Thanks to Jui Bhaskarrao for your many reviews and welcome aboard.
Enjoy your reading.
Chapter 37
The proper use of language
A week went by and the crew's cook was allowed to use his new spice. Radiant, he locked himself much of the time in his den to revisit his recipes and make them new with this rare ingredient. Appreciations were unanimous and delighted the blond who hastened to adapt all the possible variants to get to know the sarma and its properties. This spice was enhancing his dishes to reveal flavors and, combined with the salt of the Aqua Laguna, the result was close to perfection. In fact, Sanji never got tired of observing the culinary orgasm that his friends were feeling at every bite and he was looking forward to surpassing himself again.
However, at the end of the sixth day, Nami decreed that he had used enough and that she was keeping the rest of the bag for sale to ensure comfortable days for the rest of their trip. Despite his disappointment, the cook was unable to oppose her will and it was therefore Luffy who took care of it. Outraged at the thought of no longer feasting, the captain harassed her navigator and whined so much she finally offered him to bring her valid arguments if he wanted to see his request satisfied. The captain had then rushed out with enthusiasm and no one had wanted to ask him what he was planning.
That morning, Sanji was carefully measuring the few remaining grams of sarma he had. He sprinkled it on the chicken that was already simmering in the middle of olive oil and herbs. The delicious scent of the spice was immediately felt and the blond smiled before putting the chicken back to roast in the oven. He then lovingly put away the last traces of his supreme ingredient. Another meal and he might never have the opportunity to work on this ingredient again...
After having selected his most beautiful fruits to make a salad for dessert, he started their cutting until the juice of a mango stain both his apron and the collar of his shirt. Knowing the risks of his job in this regard, the cook finished his preparation and put it in the fridge before heading to the bathroom to change clothes.
Arrived in front of the mirror, he took off his jacket and his shirt before putting a clean one on his shoulders. He was going to turn away to put the dirty clothes in the laundry basket when the swordsman entered. Apparently out of breath because of his training, Zoro removed his tee-shirt and splashed his head with cold water before noticing the presence of the blond who was watching him a little further, his shirt still open on his white chest.
"You're taking a shower, cook?" the fencer asked him with interest.
The latter shook his head.
"I just changed my shirt."
"Too bad."
The swordsman grabbed a towel to dry himself summarily, and when he looked up to look at himself in the full-length mirror, Sanji was behind him. He gave him a questioning look through the reflective surface, and the blond leaned his chin on his right shoulder thoughtfully as he wrapped his arms around his waist.
"I'm almost out of sarma and I'd like the last meal I could use it to be exceptional but I can't make up my mind..."
Zoro showed his own ignorance with a slight shrug, and Sanji absent-mindedly looked at him in the mirror as the fencer dried himself more precisely before vigorously rubbing his hair, jingling his three earrings.
"Where do they come from, marimo?" the cook inquired, observing them.
He shrugged again.
"I was still in East Blue."
"Were you young?"
"Yeah... Fourteen or fifteen, I can't remember."
"And why three in the left ear and none on the other side? What does it mean?"
The swordsman shook his head before moving him aside to slip on his tee-shirt again.
"Why do you always ask weird questions?" he asked in his turn.
Sanji's shoulders sagged. It had been almost a week since he had asked anything to the fencer after their last heated discussion, and there he was simply directing the conversation to a more personal subject and Zoro was already rebuffing him.
"I felt like you didn't wanna talk the other times either", he sarcastically pointed out. "So when can we talk, huh? Tell me so I can reserve a date that suits you."
Zoro held back a long sigh. He hadn't thought before answering and he was already regretting it.
"I'm okay with talking. Just, not all the time", he tried to defend himself to make up for it.
"Forget it", Sanji interrupted him, heading for his abandoned jacket a few steps away. "We've already had this conversation thousands times, we're not doing this again."
"Now's not the time, that's all", the fencer grunted, folding stubbornly his arms. "Stop increasing everything."
The cook abruptly turned towards him, glaring.
