as him to move on.

Sanji closed his eyes as their breaths mingled again. He liked to feel the swordsman's hands tremble or, on the contrary, cling forcefully to his body according to the pleasure he was feeling. He had learned to decipher the codes Zoro was sending him that way and he was particularly attentive to it.

The cook then left his mouth to go down to his neck and then to his chest, each time wringing stifled sigh out of the fencer. The blond then grabbed the already straightened penis of his lover and without giving him more time to get used to it, he glided his tongue along his entire length. In shock, Zoro violently tensed and the cook calmed him by putting his hand on his belly, a smile on his lips and his tongue playful. Breathless, the fencer slowly relaxed, his eyes riveted on his. Sanji saw his dilated pupils devour him and he dived back toward the hardened manhood to completely swallow it. He thought he heard Zoro choke again and his hoarse breath grew louder. Sanji increased the rhythm of his mouth before excessively slowing down. He wanted the swordsman to lose his mind for him to stop thinking and let himself go.

After several minutes of delicious torture, the fencer no longer held his sighs and his hands were trembling in the blond hair of his lover. The latter was also overwhelmed by desire and feeling this body demanding his own was an addiction he couldn't get enough of.

"Zoro..."

"Wh-what?" the swordsman panted.

"Let me..."

Not releasing the pressure on the member tensed to the extreme thanks to his hand, Sanji slipped his other hand between the fencer's thighs.

"Please..."

He put his lips on his manhood again and took advantage of the sigh of pleasure of the swordsman to move one of his fingers toward his private part.

"Wh-what are you doing?" the fencer protested, straightening up as best he could.

"Don't worry..."

Sanji applied again to languidly kiss his belly and stroked at the same time the throbbing member. As the swordsman was relaxing, he resumed his way with his other hand.

"Oh, oh. Stop", the fencer whispered.

Sanji gave him a provocative smile and ran a teasing tongue on his lips.

"If you let me do it, I'll do anything you want..."

The swordsman straightened up on his forearms and firmly shook his head despite his short breath.

"No need, cook. I don't want to."

At these words, Sanji froze before staring at him. At last, all his good will flew away. All his composure too.

"Fucking hell, you piss me off!"

The blond dropped what he had in his hand and glared at him, attracting an incredulous look from his crewmate.

"I begged you! What more do you want from me to satisfy you?! I can't humiliate myself any further!"

Cheeks red, Zoro scowled.

"I don't want you to beg, you moron, I never asked you that."

"But why won't you let me do it then?!" his lover rebelled.

Zoro heavily sighed and sat down again.

"I don't wanna, that's all."

In front of him, the only visible eye of Sanji was gleaming.

"Just admit you're too proud! Goddammit, I am doing it!"

"I never forced you."

"It's about fairness, for fuck's sake! What more can I do now?!"

Suddenly getting up, the blond grabbed his clothes and slipped on his shirt, furious.

"You have to give me something, Zoro, it can't go on like that!"

The fencer then caught hold of his wrist and forced him to sit down again beside him, annoyed.

"And you, listen to me when I say it's not to mess with you. Hell, I'm just not ready to do that!"

"But you're not ready for anything and I made this effort for you so it's unfair!" the cook spat.

"Stop focusing on that", the swordsman grunted, clenching his teeth.

"Easy to say for you!"

"I don't just say it!" he sharply reminded him. "I let you do everything you want to compensate!"

Sanji rolled his eyes. It was true that Zoro let him lead whenever he wanted, whether it was about rhythm, position and even place, but that didn't stop him from feeling inferior to the swordsman. And this refusal drove a little more the point home. He always felt like he was the one who was most involved in their relationship. Finally, he got up again and sighed.

"You may be trying to compensate, but you won't make me believe it's not to save your pride. You're refusing to let me take that place because your ego wouldn't stand it. In fact, what you like is to remind me you always have power over me, that's all."

Zoro jumped to his feet and violently grabbed his arm.

