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Enjoy your reading.

Chapter 66

A matter of gentleness

"Breathe out slowly and straighten up."

Sanji, Brook, Usopp and Luffy bent their knees while raising their arms to stand up to their original position.

"Now you're gonna stretch the spine", the little reindeer continued. "Raise your arms to the sky and stand on your tiptoes. Then, throw your arms backward to make your back supple."

Again, the four friends complied and Chopper watched critically their moves as he was walking around them on the Sunny's deck.

"Focus on your balance, Brook. Contract your abs."

"My abdominal muscles are long gone", the skeleton lamented, trying not to move.

"Oh, that's right", the doctor remembered, embarrassed. "Well… do what you can."

He then moved on to the sniper who was concentrating so hard he was forgetting to breathe.

"Take deep breaths or you'll increase your blood pressure, Usopp."

The gunner softly breathed out but didn't relax his effort, attentive to the instructions.

"Look what I can do, Chopper!"

The straw hat boy stretched his arms to the floor and bent double his back upside down, a broad smile on his face.

"Luffy, it's not yoga if you use your devil fruit", the reindeer reproached him. "Take Sanji for example, he has a very nice posture."

The blond beside him was indeed standing perfectly steady, his breathing deep and regular, and the captain tried to really imitate him this time.

"Alright, let's move on to the shoulder stretch", Chopper decided after a minute.

A little further behind them, Franky massaged his neck.

"I really hurt myself", he grumbled. "I'm still in pain…"

"What were you thinking doing yoga when you're half made of junk", Zoro grinded, dozing against the mast a few steps away.

"I wanted to participate", the cyborg scowled.

"Zoro's right, it was stupid", Nami settled from her deckchair as she was examining her map.

"I'm sure our doctor can offer a cure if you tell him about it", Robin suggested, drinking her tea on her own deckchair.

"I dunno, looks like I'm rusty", Franky sighed.

"If you need to relax, I can give you excellent massages", the archaeologist added.

"With all your arms, that must be awesome!" the carpenter got enthusiastic.

"Absolutely."

"I can't wait to see your talents!"

"My pleasure."

Zoro opened a surprised eye in front of the turn of the discussion and he met Nami's equally amazed gaze. Finally, he shook his head and tried to forget about his friends' conversation by letting his own thoughts envelop him.

In the ten days since the crew had set sail again, Chopper had allowed the cook to get up more and more. To help him soothe his pain and to make demands on his muscles as gradually as possible, he was now offering several yoga exercises every morning. Some of his friends had quickly gotten caught up and had wanted to participate, which Chopper had naturally encouraged until Franky got injured three days before. He had then joined Nami, Robin and Zoro during the daily training of the rest of the crew.

With a distracted eye, the swordsman looked at the cook's figure who was executing cross twists this time. Chopper was making sure he didn't bend down too abruptly to stimulate his vertebrae slowly, and the blond was dutifully trying to replicate soft and harmonious moves.

Zoro knew the cook was putting all his energy into recovering. As soon as he could, he had resumed all his activities. The first day had been really hard to manage to keep the pace despite the fragility of his back and when the fencer had joined him in their room at nightfall, he had wondered if he should tell Chopper about his partner's condition considering his exhaustion. However, at that moment he had seen in the blond's gaze a silent request he hadn't been able to ignore. His guilt had made him hesitate for a second and then he had remembered Sanji had never gotten in his way to force him to rest. The cook had often protested and even sometimes chastised him for his attitude but he had never done more. He was always letting him have the last word.

So Zoro had done the same that night. He had let him fall asleep against him without a word and the next morning when he had woken up, the blond had been already gone to make breakfast. The day had been a little easier for him and the following days had gone better and better.

The swordsman's only uncertainty now was the development of their physical relationships. Indeed, since he had unwittingly attacked his mate, they hadn't pushed anything too hard. Still, he couldn't tell that Sanji was deliberately avoiding this aspect. So, before being allowed to go back to his own room, the blond had dragged him into the infirmary on the waterbed and the two lovers had started having fun until Zoro had really been leaning on the bed. The combined weight of their two bodies had pierced the mattress and they had ended up wet, instantly dampening their desire. Then the cook had to find an excuse for Chopper to justify the state of the infirmary the next day…

This very day, Sanji had been allowed to get up more and then all his efforts had been focused on his recovery, leaving him too tired as soon as he was finally getting back to his room.