"Oh, really, so when is the right time?! It's been a week since I force myself to shut up because I thought you'd make efforts!" he roared.
"I do", the swordsman grumbled, suddenly uncomfortable. "I'm thinking about it..."
"Name one occasion where you told me something on your own then?" the blond challenged him. "A personal thing, something important. Not asking me where the bottles are!"
Zoro pondered for a moment before shrugging.
"I'm not sure..."
"Well, it's normal, that's because there is none!" his crewmate inveighed, furious.
"So what?" the swordsman grumbled, annoyed. "Last time I checked, I don't have to pour out my life!"
"Pour out your life?" the cook got offended. "So that's how you see it when you're talking with someone? With me?!"
"With someone who asks lots of questions all the time, yes!"
Sanji stared at the swordsman with a blank look on his face for a few seconds before closing the last few meters to grab his jacket. As soon as he get his hand on it, he strode toward the exit without giving him the slightest further look, and the silence echoed in the bathroom after he slammed the door behind him.
This time, Zoro didn't hold his sigh. He knew he didn't do it right. The cook had tried to leave him alone for the past few days and now, he could have gone his way but he just didn't want to answer questions he didn't see the point. He hadn't thought this discussion could turn into such a drama and yet, in retrospect, he should have known.
The fencer casually flung his towel over the edge of the tub and headed back to the door to resume his training. He had decided to let a few hours pass for the blond to calm down. He would then go make up for it.
"This skirt has more original patterns but I'm not so crazy about the color", Nami showed.
"Combined with this tank top, I think the result is more elegant", Robin agreed.
The two young women of the crew had settled in the aquarium around a table to study with attention the latest trends in fashion. It had been too long since they had had time to redo their wardrobes and on the next island, they were planning to empty the local stores.
"Nami, I petitioned!" Luffy suddenly shouted as he turned up.
"No kidding?"
The navigator raised her head and stared at the captain for a moment before snatching the sheet he was waving under her nose. With Robin, she leaned toward the piece of paper.
"Signatures against the sale of the sarma", the archaeologist read with interest.
"Why are there ten names when we are nine and everyone hasn't signed?" Nami wearily noted.
"It's simple!" Luffy explained with excitement. "Brook, Ussop and I signed. Ussop also signed for Sniper King since he said he has a proxy! Franky counts for two because he's half cyborg and Chopper for three with his transformations! We didn't count those with the Rumble Ball, he thought it wasn't fair."
"That's really honest of him", the navigator grinded.
"And this footprint?" Robin asked, showing him a stain of mud.
"It's the carnivorous plant!" the captain exclaimed with a big smile.
"She signed the petition too? How is it possible?" Nami growled.
"She loves meat so with Sanji's spice, she likes it even more!" the straw hat boy insisted. "By the way, you wanna sign, Robin?!"
The navigator snatched the pen from the captain and the archaeologist chuckled.
"Sanji refused to sign and Zoro was sleeping too deeply, we couldn't wake him up", he continued, picking up his sheet.
"This is very impressive", the young brunette admitted.
"See, we must keep the sarma!" Luffy pointed out again, turning to his navigator.
"You made a plant signed and according to you, half of the crew have multiple personalities", the latter got annoyed. "Your petition has no value."
"But the majority has spoken!" the captain showed her. "We wanna eat Sanji's dishes with sarma, it's too good!"
"And since when are we a democracy on this ship?" the navigator barked. "When you have something stupid in mind, you don't listen to anyone and everyone is embarked on your trouble!"
"But, Nami, please!" the straw hat boy begged.
"Do I need to remind you I'm the one in charge of the accounts?" she sternly insisted. "I think my opinion should prevail over the ones of the others!"
Luffy gave her his saddest, teary eyes, and the young woman finally rolled her own, exasperated.
"Gimme that, I'll study your proposal with Robin."
"Awesome!"
The captain handed her his paper before running away and Nami watched the petition again with a sigh. She then turned to her friend.
"Do you think we should keep this spice?" she asked her.
"We must admit that it's particularly tasty", the archaeologist replied.