"Why don't you just spit out what you really wanna say instead of beating around the bush, huh? Or is it that you don't have the guts?"

Sanji brutally pulled away from his grip.

"Because you should have guessed by yourself, you idiot! I tried to be patient about it, but obviously you don't care at all! Everything I try to do for us, you don't care at all!"

"What the hell are you talking about again?!" Zoro fumed.

"I'm talking about having a relationship more or less normal!" the cook exploded. "You know, with people talking to each other and telling each other how they feel! You don't wanna talk, you don't wanna let me get the upper hand either and I don't know other ways to get along!"

At these words, the swordsman felt the blood boil in his veins.

"You know all there is to know, why can't you just put up with what you got?" he growled in a low voice.

"How come I already know everything?" Sanji rebelled again. "I don't know anything! All I'm sure of is that you like to get laid every other day but other than that, I have doubts!"

Zoro riveted his eyes trembling with fury on those of the cook, his breath shortened under the effect of anger.

"How can you say that? You think I got involved with someone else like that before? Do you have any idea what it means to me?!"

"And I already told you you have to do it only if you want to! It's not an obligation, it's a choice!"

"I made that fucking choice", the fencer roared again. "Don't make me regret it."

Clenching his teeth, Zoro grabbed his things and walked past the blond with angry footsteps before slamming the trap door behind him.

Later that night, Sanji pushed open the door of their room and found that the fencer wasn't there either. After his anger, he regretted having pushed Zoro to the limits on this subject, but this relationship made him terribly vulnerable and he didn't control his emotions as he would have liked. He knew the swordsman didn't speak easily but he couldn't help himself, he needed reassurance. He didn't want to spend his time fearing a turnaround from his part. He wanted to be certain the fencer was as committed to this relationship as he was.

Closing the door with a twinge in his heart, he made his way to the last place he hadn't explored: the back of the ship. When he approached, he saw him leaning on the stern above the rudder, his eyes dark. He stopped at a reasonable distance and spoke.

"Come to bed, marimo. I know I shouldn't have kept on, but that's no reason to sulk."

Zoro didn't reply or move, so the cook held back a sigh before walking away. He didn't know what else to say and he wasn't going to beg him to forgive him so he was going to give it some time hoping it would work to his favor.

Back in their room, he slipped through the sheets and tried to fall asleep as soon as possible. He wanted to forget that damn night that had started out so well...

A stream of fresh air pulled him from his thoughts moments later and a weight at his side made him turn to the newcomer. He tried to stick to his body frozen by the night but Zoro held him back with a steady hand.

"Did you do all that to snatch a confirmation from me tonight?" the swordsman brutally asked him. "You manipulated me hoping I'd told you what you wanted to hear?"

The blond straightened up on the mattress, frowning.

"Do I look like some kind of a slut, bastard? For the record, I wanted to do it so I acted upon it and I thought I could enjoy something else at the same time. Turned out I was wrong."

The fencer remained motionless for long seconds and Sanji thought he was going to leave again. However, Zoro eventually lay down despite his sullen look.

"I don't know if I'm ready for that kind of stuff", he finally mumbled.

"I'm just asking you to try, marimo. Try, that's all."

The swordsman didn't answer and Sanji sighed before turning away toward his side of the bed. He was about to close his eyes to try to fall asleep when he felt Zoro slip through the sheets.

"You really are complicated, stupid eyebrows", he growled as he pulled off his tee-shirt.

The blond couldn't help but smile at this comment.

"I know, that's why you're gonna make an effort."

He felt more than he saw the fencer roll his eyes as he was adjusting his pillow and he closed his own in search of sleep. He had to admit this relationship was hard for him too. It was hurting his pride on every occasion, but he didn't want to give up. The attachment he was feeling for the swordsman was a challenge and he fully intended to take it up.

I tried to use their differences as the source of the tension in them to make their relationship a reflection of their personalities...

Hope you still like it!