Zoro wasn't complaining, but seeing the cook regain his health, he couldn't help but have a slight doubt. Sanji was surprisingly accommodating towards him, not looking to push their time together or even to ask for getting the upper hand following his latest injury. Given the circumstances, the fencer wasn't sure he could refuse, but Sanji wasn't asking.

So he was happy with the present situation while still wondering about its implications. Did the blond have any apprehension about him since the demon incident? He had assured him he had put aside his aggression but had he really overcome it? Had it triggered a change in him about his desire for the swordsman?

Zoro sighed before closing his eyes again in the hope of resting. Beside him, he was hearing the peaceful conversation of his three friends and he let himself be carried away by the Sunny's rolling. He was overthinking and it wasn't like him.

The swordsman watched wordlessly as the cook was catching his breath in his arms below him amid the night shadows filtering through their bedroom window. He released his hand around his lover's manhood and this one sighed. He then straightened up to wipe and noticed that sleep was threatening to take possession of his partner. He himself was gasping for breath at the sight his lover had offered him, but unlike him, his desire was still very obvious. Yet that wasn't what bothered him and he sighed inwardly.

When he had come to get something to drink tonight, the cook was finishing the dishes and while he was pouring him a drink, he hadn't missed the blond's sparkling eye on him. Definitely feeling on the same page, he had decided to postpone the end of his training until later and the cook had been quick to take him to their room. And there, when the fencer had thought the blond was going to take control as he was letting himself fall into the bed, Sanji had once again let him take things in hand. Almost disappointed, the swordsman had nonetheless done his best to please him but his questions were now coming back to disturb him and he wanted to settle this once and for all.

"What the hell is wrong with you, shitty cook?" he asked, gravely gazing at his darkened figure.

The blond looked questioningly at him.

"You just seem… out of it", the fencer tried to clarify.

"Where do you think I was?" the cook replied with a smile.

Zoro shook his head and put his tissue on his bedside table. He then lay down on his side and straightened on one arm to better watch him.

"Seriously. You didn't even resist earlier and… neither did the other times. Since… you know."

Facing him, Sanji frowned and turned a little more towards him in his turn.

"What do you mean?"

"It's not like you to let it go", the swordsman pointed out. "So I was wondering… Maybe it changed things for you after all…"

Surprised by his words, the cook stared at his mate for a second before shaking his head, a smile on his face.

"This has nothing to do with it, I promise."

He then moved closer to the swordsman and rolled him on to his back to sit on top of him. Resting his head on his chest, he closed his eyes.

"So what?" the fencer insisted.

Sanji softly moved against his skin.

"I wanna take it easy, that's all."

"You're in pain?" the swordsman inquired, frowning.

"No. Well, yes but I think it'd be fine if we were careful."

Zoro remained silent but the blond felt his incomprehension.

"I don't wanna force you, marimo", he finally said as his fingers were playing on his hips.

"Force me?"

The fencer had slightly straightened up in surprise and Sanji was forced to stand up a bit too.

"Yes, you. You're the most sensitive of the two of us, you know."

As Zoro was still staring at him, the cook chuckled and placed a loud kiss on his shoulder before falling back to his place on the mattress.

"Think about it", he explained, a little superior air at the corner of his lips. "If we did it now, we'd have to take it slow and being gentle with someone, it's passing what you feel on to them. You're not ready for this and that's exactly why you panicked last time. So I'm waiting, I'm in no hurry. As soon as I'm better, we won't have to take so much precautions."

At these words, Zoro froze in disbelief. So if Sanji had letting him rule for days, it wasn't to protect himself but to preserve him? He then thought back to the intensity of their frolics just before he had felt the need to stand back as well as the first kiss they had shared after their reconciliation. To the tornado the cook had triggered in him each time with his motions and looks. Was gentleness a side of their relationship that allowed them to express without words the extent of their feelings?