"I find it delicious too but it's also a great way to have a reserve in case the money runs out", the young woman pointed.
"Maybe we can keep only a small amount?" Robin suggested. "Given its scarcity, I have no doubt that it will still be trading very well."
The navigator took the time to think before nodding.
"You're right... And it'll please everyone. I'll keep only a small part and Sanji can use the rest."
The archaeologist agreed with a smile before resuming their magazine.
Zoro forced himself to join the kitchen. Lunch had taken place in an ordinary atmosphere, except that Sanji was ignoring him and didn't speak to him. Some time ago, he would have liked the turn of events and he would simply have moved on but now he knew the hidden meaning of the cook's attitude. When he didn't speak, it didn't mean he didn't think about it anymore but, on the contrary, that his anger was still there. This behavior was totally beyond him but again, it was the curly brow and nobody was more complicated than him. He then had waited a little longer before talking to him, but now, it was already the late afternoon and he had to do it. He had even thought about a conversation to show him he regretted his attitude.
He turned the doorknob and entered the kitchen. The cook was rinsing vegetables for dinner and didn't make a move to make him known he had perceived his presence.
"Can I have a drink?" the swordsman asked.
In response, Sanji just dried his hands and grabbed a glass without turning around. Suspicious, the fencer cautiously went to the table without sitting down.
"I thought you could barbecue something with the remaining spice. I noticed meat was better with it..."
The blond just shrugged before going to his bottles reserve and Zoro frowned. Was the cook not getting his reconciliation attempt? Not knowing how to continue, he finally sighed.
"What the hell are you doing, curly?"
Sanji flung his bottle at him before fixing his gaze on his.
"I'm serving you. Is that a problem?"
"Why are you like that?"
"Like what?" the cook placidly repeated.
"Like... that!" the fencer scowled. "Weird."
"Don't know what you're talking about", the blond said, shrugging again before resuming his previous activity.
Zoro felt the tension invade his body. Obviously, the cook was still mad and he saw only one thing to do.
"I'm listening", he decided, calmly sitting around the table.
"I have nothing to say", the other man replied from his sink.
The swordsman lost some of his patience and banged his fist on the table. He didn't want to lend himself to this farce any longer.
"Get your ass on this chair and talk!" he roared.
"Sorry, don't wanna pour out my life."
Zoro felt his jaw tensed. As he had guessed, the cook was brooding over his anger but rather than seize the opportunity he was giving him, he preferred to pour gasoline on the fire. The swordsman tried to remain calm despite everything. Sanji was making him pay for his morning behavior and he could understand it. He then tried to use a more conciliatory attitude.
"We need to discuss it and you know it."
"What for? Aren't we having a good time?" the blond asked while turning to him, a fake smile on his lips. "Not talking to each other. That must be a dream for you, isn't it?"
The fencer shook his head and strengthened his will.
"I didn't say I didn't wanna talk, I said not all the time. There's still a difference."
At these words, Sanji put violently his cloth down and glared at him.
"Except that in reality, you're not saying anything on your own and I'm not gonna spend my life begging you! If you don't wanna share that with me, so be it. I'll live."
His crewmate's tone perfectly belied his words and Zoro sighed again. It was up to him to take the first step, he had prepared for it. He had to do it even though he didn't understand why it seemed so important to Sanji.
"All right, I get it. You wanna know where my three earrings come from?" he gave in.
"No", the cook firmly replied.
"What? But I thought you wanted to know!" he exclaimed, taken aback.
"Don't feel like it anymore."
The swordsman abruptly stood up, furious and humiliated at the same time.
"Fucking hell, what's even the point?!" he fumed. "I'm making an effort and you're blowing me off! Screw you and your fucking drama!"
He crossed the kitchen in a fury and slammed the door behind him, leaving the cook alone with his vegetables.
Sanji finished his cigarette, leaning on the balustrade of the first floor after having cut his last zucchinis. After his new altercation with Zoro, he admitted he had gone a little too far in the demonstration but the tension he had suppressed in him for days and the resentment of this morning had made his anger flare up. Now they really were in bad terms and he felt bad about not having seized the opening the swordsman had offered. He knew he should have interpreted Zoro's words as an apology, but it had been stronger than him.
