Do It and Embrace It
Luffy scratched his head with nimble fingers as he looked at his swordsman's and chef's older twins. "Soooo, what do we do now? Are you joining my crew~!?" the captain asked enthusiastically.
"Moron," Sanji lightly scoffed; Luffy obviously didn't understand time travel, though he was still fuzzy on he details himself.
"We already are apart of the crew," Zoro explained slowly, "We're just from the future, I guess."
This seemed to light a new fire of interest inside Luffy, considering how he began bouncing like a rubber ball. "EHHH? HOW FAR IN THE FUTURE? HOW FAR HOW FAR HOW FAR?"
Before Zoro could reply, Sanji slapped a pale, steady hand over his mouth. His lips burned pleasantly, similar to the sun beating down on his face in the morning. To the cook's complete shock, the swordsman didn't bother to shove his hand off. "We can't tell you, Luffy. It could fuck up time or something like that," he said. Zoro didn't remember that important fact Robin told them. Whenever Luffy asked him something, he answered automatically. He's done it for years; it's not his fault that it's a bad habit now. Sanji took his hand away, and the swordsman felt a pang of disappointment from the short time of contact. Whether it showed on his expression or not, the cook looked at him wearily in confusion, then shrugged it off. Luffy huffed as he crossed his arms rigidly and stuck out his tongue, "Even Future Sanji is a meanie."
Robin entered the infirmary with a plate full of ham and cheese sandwiches; most of them most likely for the captain. She offered one to Sanji, earning yet another confession of love, and offered one to Zoro, who took it with a curt nod of thanks. Sanji compared his work from the present and past, and the present won hands down. He could hardly believe he cooked like this at one point in life; it tasted good, but not nearly as heavenly as his new recipes. While Luffy was busy destroying the rest of the plate, Robin took this time of muffled chewing for harmless chatting. Once the sandwiches were finished, the four headed outside for some fresh air.
Young Zoro sat in his usual spot on the Merry; back plastered against the mast while snoring loudly. Sanji couldn't help but observe the slim body, slimmer than his time's Zoro. He hadn't realized such a big difference in muscle mass between the two until they were standing next to each other. Zoro challengingly stared down at his younger self as did the other, both with one low-lidded eye cracked open, though the older didn't have much of a choice. Zoro cockily smirked and the younger instantly mirrored it. "Well, hey there, handsome," he whistled.
"Hey there yourself, Mr. Ripped," the young swordsman grinned.
"OI, STOP FLIRTING WITH YOURSELF," both blondes irritably shouted. A new memory came to mind, and Sanji suddenly remembered how he felt seeing Zoro talk to himself like that. A tad jealous and annoyed that he wasn't granted that honor. Sanji glanced at his younger version, who was silently fuming conspicuously. Those impulses he had today and all of the other days before; what would happen if he told himself to act on them? Did Zoro even feel the same at this time? If so, how did he feel now? A short glance in the napping swordsmen's direction later, Sanji held his thick chin scruff in his hand and sighed deeply; he had made up his mind rather quickly. He received an uninterested look from himself from being still and soundless for so long, which he ignored. He grabbed the shorter's shoulder hesitantly and tugged on it, "Meet me in the kitchen," he said, not waiting for confirmation. Sanji heard Zoro's "don't fuck anything up" and prayed that he didn't, only make things better.
The galley would be empty at this time, meaning perfect seclusion for the blondes. Young Sanji quietly closed the door after him and leaned his back against it. Another memory sprang into Sanji's brain, and he hurriedly turned to face the other, whose glare could strike fear into the bravest of men. Scowling, he sat down at the table and smoothly took out a cigarette, clamping his lips on the filter. "No, no. Cut that out; the non-trusting me and shit. I remember emotions from today, and right now you think I'm a creeper." Young Sanji seemed to relax at the words, telling Sanji that he could continue. "Look, I know how you feel about the dumb marimo," the adult admitted. The younger cook's eyes widened, a blush immediately coloring his usually pale face. Sanji chuckled at his reaction. He forgot how easily embarrassed he used to be over the simplest things. After going through Hell, not even a circus clown pantsing him in front of millions of women could trigger his humiliation.
"I'm just warning you," Sanji claimed, taking a long drag. He looked into his own unsure, odious eyes with immense focus and spoke loud and clear, "Do it."
"D...Do it?" the teen quizzically repeated.