These were indeed times when he had felt vulnerable and had wanted to protect himself from it. Once again at that moment, his body had expressed itself without him being aware of it, just like he had conveyed to Sanji his desire to get involved in their relationship without him noticing it. Yet today the situation was different. He was aware of what he had been going through and he was accepting what he was feeling. He just had to allow himself to express it. That way, he wasn't losing sight of his wish to control every part of his being in order to live up to his dream and to the promise he had made to the cook.

"I wanna try."

Losing his small smile, Sanji stared at him, stunned.

"What you mean?"

"I wanna do it, I wanna do this… gently."

The blond frowned.

"Don't take this as a challenge, marimo. You need to be ready or it won't work."

"I am ready", the swordsman protested. "It's just… I dunno how to do it…"

The cook sat up straight and studied his annoyed features for a moment before nodding.

"If you're sure, I got an idea. Remember when you wanted me to teach you how to tame your feelings?"

Zoro nodded as he was fixing his gaze on his and Sanji felt a shiver rise up his spine.

"Okay then… since you're used to trust your body, I'd like you to only focus on the feelings and emotions I'm gonna convey to your body. That way I could lead and go at my pace without you having to worry about going too hard and I think that'd be a good start…"

"How are you gonna do that?" the fencer asked, straightening himself up on his forearms.

"Well… Taking the time allows to convey other sensations than raw pleasure related to the act. Sensations more related to what we feel according to what the other wants to pass", the cook explained, hoping not to blush.

"What we feel…"

Sanji nodded to escape the swordsman's intense gaze for a second before speaking again seriously.

"Don't cut corners. Just look for what I wanna pass on to you, that'll be enough. Then, if you feel ready, next time you'll try to do it…"

The swordsman slowly nodded and Sanji suddenly felt his heart speed up in his chest.

"OK. One last thing then…"

He leaned over the edge of the bed and groped around for something on the floor before straightening up, the fencer's bandana in hand. This one instinctively tensed at its sight but his partner shook his head.

"I'm not gonna tie you up, you're far from ready for this. But if you're okay, I'd like you to be blindfolded. It'll force you to only think of the sensations I'll give you and… it'll be easier for me too."

In front of the almost embarrassed look of his lover, the swordsman could only nod. It was after all a good idea. He was used to let his body express itself and the idea of depriving himself of one sense in order to sharpen another one was appealing.

He then righted himself to be up to him and closed his eyes, giving him permission to begin. Sanji placed the piece of cloth with trying to control his trembling motions out of emotion. He tied it behind his head and watched his mate for a moment. Zoro was counting on him tonight so he had no room for mistakes. The cook then slowly moved forward and tenderly kissed his lips.

"You ready?" he whispered.

As the fencer was nodding, he suddenly put his hands on his shoulders.

"If that's too much for you, just tell me. I don't wanna go back…"

The swordsman firmly shook his head and grabbed the back of his neck to put his forehead against his, making the sincerity of his words known despite the absence of his gaze.

"I will."

As the fencer's hand was loosening, Sanji slowly exhaled to relax in his turn. Excitement and apprehension were taking over him but he wanted to guide the swordsman, to make him aware of the extent of possibilities they could live together. He was going to translate what he was feeling for him in the form of caresses and kisses. He actually had so much to say that would probably never cross the line of his lips. And yet tonight he could express himself completely. It was an unexpected opportunity although slightly scary considering what he was about to confide.

Sanji gently pushed his partner away so that he lay down and he settled on his hips. The swordsman's muscles were tensed under his skin and his breathing strained. He was probably trying to anticipate his moves and their meanings. The blond then decided not to make him wait any longer and he put his lips on his forehead to thank him. Thank him for his trust and attitude of the last few days towards him, for his thoughtfulness but also his presence despite the guilt he was still feeling deep inside him.