He lit another cigarette, in a bad mood. If the marimo was deciding to confide a little, he wasn't going to stupidly ruin the opportunity. They both had to work to learn to get along and create bonds, but for the moment, it seemed he had missed a turn and it was now up to him to take the first step.
The blond winced, blowing his smoke. He'd better find without delay a means of making the fencer understand the importance of sharing a few moments of quality between them, so as not to stoop this way. As these last hours had showed him, to ask something the swordsman didn't understand had no interest because even if Zoro complied, he didn't perceive its essential nature and it would remain an annoyance between them.
Finally, Sanji looked back at the kitchen door and watched it for a moment before quickly putting out his cigarette butt. He had just had an idea to make up with the cactus head.
"Marimo."
Zoro slowly turned to the cook, his swords ready to come in useful. He had wanted to be alone at the back of the ship to process the latest events but it seemed the blond was already trying again and he didn't plan to give in.
"Relax. I come in peace", his crewmate said.
The fencer didn't seem to give him the benefit of the doubt and he groaned.
"What you want, shitty cook?"
Sanji winced but accepted his reply in proportion to his own.
"Now that we're even on this subject, we must resolve the next one. We need to talk."
"And what if I don't wanna?" the swordsman retorted provocatively.
"Well, that would be a shame. I just prepared your favorite dish with the last trace of the sarma. I thought we could eat quietly while chatting..."
"Who do you think I am? Luffy?" he cut him with disdain.
"I've also put aside the best bottle of sake from the reserve", the blond nonchalantly added.
Zoro hesitated a second.
"Bastard."
The cook smiled and invited him to walk past him towards the kitchen. So far, he wasn't doing too bad.
Sanji nibbled a little, leaving the majority of the dish to the swordsman who ate silently, sometimes peeking at him as if to keep an eye on him. The sarma-flavored rice with slices of raw fish was good enough to blow him away, but Zoro didn't pretend to want to tell him, and he just watched him knock back the huge quantities he had prepared.
"How'd you get so we could be alone?" the fencer suddenly noticed. "It's suppertime and nobody's coming."
"I paid Ussop and Chopper to keep Luffy busy for an hour", the blond confessed. "The others don't mind to wait a little more."
"Impressive", Zoro agreed, grabbing the bottle.
"And it costs me a lot of money so I'd like it to be worth it", he winced.
"Right. I'm listening then."
"I was really angry when you refused to answer me this morning", the cook honestly began.
The swordsman tensed and Sanji decided to appease him immediately. They absolutely had to solve this problem tonight.
"Yet it wasn't a reason to behave like I did earlier. I know you wanted to make up for it."
Zoro stared a long time at the blond on the other side of the table.
"Clearly, you shouldn't have", he grunted. "But I know you asked me to make an effort on the subject so..."
Sanji agreed before taking a short breath. They were going into the most difficult part now.
"To be honest, sometimes I feel like you're willingly keeping me at bay from your life", the cook said, shrugging to look casual.
"I'm not keeping you at bay", the fencer replied. "This is who I am and you know it."
Sanji nodded.
"Okay, but I'd like to feel I'm sharing a little more than your bed sometimes, you know what I mean?"
The swordsman leaned against the back of his chair and sighed.
"Yeah... Makes sense since we agreed about... all this."
"Exactly."
A small silence stretched between them. They were still a little uncomfortable and Zoro awkwardly ran a hand through his hair.
"My three earrings represent my swords. It's a symbol of my three swords style."
"A symbol?" Sanji asked, interested.
"Yeah... At the beginning, I only used two swords and then when I got the one of Kuina, I decided to learn how to master Santoryu. My teacher has often told me about the importance of the balance of nature forces and since I'm wearing my blades on the right, I found it better to wear the pendants on the left."
The blond remained silent for a few moments and Zoro frowned.
"It's a beautiful story, marimo", the cook finally admitted with a smile.
