AN: A little bit of a break up ZoSan.

"It's fine Zoro, really, don't beat yourself up over it. I'm happy you told me the truth now rather than further down the line. You told me the truth early on so you wouldn't jerk me around later... Takes courage to do something like that," Clare said, she had a sad smile on her face but Zoro could see the relief in her eyes despite this breakup. He was glad she hadn't got too attached. She opened the front door a little wider, "Are you sure you don't want a drink? We could talk. It might help to get it off your chest?"

Zoro politely declined his now ex-girlfriend's too kind an offer, "I have stuff to do- paperwork to fill in- but thank you, really."

"Well, okay," Clare said, a worried look pulling at her brow, "But you're always welcome here, Zoro. We didn't work out but that doesn't mean we can't still be friends."

"Thanks, Clare. That means a lot."

The young woman sighed and brought her arms around him suddenly, holding him tight, "Just promise me you'll look after yourself."

Zoro huffed fondly at the other's concern for him and returned the hug, "I'm sorry about breaking up with you like this," He murmured into her shoulder.

"It's fine. But Zoro," She pulled away to look him straight in the eye, "I know he's a great guy and I know how much you love him and still love him but it's been over a year now. Don't you think it's time to move on?"

"But I-"

Clare cut his protest short, "I was your rebound fling, Zoro. Even if you didn't realise it you only asked me out thinking he'd come back. But I'm talking about something serious. Not with me- I'm not looking to be tied down just yet- I mean someone who'll love you just as much as you love them. You'll find them someday. You gave him his chance and he didn't come back, but there's plenty more out there than just him, you know?"

"Yeah," Zoro said, "I understand."

"Good luck, Zoro. In everything you're looking for."

"You too, Clare. I'll see you soon?"

"Sure thing," She smiled, "We're still friends."

He left, her shutting the door behind him and he got into his car, headed for home.

"Leave it on," Sanji said again, slapping Zoro's hand playfully away from the radio buttons to save the track playing from being cut short.

Zoro wrinkled his nose, "Ew. No. This song is shit."

"Ugh, you've no taste, marimo head. It's a fucking good song, okay?" The blond sighed, poking Zoro in the ribs as punishment with a grin and the green haired man relented, leaving the station on. He leaned back against the passenger door, head against the window, content to watch his lover tap the steering wheel in time to the beat. Sanji took a quick glance at him before looking at the road, "What're you looking at?"

"A dumbass."

"Oi!" The blond said, "You're the dumbass."

"I must be if I fell for you," Zoro hummed, smirking as a soft bloom of dark red tainted the pale skin of the other's face.

"Shut up moss head..."

"Shut up, you love me."

The red got deeper, "Maybe I don't."

"Maybe you do..."

"Shut up!"

Zoro started laughing but was stopped when Sanji pulled over and firmly kissed him into being silent.

Zoro locked the door after him and threw the keys into the glass jar on the little side table by the coat pegs and kicked off his shoes, moving into the kitchen and grabbing himself a can of beer. He'd stopped expecting to see Sanji in here a long time ago, but every no and then he'd walk in and the knowledge would hit him anew that Sanji really wasn't going to come back. Ever.

He settled himself down on the sofa and turned on the tv for background noise, taking a swig of beer. Telling Clare had taken a weight off his shoulders. They hadn't been dating very long, just a few weeks, and they'd gone no further than kissing because Zoro couldn't bring himself to fool around some with her and he hated to admit that she'd been right- Zoro had dated her as a rebound. At least she still wanted to be a part of his life unlike Sanji. He took a deeper, more desperate gulp of beer. It had felt strange, wrong almost, kissing Clare. It wasn't the same as kissing Sanji and it left a hollow feeling in his chest whenever her lips had met his.

Zoro's eyes opened to something warm and moist pressing against his lips. He blinked a few times, and smiled against Sanji's mouth that was kissing at his own. Sanji pulled away and Zoro made a small grumbling noise at that, "Mmn, what was that for?"

Sanji smirked and pressed more kisses to Zoro's lips, fingers running through green hair and Zoro became aware of the fact that the blond was draped over him, pressed tightly against his chest and stomach, "You fell asleep... on the sofa..." Sanji said between kisses.

"And that warrants being kissed like this?" Zoro panted.

Sanji pulled back with a smile, "I saw an opportunity and I took it. Also," He kissed Zoro's cheek, "I was hoping we could have sex."

Zoro chuckled and brought his arms around the blond's lithe form, running rough hands up a smooth and muscled back, "That sounds like a great idea..."

"I'm glad you're so on board with it," Sanji snickered and kissed him again, this time more deeply and with more meaning.

Zoro woke up but not to Sanji's mouth on his and pawed at his phone. 2 AM. He sighed deeply, "Sanji..."

He peeled himself off the sofa, cracking out his back and stiff joints before collapsing into his own double bed, not bothering to take off his clothes and change. He stuffed his arms under the pillow and mushed his face into it to block out the room and the cold hard fact that Sanji's old half of the bed remained empty, untouched, and cold. Just like it had been for almost a year.