Zoro remained perfectly still and the cook went down to the crook of his neck. Here, the fencer's smell was overwhelming and life was quivering under his tongue where his vein was throbbing. Perhaps that was the place on his body he preferred. The one that most reminded him of the very essence of his crewmate. His lips shivered against his skin and he closed his eyes. He knew Zoro couldn't see him, but his thoughts were so powerful he was fearing the swordsman would hear them.

When he righted himself a few minutes later, the fencer's breath had loosened and gone heavier, and Sanji slowly followed the line of his scar that was diagonally crossing his chest with the tip of his tongue. The swordsman shuddered and the cook slid his mouth a little slower. He didn't know exactly how Zoro was feeling there and maybe his injured skin was still sore. Yet he intensely kissed every part of his damaged body. This scar was an inalterable memory of Zoro's commitment to his dream and he was treasuring it. He had always admired his determination and tenacity and even if his injury had nearly cost him his life, his scar would still prove him that Zoro was indeed alive. So he was revering it even more.

The fencer moved when his partner's tongue reached his belly button and the cook smiled against his warm skin. Zoro was sensitive. Much more than he would have liked to admit. He then ran his hands along the swordsman's hips, stroking and massaging the contours of his waist more and more feverishly in spite of himself. He wanted the fencer to feel what he was himself feeling for him but this state was also arousing his desire.

Zoro's body was a mountain of muscles chiseled to perfection in his eyes. Ideal for his hands when he was placing them in the small of his back, fabulous for his lips when he was kissing him and idyllic for his own body when the fencer was melting into his.

Suddenly, the swordsman noisily swallowed, panting, and Sanji felt a violent shiver. He brutally went up to his mouth and took hold of his lips, asking the fencer for everything he could give him: his passion, his desire, his warmth. And even his love if he wanted to.

Zoro then brutally put his hands on his waist, bringing their crotches into contact, and the blond moaned, biting his lips. He didn't want to rush his mate but…

"Z-Zoro…"

"I'm fine. Keep going…"

Sanji kissed his lover's parted lips again before taking a deep breath. He had to calm down and continue to benefit the swordsman. He lifted himself off the warm body beneath his and shivered. He then grabbed the fencer's virility and began to slowly move back and forth while devouring his neck. He heard Zoro's breathing grow heavier again and he lifted his head, taking advantage of his mask to observe him at his leisure. He never tired of seeing the great swordsman lose his breath under his caresses.

One of the fencer's hands soon closed on his to make him pick up speed and the cook let him do it for a moment, drinking the erotic picture his partner was giving him. Eventually however, he curled his fingers around his to remove their hands and the swordsman softly sighed. The blond took the opportunity to kiss one by one the fingers of the fencer who froze abruptly at this attention. Sanji was feeling his cheeks burn him but the knowledge that Zoro couldn't look at him set him free. He was often watching the swordsman's hands. They were as precious to him as his for cooking, and he was often fascinated by their skill in wielding swords.

When he released his hand, the fencer let it slide along his lover's body and stop on his stomach, which he lightly stroked. Sanji straightened to slip between his legs and as he was taking up his lover's manhood in hand again, he also slowly slid his tongue over it. For once, the cook wasn't trying to make him lose control, he just wanted to give him a unique pleasure by making him share his own desire. He therefore continued for a moment the languid association of his mouth and hand, getting drunk on the sighs of well-being and the hoarse moans of his lover.

Yet after a while, he felt the swordsman's breathing quicken and his hips lift to the rhythm of his caresses. His deliberately slowed moves seemed to be as tasty as they were unbearable and the cook redoubled his slowness, further deepening his motions by stroking him with his fingertips.

"I can't handle it anymore", Zoro suddenly breathed in a hoarse voice, straightening to grab the cook in his arms and feverishly kiss him.

The blond kissed him back, smiling against his lips.

"I'm not done with you, marimo", he replied against his mouth. "Sit down."

The fencer righted himself somehow and leaned his back against the wall as the cook was kneeling around him.

"I'm waiting for you, cook", he whispered, pulling him towards his body.