"Really?"
Zoro felt himself blush and Sanji accentuated his smile.
"It's very cute indeed."
"Whatever", the swordsman flushed. "Cut the crap..."
"If you wanna know, I-
"Sanji! I'm hungry!"
The cook turned his head towards the door, disillusioned.
"Sorry, we couldn't hold him back any longer", Chopper apologized, panting behind him.
"Yeah, we tried everything but this guy is a real glutton!" the gunner complained.
"Never mind", the blond said, sighing.
"Hey, wait! Why did you both already eat?! That's not fair!" Luffy exclaimed, discovering the dishes on the table and the empty plates.
"What a moron!" Ussop exclaimed. "Don't you see you interrupted them in the middle of a romantic dinner?!"
Luffy opened his eyes wide while Ussop was continuing to explain his faults and while Zoro was shrinking in his chair.
"It's not exactly true", Sanji tempered, who didn't want to see all his efforts destroyed. "We just took advantage of it to eat a little bit..."
"Are you kidding me? Don't tell me Luffy interrupted Zoro and Sanji's date!" the navigator intervened from the doorstep.
"Of course, he did! He blew it all!" Ussop confirmed.
She stepped into the room, followed by the rest of the crew.
"I didn't know!" the captain grumbled. "Nobody told me!"
"And why do you think we didn't tell you, idiot?" the redhead wheezed.
"Listen, it's okay", Sanji appeased them. "We were done..."
"No, Sanji, he must understand!" the gunner continued, unaware of what the discussion was inspiring to the swordsman.
"Yes, it was a very nice attention and he ruined everything", Brook regretted with compassion. "I am truly sad for you..."
"I want a romantic dinner too!" the straw hat boy suddenly sulked. "It looked so good!"
"Well, gee, you got some nerve!" Franky exclaimed.
"We'll see if Sanji wants to prepare one when you've apologized", Nami added, sending a punch on his head.
"Excuse me, Sanji. Sorry, Zoro", the captain flatly apologized, bowing his head in front of his friends.
Zoro stood up, red as a tomato, and Robin softly moved away from the door to let him run away. Just outside, the blond caught him and held him for a second.
"Don't mind them, I told them I wanted to talk to you alone for a moment, that's all. We can finish our discussion later. I'll wait for you."
He escaped just as quickly to supervise the crew's meal and the fencer got to the crow's nest to come to his senses.
The cook took his time to tidy up the kitchen and clean it. He had made an appointment with the swordsman and no doubt he knew the meeting place was their room but he wasn't sure Zoro would come. Their conversation wasn't so tense when they had been interrupted but they weren't really reconciled either and after what he had heard, he could imagine the fencer would prefer to be alone for a moment... Damn! Sometimes his crewmates were such liabilities! No diplomacy, no finesse. But a big heart and an obvious good will.
Sanji smiled. To be forgiven, Luffy had told the cook he had obtained permission from Nami to continue using sarma for his dishes. Everyone had applauded this decision and the navigator had taken only a small bag of spice, leaving the blond overjoyed and recipe ideas in the head.
So it was settled. He would make up for Luffy's blunder and then he would prepare for him and Nami a sumptuous candlelight dinner they would remember all their lives!
After leaving his kitchen spotless, Sanji lit a cigarette on the deck. The air was cold and he was willing to bet the next island would be wintery weather. Raising the collar of his jacket, he saw that only Franky was still outside, busy repainting the white railings. The blond gave him a small nod the cyborg gave him back and he then heard Chopper, Brook and Luffy laugh in the boys' quarter, probably busy with a new game. He finally glanced at the crow's nest but it was impossible to distinguish at this distance if the swordsman was there or not.
Finally, he finished his cigarette and headed for the bedroom, happily finding a little warmth when he closed the door behind his back. As expected, Zoro wasn't there but he didn't want to get discouraged. At worst, he would go talk to him the next morning when he would come out of hiding.
Sanji sat down on the bed and grabbed his last cookbook and pencil on the small shelf on his side. The prospect of being able to flavor his dishes with sarma again had awakened his creativity and he got absorbed into their writing with undisguised pleasure.