"Yes, those urges you get. Those impulses, those moments where you just wanted to hear Zoro's voice at night; do it. Confess what I didn't, and hopefully our future will be better. Got it?"
"Oi, wait a second! But...what if he doesn't-"
"You won't...we won't know until we find out, now will we? What you do with Zoro in the past, might make it better for you in the future. All you need to do is take a shot with it," Sanji carefully watched himself as new emotions flooded into his body. Denial, hope; mostly fear of rejection. He scoffed inwardly. Like he'd really let the marimo reject him; with his charm and seduction, Zoro was as good as his. All he needed to do was make the first move.
"How do you suggest I do it, Mr. Fucking Confidence?" the younger aggressively snapped.
"I don't know, how about actually fucking telling him how you feel? And don't do this "devise a plan and ignore the obvious answer" shit. I get enough of that when Luffy goes on his nightly fridge raids."
"When...when should I?"
"Tonight, tomorrow, next month; just so long as you do it. You only get one shot at this, and I already blew it," Sanji sighed. He snubbed out his cigarette in his old silverfish shaped astray on the table (he still doesn't know what happened to it) and stood. The younger cook reluctantly moved away from the door so Sanji could leave, closing it behind him. He sighed; maybe he could bake a cake or brownies, or anything really to get his mind off the matter.
XVX
Young Zoro trained hard behind the Mikan grove, swinging 23 reps per ten minutes. The older swordsman paid no mind as he leaned against the Merry's hard railing. He missed her and her homey aura, Merry might as well have been their mother. The ship shook slightly as the gigantic weight was set down, and the younger's eyes seemed empty and almost distant. Another memory came and flew past Zoro's mind, and he realized what the other's problem was. He remembered what he tried to do after every time he and the cook grew close in the galley, after ever laugh or sparring session they shared.
He always attempted to train the feelings away...
No, hell no. What did he think he was doing over there?!
"O-Oi, kid, er, me," Zoro called. The younger grunted, panting occasionally as he limply plopped to the floor. Zoro sighed; how could he put this in simple terms? If he stopped himself from ignoring the cook's attractiveness, what would change anyway? Who knew if his past self would even listen and take his advice? He knew how stubborn he could act and, frankly, if the younger tried that shit with him, they'd end up with a few new scars on technically their body.
Young Zoro slowly sat up and stared across the deck, but his eyes weren't focused on an objected. Zoro sighed in frustration, not knowing the easiest way to get out his words. "Listen, you, uh, me. I know what you're doing, so stop it," the older scolded, his tone clearly unsure. The younger swordsman scowled bitterly, and Zoro wondered if he really used to look that terrifying.
"The fuck do you know?" the teen questioned sourly.
Zoro looked at himself as if he sprouted a feathery tail. Seriously, was he this much of a dumbass? "I'm you, so I know everything, smartass. So stop trying to make those urges and feelings go away." Zoro noticed the younger stiffen as he added, "Because they won't."
"Are...are you serious? I mean, I thought this would blow over sooner or later and I could get back to my goal, but I'll really need to live with it?"
"They won't leave. Ever. There's no use in completely exhausting yourself like this, and, trust me, Chopper will ride your ass all the way to the bank and back if you keep it up. He yelled a damn lecture at me for so long that eventually I had to have my ears checked 'cause I kept hearing ringing."
The young swordsman stood up despite his aching muscles pleading him to stay still. He took the soreness as painful encouragement. Tilting his neck until a satisfying crack occurred, Young Zoro stared at his other self, obviously enjoying the feel of the railing pressed into his shoulder blades, though he himself wasn't very fond of them. "If I can't make them leave, then what do I do with them?" he quietly asked.
"...Embrace it," Zoro finally spoke, finding the only word accurate enough to justify his point. His past self appeared to be confused at first, but before Zoro could clarify, the door leading inside the ship briskly opened, and Sanji's tobacco smoke entered his peripheral vision. The blonde came around to Zoro's usual territory (the stern) and smirked at the two. "Hey, Marimo Squad," he snickered.
Young Zoro glanced at his older self, but saw no reaction from the name. He hoped Sanji would have given up on calling him a piece of algae by now. Frowning, the teen bit back, "Better than being Pervert 1 and Pervert 2." Zoro couldn't contain his laughter and thoroughly congratulated the other for his cleverness. Sanji didn't seem to appreciate that as much as the giggling swordsman did, and absently straightened out his suit jacket. Clearing his throat, he suppressed the urge to kick the teen's head in because, after all he wanted his younger self to have a chance at loving the bastard.