In response, Sanji played his tongue against his ear, tinkling his three earrings on the way before slowly moving his hips against the ones of his partner. The fencer tensed and tried to bring him even closer, but Sanji pulled away to observe his face a few inches from his. Zoro was trying to contain his too quick breath and sweat was starting to collect on his forehead and around his bandana. Sanji then ran his right hand through his damp hair before sliding it down to his cheek. The swordsman froze again, waiting for his next move, and the blond just observed their two bodies together as well as the powerful chest of his lover who was taking deep breaths. He then leaned towards his lips and closed his eyes, using his other hand behind his neck to guide him towards him.

Their tongues met impatiently, the intensity of their contact blurring their other perceptions. At that moment, Sanji let go. He wanted to tell the swordsman how much he didn't know a more exquisite feeling, how much he wished for him to feel it in his arms too. His tongue searched for his to better curl up against it, passing his frenzy and delight on to him at this simple touch. The fencer's body was his territory and his mouth was his right of entry so he was confiding all his demands and expectations to his partner when they were kissing. All his hopes.

The swordsman also increased their kiss by moving his own hands up behind the cook's back and the move unconsciously prompted Sanji to lift his hips again. Zoro stifled a low growl against his mouth and they finally parted, out of breath.

"Enough with the foreplay, cook. If you keep on like this, I won't be able to hold back any longer…"

Sanji smiled and stretched to grab their little bottle of gel.

"In that case, it's gonna be up to you", he whispered to the fencer.

He lifted himself up a little and generously poured it into his hand before coating the swordsman's throbbing virility with it.

"Isn't that a bit risky?" he asked.

"No, I'll be gentle."

Zoro nodded and the blond gradually fell on top of him. However, he quickly had to stop and the fencer searched his manhood to relax him, the arm muscles shuddering under the pressure he must be feeling. Sanji moved in spite of himself at his action and he tightened the grip of his legs around his partner, naturally making the swordsman's moves speed up. He lowered himself further and finally removed the fencer's hand from his body. If he got lost too quickly in pleasure, he wouldn't be able to pass everything he wanted on to his mate.

Gently lifting his hips, the cook felt Zoro's breath stop as he started going forcefully back and forth on his member. Each time he was slowly falling, he allowed himself to go a little further, making sure that his back didn't suffer but also and above all that Zoro was really feeling every moves on his part. Besides on that aspect, the swordsman's hands swiftly clenched around his waist, trembling and digging his fingers into his skin as if to better relate to reality.

Sanji stifled a moan as he fell completely on the swordsman's virility and against him, the fencer's body shuddered. He then forced himself to stop, becoming fully aware of the member inside him and the overstretched muscles under his lover's skin.

After a few moments, he slowly began to move again and put his hands on the wall on either side of the swordsman's head for support. The power of his thighs lifted him effortlessly and he surrendered to the contemplation of the fencer beneath him. His contracted stomach, his pecs glistening with sweat, his parted mouth in search of air but still containing his moans. Sanji then completely wrapped his legs around the swordsman's waist and thus increased the rolling of his hips when the fencer slid his hands down his back. Zoro bit his lips in pleasure at the rub of their bodies against each other and the blond plunged towards his neck, feeling himself sucked in by pleasure. In a short time, he could no longer limit his moves to this languid rhythm.

Zoro let his head fall back against the wall and Sanji shivered. He was feeling so good in the swordsman's arms, which were convulsively closing around him. He was savoring the delicious rubbing of his manhood against his stomach and Zoro's breath in his neck. He then grabbed the fencer face in his hands and abruptly put his lips on his, panting. This is how he wanted the swordsman to achieve orgasm. In his arms, under his hips and in the middle of a kiss that would take his breath away. A kiss during which his tongue entirely dominated the one of the fencer and which invaded him with an avalanche of sensations. A kiss fuelled by the fire of passion they had for each other.

The fencer then raised his own hands and pressed the blond's face even closer, his lips now shuddering against his. Sanji increased the pace of his pelvis and Zoro melted into his arms as pleasure finally caught up with him. He fiercely gripped his mate and the blond swallowed his ultimate moan. Feeling the swordsman's body tense under his, Sanji grabbed his own virility and orgasm caught up with him seconds later.