The cook was on his fourth written page when a current of icy air made him shudder. He looked up and smiled. The swordsman had his bad days face but he had come anyway. He made space for him in silence on the bed and put away his book until he settled down. Zoro put his swords on the wall and sat on the edge of the bed, turning his back to the blond.
"I swear I've never told them that", Sanji said behind him.
"I believe you."
The cook suddenly wanted to jump on him. His muscular back and his messy hair because of the wind made him look incredibly desirable at this moment.
"I've said personal things without you asking me. I told you about my swords and Kuina. Plus we weren't even in this relationship at the time", the swordsman brutally hurled.
Sanji came out of his uncalled-for thoughts and froze. How could he have forgotten Zoro had confided on this so important subject? He then cursed his impulsive and impatient nature.
"You say I don't make an effort, but you don't either", the swordsman reproached him again. "Whatever I do, it never feels right for you."
The blond staggered under the blow for a few seconds before sighing.
"I know... We have to work at it together..."
They remained silent for a few moments and the swordsman didn't turn around, visibly still upset. For his part, the cook felt suddenly nervous. Zoro's comment had raised an important point and from now on he knew what he had to say to make him understand the importance of his request but that implied he seemed vulnerable and he hesitated. He had the impression he had laid down arms too many times in front of the fencer when it came to their feelings.
He observed the closed profile of his crewmate and this image reminded him of the one he had faced just before the swordsman had surprised him by agreeing to start this new relationship with him. Maybe tonight wasn't so different.
"Actually... I ask a lot of questions because it's my way of feeling a little closer to you", he tried cautiously.
The fencer shrugged his shoulders, not very convinced.
"I don't know why you attached so much importance to it, it's very easy to lie."
Sanji shook his head before continuing while sitting beside him on the bed.
"Of course it's not absolute proof but... Speech allows us to convey emotions and the words we choose rather than others can give much more information than we think."
"Like what?" the swordsman wanted to know.
"Like when you told me about Kuina and your swords precisely."
Zoro frowned and the blond felt his heart beat a little faster in his chest.
"If you want to, I'll tell you how I felt at the time", he said as calmly as possible. "I'll show you how a few words can change everything. How they changed everything for me."
The fencer felt at the tone of his voice that the moment was solemn and full of emotions and he finally turned his head towards him to look questioningly at him.
"Why?" he asked. "You don't have to-"
"Because it matters to me and because we must both make an effort", his crewmate reminded him, putting a hand on his chest to stop him. "I want you to feel what it can create as a sensation. I want you to understand why. It's useless to ask you to do it if you don't get the meaning."
The swordsman stared at him for a moment before turning completely to him. He settled cross-legged on the mattress and focused on the cook who faced him in his turn. Zoro then noticed that the blond was carefully avoiding his eyes as much as possible. He was visibly nervous.
"I'm listening."
At these words, Sanji felt the tension came over him again, but he banished his anxiety with a brief breath. It was no longer time to think. He had chosen to take the plunge.
"When you told me about Kuina and your swords, I think that's the moment I started to understand that what I was feeling had changed. It was thanks to your words", he began.
Zoro continued to watch him closely and he carried on.
"What you told me was private and personal. You were sincere and you told me about what matters most to you. You did it without me asking you anything, you just suggested me to share your story."
The cook remembered that evening and suddenly had a nostalgic smile.
"That evening, I felt close to you, Zoro. As though you had let me get near you a little closer, just with your words. I felt important to you and I think... it touched me."
Zoro didn't move but the blond used his lock of hair to hide a little more from his eyes.
"Since then, I started to look at things differently. I didn't notice it right away, but from that moment on, I wanted to know more. I asked you to tell me more about Kuina and when you answered, it only strengthened my impressions. I wanted you... to trust me. To look at me differently too. I wanted to be special. As you were now for me. All that... because of what you told me that night."
Sanji finally looked up to size up the swordsman's reaction who still didn't move. The cook then clumsily cleared his throat and began to anxiously fuss. The silence was frightening and his discomfort grew every second.