The older marimo saw Sanji's foot shift, much like the other times when he suddenly got a sole to the nose. The small movement seemed strained almost as if the blonde was holding back. Did Sanji not want to hurt the younger for Zoro's sake? He couldn't help but smile at the kind thought, but doubted that to be the reason. "Oi, Old Curly," the teen called, taking out Shusui and Kitetsu as a vein violently twitched in Sanji's forehead, "Do you still suck ass at fighting?"
There was the straw that broke the camel's back, or in this case, broke Sanji's self-restraint. Before the younger could blink, Sanji's foot swung at full speed toward his chest. The teen tried to block it, but the sheer force sent him flying over the railing and into the ocean with a giant splash. A new memory invaded Zoro's mind, and he flushed a deep crimson. When the blonde over powdered him today, the shame that was casted on him, Zoro found it incredibly sexy for some unknown reason. Sanji smirked at him, which snapped him out of his stupefied and embarrassed state. "O-Oi, bastard," he shouted, "Don't beat my ass in the past! That's cheating!"
"Cheating? The way I see it, it was an open window. I mean, it is still you," the blonde countered.
Pissed, Zoro abruptly stood and stomped past the cook as his younger version climbed back onto the ship soaking wet. Sanji stared at the retreating swordsman until he was out of sight, and then the faint sound of a door closing was heard. Oh, that's not fair, asshole, Sanji grimaced. Zoro wouldn't really do what the cook thought he was going to do, would he...?
A new memory flashed, and Sanji couldn't possibly get any redder than he already was.
XVX
The swordsman stormed into the galley, surprising the young blonde, who was in the process of chopping vegetables. Zoro gave a cocky smirk as he made sure the door was locked, and leisurely made his way over to the counter; he could practically feel the other's anxiousness radiating off him. Young Sanji hadn't glanced in his direction since he entered the kitchen, so Zoro wasn't shocked when he violently jumped at the touch of his hand on his shoulder. "Hey," Zoro said casually.
"...Hey," the teen replied with a raise of his brow.
The swordsman's hand left just as quickly as his entire arm appeared around the blonde's waist, earning a low terrified gasp. "W-what're you-?"
"You know," Zoro started, slowly running his hands down a clothed stomach, "you're a cute little thing."
"Wh-who are you c-c-c-calling 'little'?"
"Hm, I don't know," Zoro palmed the teen's crotch lightly as he let his lips linger above the flushed earlobe, "Wanna prove me wrong?"
"Z-Zoro, the fuck is your p-problem?"
"Aw, are you getting choked up because of me? How sweet." The swordsman nipped at the back of the blonde's neck, then gave the abused flesh a long, tantalizing lick. Young Sanji shivered, his knife falling from his normally steady hands. Zoro liked this; giving into the desires he craved to do for years. He pressed the smaller body against his chest without much resistance, using a few fingers to stroke the thin chin hairs he's come to love. The blonde burned from the contact, and he was seconds away from pushing the bastard off and claiming his mouth. "Sanji," Zoro whispered huskily, his grip on the other's crotch becoming tighter. The teen drew in a shaky breath while trying to keep his sanity in check. After Zoro ferociously bit his collarbone, the blonde grunted and reluctantly shoved him hard, making him stumble backwards. Zoro almost complained, but a pair of soft lips silenced whatever was about to slip out.
XVX
Fuck, Sanji thought, chewing on his unlit cigarette. If that wasn't the hottest thing that ever happened to him, may God strike him down. Not one woman he's ever been with made him feel so light on his toes like the mosshead did, not even seeing Nami or Robin in their smallest of bathing suits made him feel this giddy. The younger swordsman vigorously shook his head, trying to chase the water out of it. Damn Old Curly, who the hell said he could be that strong and that muscular and that...?
"Oi."
Sanji raised an eyebrow and turned towards the younger, who was already walking up to him. "No hard feelings for kicking your ass overboard, right?" he asked, effortlessly sparking his lighter. Once the cigarette was lit, tanned fingers carelessly removed it and threw it to God knows where. Sanji scowled bitterly; he was running low on tobacco already and the brat goes and does that? "Why did you-"
Soft lips roughly collided with his own, and Sanji couldn't fight the smirk that formed.
Me: I'm evil, I know. I made this longer because I need to help my sis move...
Mid: And I got coaxed into it as well. So we'll continue as soon as we can, kay? Stay tuned!