Zoro woke up alone the next morning. He had no idea what time it was and he hadn't even heard the cook leave. He righted himself a little, straining his ears. Maybe it was still early because he was hearing no noise on the ship. Laying down quietly, he recalled the events of the day before.

He had expected something intense and unsettling, but not what he had experienced. He had literally believed he was exploding as Sanji had touched him and he had made a real effort not to knock over the blond on the mattress to violently possess him. Surprisingly, it wasn't only the fear of hurting him that had stopped him but also and above all the surprising discovery of the pleasure he had gotten from the idea of being such an object of desire for his partner. Of desire and worship. He knew the devouring hunger the blond could feel towards him but never before had he known such tender and voluptuous motions. It was an exquisite gentleness that had enveloped him, dropping him in an oasis of tranquility and intoxication where each caress was reminding him how much his body was cherished, where each kiss was singing the attachment his mate had for him.

So he had willingly given up power, dizzy with so much attention. The orgasm had been devastating and had left him panting for a long time. He then had wanted to say something to the blond who was catching his breath a few inches from his mouth but nothing appropriate had come to him and he had remained filled with indefinable emotions.

"Get up, marimo!" Sanji suddenly said as he was entering the room.

Zoro opened his eyes again, slowly surfacing from his daydream to see the cook setting a tray in front of him. He straightened up, enticed but puzzled.

"Since when do I get breakfast in bed?"

"Since we're gonna have lunch soon."

"What time is it?"

"Past eleven o'clock."

"Crap!"

"Yeah, looks like you had some sleep to catch up on", the blond joked. "Nami-san suggested you skip the meal, but I know what you did yesterday and I know you need to regain your strength."

"You're damn right!"

The swordsman began to gulp down his meal with appetite before finally raising cautiously his head towards the cook who had sat on the bed not far from him.

"About yesterday…"

The blond turned his gaze to him, attentive. He didn't regret revealing himself to the fencer like he had done the day before, but he was just hoping this one wasn't too frightened by the depth of his feelings. Because he was well aware that even if he hadn't said a word, he had expressed himself very clearly.

"It was… interesting", the swordsman continued after a moment of silence.

"Interesting?"

Sanji frowned and Zoro nodded.

"It was interesting and… intense."

"Too intense?"

"No, just intense. I wasn't expecting it but… it felt good."

The cook stared at him for a few seconds before getting up, an indulgent smile on his lips. Zoro was probably still trying to analyze everything they had experienced in terms of knowledge of himself and the important thing was that he hadn't run away or felt too overwhelmed by the expression of his feelings. They were making progress.

"Get a move on, marimo. I won't make exceptions for you anymore", he said, finally walking out the door.

The swordsman absently nodded and watched him go while quietly eating his meal again. He had understood something very important the day before. Gentleness was contradictory in that it imposed delicious torture, pleasant torment, and irresistible temptation. It called for moderation, thoughtfulness and tenderness despite the impatience, harshness and ferocity of what he was feeling. It demanded self-control at the same time as self-abnegation, confidence mixed with the heat of the moment.

A new world.

A real balancing act.

And that night, he had touched that balance with his fingertips, the one Sanji had told him about. He had felt the cook's passion for him, his desire to give him pleasure because he wanted his body but also because he wanted him, Roronoa Zoro. Straw Hat Crew's first mate, future greatest swordsman in the world, bloodthirsty demon pirate hunter, lethargic boor forever lost, insensitive inveterate drinker and reckless fighter with massive pride.

Zoro then took a minute to silently thank the cook for making him feel such a whirlwind of feelings. He was both moved and grateful for this exposure he had offered and allowed him to share.

"This isn't a fight like you're used to, marimo."

"Is there any advantage then? Are we just doomed to suffer?"

"There are. As high as the disadvantages."

Yes, he was ready to do it again. If this balance was allowing him to reach theses kinds of sensations as unexpected as unhoped-for, he didn't want to stop.

It's was Sanji's declaration of love to Zoro.

Maybe not like you were expecting, but I hope you liked it anyway. A new door is open, and it's up to Zoro now…