Finally, Zoro spoke again.
"I didn't realize it", he sincerely replied. "It's true that if I told you, it's because it seemed natural and... I don't know I just wanted to tell you. I didn't think you'd conclude all of that, I just... It just happened."
"Was I wrong that night, Zoro?" the blond murmured. "Did you say it without thinking, like you could have done with anyone? Was there any particular meaning or did I... try to see something that wasn't there?"
The fencer looked at him for long seconds with astonishment, only becoming aware now of his crewmate's line of thought and the depth of his doubts. He hadn't realized the impact of his words that day but he was sure he knew why he had told him. Yet Sanji had been the quickest to interpret the real meaning between them and somehow, it didn't surprise him. His heightened sensitivity maybe allowed him to translate underlying emotions from speeches more quickly. So with his serene gaze, he looked into his crewmate's distressed one.
"I told Luffy about my promise and everyone here can ask my swords' story but no one other than you knows the extent of my devotion to them or the intensity that binds me to Kuina's sword. I wouldn't have told anyone else because they wouldn't understand what it really means to me."
Sanji refrained from biting his lip under the emotion that flowed in him and he grabbed the fencer's head to rest his head in the crook of his neck, his hands trembling.
"I know everything is natural for you, that you don't do anything aimlessly but... I had to be sure", he whispered in a slightly jerky voice. "I want to continue to connect with you, Zoro. I know it won't be every day but just every once in a while..."
The swordsman put one of his hands around his back and leaned his chin on his shoulder to move them closer thoughtfully.
"So that's why I need to answer your weird questions", he understood. "Because you guess things even if that's not what I said."
Against him, Sanji chuckled.
"That's exactly it, marimo. Sometimes, you have to answer my silly questions so that I'm sure I'm still special for you."
Silence fell again and Zoro held the cook against him while the latter took advantage of his embrace to calm down.
"It's strange", the fencer finally muttered.
"Why?" the blond asked, straightening up a bit so he could look at him.
"These words that pass something else... It reminds me of the time when I hurt my shoulder and Chopper had forbidden me to move. I remember you told me I'd necessarily find a solution. And I remember it made me feel funny. As if... it had warmed me up somehow."
Sanji gently smiled.
"That's the power of words, Marimo-kun. They have much more power than we think."
"It'd seem", the swordsman slowly approved.
The cook once again looked at his crewmate who seemed to be lost in thought again. He didn't dare to disturb his thinking and wanted to settle down against him to lie down when the firm hand of the swordsman closed on his forearm.
"You stay here", its owner growled, now staring at him.
"I didn't intend to go very far", he pointed out with amusement.
The fencer put one of his hands behind his neck, brushing past the blond hair while maintaining the pressure of his gaze in his. He watched him for a few moments in silence and Sanji simply enjoyed his intoxicating presence all around him. Finally, the swordsman gaze became harder and the cook was surprised.
"Fucking words that make me want to make you scream like no one dared to do before", the swordsman muttered in a low voice.
The blond burst out laughing but Zoro had already moved on to the second part of his plan. He brutally brought him closer to kiss him full on the lips and Sanji felt his desire wake up in an instant to answer him in the same way: hungry. He drew the face of the fencer towards him while the latter surrounded him with his arms in a possessive embrace and made him fall against him on the bed. Their tongues found and rejected each other for long minutes to violently take possession of the mouth of the other. Their hands closed over their bodies and creased their clothes before pushing them away to better take over their skins amid sighs of pleasure.
"You know you're gifted in your own way on the subject?" Sanji suddenly pointed naughtily to his lover when they parted for a few seconds, out of breath.
"How come?" the swordsman whispered, his eyes aflame.
"You're pretty good with your tongue", his crewmate whispered back.
Zoro had a carnivorous smile before diving back to the one of the cook. The latter may have a ready tongue he wasn't going to use it to make long speeches tonight.
Last scene was quite difficult to write at the time so I hope you like it!
Be prepared for some action in the next chapter!